July 25, 2000: Dog Bite Data Base Needed

Honourable Allan Rock, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health

I refer you to the article Dog Bites, copy enclosed, from the No. 3 1999 issue of CSC's publication, SAFETY CANADA. The article generated much interest.

Without question dog bites constitute a major public health and safety problem in this country and citizens everywhere should be aware.

There is growing concern in many countries about dangerous dogs on city streets and other public places. A national news program in the United States recently reported on the growing number of attack dogs in that country and the significant problem they pose both to public officials and citizens. Following a national outcry against dangerous dogs after a six year-old Hamburg boy was bitten to death by a Pitbull in his schoolyard in June, Germany's states have all tightened laws governing the keeping of animals (this was the third dog attack deaths in six months in that country). Hamburg, a city-state, has enacted the toughest laws, outlawing three of the most dangerous breeds.

There is mounting pressure on the German federal government to enact a nationwide law. All this in a country so famously fond of dogs! A national public opinion poll revealed 74 percent of Germans favored a ban on breeding or keeping dangerous dogs.

Laws in other European countries show a similar concern with dangerous dogs. In Denmark three breeds - the Pitbull, Staffordshire and Dogo Argentino - have been illegal since 1991. Tourists are not allowed to bring the animals into the country, and even a dachshund can be declared illegal if it is proven it has been trained to be aggressive. Sweden has similarly tough laws. In Britain, the import and breeding of dangerous dogs is illegal. A law that took effect in January in France requires dangerous dogs to be sterilized - a move aimed at eliminating Pitbulls from France within 10 years. Britain has had a similar law since 1991. Italy is planning to introduce a similar law this year.

The laws passed in these European countries recognize the public's concerns with aggressive dogs - which pose a major threat to public safety.

We are not in a position to comment of the number of attack dogs in Canada. However, it would appear there is a fairly large number across the country. Based on the European experience, a reliable database must be established detailing the number of those dogs, the laws in place, if any, affecting their breeding and ownership, and the number of persons killed or injured by them. Only then can it be determined if more or new laws are, in fact, required to control the ownership and breeding of these dogs.

We would like to meet with you and your officials to discuss this matter further. For this purpose, I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Emile-J. Therien
President, Canada Safety Council

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