Breed-specific Legislation Research Articles

Dangerous Dogs: An analysis of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and Breed-Specific Legislation. Are We Barking up the Wrong Tree?

The enactment of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is an example of a reactive introduction of legislation in response to a series of dog attacks that year. In September 2023, the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced that the Government would again be taking action to ban an additional dog breed type by the end of 2023 in another reactive action. The proposal to add the American Bully XL breed type to the list of banned breeds detailed in S.1 Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 came into force on 31 December 2023. No other proposals for reform of the Act have been suggested to date. This article will explore the legislative amendments and consider whether the Government's recent reform is sufficient to adequately protect the public from dangerous dogs and dog attacks.

Canine Outcomes and Length of Stay in a Midwestern Shelter Affected by Breed Specific Legislation

Breed specific legislation (BSL) is intended to restrict or reduce the ownership of selected breeds of dogs within a municipality. These laws frequently aim at “bully breeds” such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and other pure or mixed breeds with similar phenotypic characteristics which are heavily represented in shelters nationwide. This study describes differences in outcomes and length of stay (LOS) for banned dogs versus dogs of other breeds in a managed admission municipal shelter subject to BSL. It was hypothesized that dogs subject to legislation would have fewer live outcomes and a longer LOS when compared to non-legislated dogs. Retrospective outcome data from 1/1/2022 through 12/31/2022 was analyzed. The study population included 764 adult dogs of which 118 were affected by legislation. The legislated and non-legislated groups were found to be demographically equivalent considering age group, sex, previous alteration status, and intake frequency, but legislated dogs had a significantly heavier body weight compared to non-legislated dogs. Initial Pearson Chi-Square testing revealed a statistically significant increase in euthanasia for legislated dogs and adoptions for non-legislated dogs. After controlling for body weight, there was a statistically significant increase in adoption for the non-legislated group, and increased return to owner (RTO) for legislated dogs, however there wasn’t a statistically significant difference in total live outcomes. Mann-Whitney U Testing demonstrated a statistically significant increase in LOS for legislated dogs compared to non-legislated dogs in the full study population, but after controlling for weight their LOS was no longer significantly different. In the body weight controlled group however, LOS was still significantly longer for legislated dogs versus non-legislated dogs with adoption and RTO outcomes. Euthanasia reasons were evaluated for 80 dogs whose first outcome was euthanasia. Pearson Chi Square testing showed legislated dogs in this group were no more likely to be euthanized for aggression than the non-legislated dogs. In this population, dogs subject to BSL were less likely to be adopted but more likely to RTO. It is suspected shelter staff prevented euthanasia of some legislated dogs through heightened efforts to facilitate RTO even though there was not a formal protocol in place to do so. After controlling for body weight, LOS was equivalent between legislated and non-legislated groups, although the legislated dogs did experience increased LOS before live outcomes. Importantly, legislated dogs were not significantly more likely to be euthanized due to aggressive behavior than non-legislated dogs in this population. These findings indicate that dogs targeted by BSL should be considered an at-risk group within the shelter population and shelters should endeavor to develop specific strategies to reduce LOS and provide best outcomes for these dogs. In many jurisdictions, overturning BSL could be a powerful approach to protecting this at-risk population.

Emergency department visits for dog bite injuries in Missouri municipalities with and without breed-specific legislation: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Breed-Specific Legislation is a type of law that bans or restricts ownership of specific dog breeds. Some local governments - including over seventy municipalities in the state of Missouri - have enacted Breed-Specific Legislation to prevent injuries from dog bites. Several studies from the peer-reviewed literature have found that aggressive behavior is not associated with any particular dog breeds and, since 2018, at least a dozen municipalities in Missouri have repealed these laws. To evaluate the impact of Breed-Specific Legislation on public safety, the 2010-2015 rates of emergency department visits for dog bite-related injuries in Missouri municipalities with and without Breed-Specific Legislation were compared. Propensity-score matched negative binomial regression models were used to assess the effect of breed restrictions on injury rates while balancing the samples on population characteristics and estimates of dog ownership. After matching the sample on population, housing and dog ownership estimates, no association was found between emergency department visits for dog bite injuries and whether the municipality enacted Breed-Specific Legislation. However, the incidence rate ratio of emergency room visits for dog bite-related injuries increased by 13.8% for every 1% increase in the percentage of males aged 5 to 9 in the population (p < 0.01). This study has found breed discriminatory laws have not reduced the risk of emergency department visits for injury from dog bites in Missouri. There appears to be no greater risk to public safety as local governments move to repeal existing breed bans.

Opinions of veterinarians in Turkey on aggression levels of various dog breeds and breed-specific legislation

Opinions of veterinarians in Turkey on aggression levels of various dog breeds and breed-specific legislation

Comparison of behavioural tendencies between "dangerous dogs" and other domestic dog breeds - Evolutionary context and practical implications.

