President's Perspective

Aggressive dogs are a growing safety concern in many communities. Vicious dogs owned by drug dealers, criminal groups, and violent or irresponsible individuals pose a threat to public safety. An aggressive dog can endanger life by blocking emergency responders from a fire, medical emergency or other urgent situation.

European countries have started to enact laws to control dangerous dogs. Similarly, Canada must analyse the extent and nature of the problem in this country, and put into place measures to prevent deaths and injuries from dog attacks.

After a six year-old Hamburg boy was bitten to death by a pit bull in his schoolyard, Germany's states all tightened laws governing the keeping of animals (this was the third dog attack death in six months in that country). Hamburg, a city-state, enacted the toughest laws, outlawing three of the most dangerous breeds.

Denmark outlawed three breeds in 1991. Tourists are not allowed to bring those animals into the country; and any dog can be declared illegal if it is proven to have been trained to be aggressive. Sweden has similarly tough laws. In Britain, the import and breeding of dangerous dogs is illegal. In France, a law that took effect in January requires dangerous dogs to be sterilized. Italy is planning to introduce a similar law this year.

In Canada, animal control is largely a municipal responsibility; by-laws can deal with dangerous dogs. Import of animals, medical costs of treating bite injuries and collection of national injury data are federal matters.

There is no reliable information on the canine population of Canada, how many Canadians are being killed and seriously injured by dogs (and the circumstances), or whether particular breeds cause a disproportionate number of deaths and serious injuries.

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 required to control the ownership and breeding of these dogs in Canada.

Canadian legislators may or may not decide to focus on breeds as the Europeans have done. Other approaches must also be considered: education of owners and the public, especially parents of young children; municipal animal control regulations with vigorous enforcement; and mandatory reporting of bites, including ownership, breed, spay/neuter status, history of aggression, and restraint at the time of the incident.

The bottom line is that the extent and nature of dog attacks must be analysed, and measures put into place to protect the public.

Emile-J. Therien
President, Canada Safety Council

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