Aggressive behaviour by dogs is a considerable social problem, but the ability to predict which individuals may have increased aggressive tendencies is very limited, restricting the development of efficient preventive measures. There is a common perception that certain breeds are more likely to exhibit aggressive behaviour, which has contributed to the introduction of breed-specific legislation. The rationale for such legislation explicitly assumes high heritability of this trait while also implying relatively little variation within breeds; these assumptions are largely untested. We compared behavioural tendencies between 8 breeds that are subject to legislation in at least one country and 17 breeds that are not subject to legislation using two validated psychometric tools: the Dog Impulsivity Assessment Scale (DIAS), which scores elements of impulsivity, including a tendency for aggressive behaviour, and Positive and Negative Activation Scale (PANAS), which scores sensitivity to positive and negative stimuli (which may trigger aggressive responses). We found that the two groups of breeds do not differ significantly in the specific DIAS factor relating to aggressive behaviour, "Aggression Threshold and Response to Novelty", or any other DIAS and PANAS factors. We found large variations in all behavioural tendencies measured by both psychometric scales within both groups and within each breed studied. Taken together, our findings indicate that breed alone is not a reliable predictor of individual behavioural tendencies, including those related to aggression, and therefore breed-specific legislation is unlikely to be an effective instrument for reducing risk.

US Adults' Perceptions of Dog Breed Bans, Dog Aggression and Breed-Specific Laws.

Dog aggression directed towards people is a leading reason for relinquishment and a major public health hazard. In response to the threat of dog aggression and dog bites, breed-specific legislation has been introduced in numerous cities within the United States and countries throughout the world. There is limited evidence, however, to suggest that such laws are effective. This study explored, through an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey, US residents’ views about the bite risk of common dog breeds, breed-specific legislation, and alternative options for improved public safety. A total of 586 surveys were completed by adult US residents, 48.8% female and 48.6% male. Approximately half of the respondents reported feeling that dog bites are a serious public health issue. Although 70% of respondents were opposed to a breed ban, only 56% felt that banning specific breeds creates an animal welfare issue. Females were less likely to support a ban or agree that specific breed bans improve public safety. When participants were asked to indicate their support of several alternatives to breed-specific legislation, the most frequently endorsed options included public education about animal welfare and animal behavior, and stricter leash laws. Further research pertaining to the most effective public education dissemination methods is warranted.

Systematic review of dog bite prevention strategies

BackgroundThe prevention of dog bites is an increasingly important public health topic, as the incidence of serious injury continues to rise.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to prevent dog bites...

Débats autour des races canines et de la santé publique à Montréal et au Québec (2016-2019).

We examine the public policies that have been formulated to reduce the incidence of dog bites. We do so to encourage the adoption of policies aligned with One Health promotion. This case-study research involved an ethnographic approach. Our qualitative analysis derived from participant observation, policy documents, media coverage, and interviews with stakeholders in Montreal (Quebec). Following on from a human fatality due to dog bite injuries, the City of Montreal decided to ban certain types of dogs based on their 'breed.' In the ensuing discussions, the 'Calgary model' emerged as an alternative to breed-specific legislation. These discussions led to a change in policy direction for Montreal, and for Quebec as a whole. Furthermore, we discerned marked improvements with respect to intersectoral coordination in the wake of this controversy. 'Policy mobilities' offer a useful conceptual apparatus for understanding how public policies for dog bite prevention are polarized around controversial proposals, to the detriment of discussions that focus on policy implementation.

Citizens’ Beliefs Regarding Dog Breed-Specific Legislation. The Case of Romania

ABSTRACT This contribution aimed to highlight the importance of the legal framework on human-dog interactions to better understand the “more‐than‐human cosmopolitanism”. Thus, it gives insight into the never-ending debate of how we can share the living space with other forms of life. The study acknowledged the inconsistencies between community members’ and experts’ opinions on the best methods to prevent dogs’ attacks, the imperative to consider concerns for animal welfare and public safety while improving the legitimacy of different implemented measures. The seriousness of the dog control problem determined the enactment of laws to limit or ban dogs purely on their breed/type. The study explores Romanian citizens beliefs regarding law labeled “dangerous” dogs within the context of Romanian breed-specific legislation (Governmental Emergency Ordinance No. 55 of 2002). An overwhelming majority of respondents considered that a dog’s dangerousness must be assessed individually, according to each specimen’s characteristics, and regardless of the breed/type to which it belongs. A significant percentage of people were unaware of the legal regime in place for “dangerous” dog breeds. Responsible dog ownership intertwined with learning to care could solve the societal annoyance of “blacklisted” dog breeds/type.

The UK Dangerous Dogs Act: Improved, but legally and ethically flawed.

The Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) is considered among the most controversial pieces of legislation ever passed in the UK. Its effectiveness and how it works in practice, up until a dog and its owner are charged, has been subjected to considerable analysis. However, there has been little examination of how the DDA works after charging, nor of how courts are interpreting it. We accessed legal cases from 1992 to 2019, the period in which the DDA has been in force. Each case was examined from a legal and ethical perspective, using doctrinal legal methodology and the principlism approach to ethics described by Beauchamp and Childress. Analysis showed that while improvements to the function of the act have been made, substantial legal and ethical failings remain, particularly with Section 1 and the therein breed specific legislation (BSL). Legal failings could be partially resolved by removing the reversed burden of proof placed on dog owners and allowing a change of ownership for banned breeds. However, ethical failings could only be resolved through the abolition of BSL. Further study into whether judicial bias exists against certain breeds found to be dangerously out of control is warranted.

Dog Bites in the United States from 1971 to 2018: A Systematic Review of the Peer-Reviewed Literature.

Surgical specialists in plastic, head and neck, hand, trauma surgery, and emergency medicine physicians bear the burden of treating the most serious injuries caused by animals. Most of these incidents result from an attack by a known dog, and breed has been proposed, but not proven, to be a controllable factor. The authors summarize the peer-reviewed literature on dog bites in the United States, specifically as related to the breeds implicated. A systematic review of all peer-reviewed publications reporting on dog bites in the United States was performed. MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library searches were conducted through May 8, 2018, for studies from the United States implicating a specific dog breed as responsible. Forty-one articles met inclusion criteria, the majority of which were single-institution retrospective reviews. Main outcomes were any dog bite reported in the peer-reviewed literature where a specific breed was implicated. Secondary measures included dog bites reported in areas where breed-specific legislation was enacted. The most common pure breed identified was German Shepherd, followed by Pit Bull-type breeds (i.e., American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bully), Labrador, Collie, and Rottweiler, respectively. Pit bull-type and German Shepherd breeds are consistently implicated for causing the most serious injuries to patients in the United States across heterogeneous populations, and this remained consistent across multiple decades. The authors' results indicate that German Shepherd and Pit Bull-type breeds account for the largest subset of pure breeds implicated in severe dog bites inflicted on humans in the medical literature. The role and complexity of mentioning breed in relation to human injuries are also discussed.

Small Animal Veterinarians' Perceptions, Experiences, and Views of Common Dog Breeds, Dog Aggression, and Breed-Specific Laws in the United States.

Dog aggression directed towards humans is a common and serious behavioral and public health issue. This cross-sectional study was designed to gain insights into U.S. small animal veterinarians’ views and experiences with the most common dog breeds in the U.S., dog aggression, and breed-specific legislation. An electronic survey was distributed via email to an online veterinary community, and responses were summarized and compared by means of χ2 and Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel tests. Most respondents were concerned about the risks of dog bite injuries, but the majority were not in favor of banning specific breeds of dogs in order to enhance public safety. When participants rated the perceived bite risk associated with popular dog breeds, Chow Chows were perceived as the highest risk, with pit bull types categorized as a moderate risk. Golden Retrievers were seen as the most appropriate for families with children. Public education about animal behavior was the most frequently endorsed policy intervention to increase public safety. These findings suggest that most veterinarians feel that banning an entire dog breed is not an effective way to ensure human safety. Instead, most respondents endorsed alternative initiatives, such as public education and stricter leash laws, to reduce the risk of dog bites.

Racial Stereotypes, Extended Criminalization, and Support for Breed-Specific Legislation: Experimental and Observational Evidence

Scholars have long argued that behaviors and objects associated with criminally stereotyped minority groups can themselves become stereotyped and criminalized, leading to increased punitiveness. Yet, this extended criminalization hypothesis requires theoretical development and direct empirical investigation. To address this issue, we seek to test the concept of extended criminalization, which posits that behaviors associated with racial and ethnic groups accentuate and aggrandize perceived threat of minority groups through a reinforcing process. We examine the extended criminalization hypothesis in the context of breed-specific legislation (BSL). Using data from a survey-based experiment conducted with a sample of young adults from two universities ( N = 525), we test the effects of racial priming on support for laws banning pit bulls. Findings from the experimental manipulation are supplemented with observational findings using measures of racial stereotypes of pit bull owners and breeders. Respondents in the treatment and control groups did not significantly differ in their likelihood of supporting BSL, and the same was true when analyzing Whites separately. The observational findings were consistent with the experimental findings. The findings do not support the extended criminalization hypotheses. Neither racial priming nor stereotypes of pit bull owners and breeders were associated with support for BSL. We outline additional avenues for research on the extended criminalization hypothesis.

'When the dog bites': What can we learn about health geography from newspaper coverage in a 'model city' for dog-bite prevention?

Despite calls for the adoption of 'One-Health' approaches, dog-bite injuries remain neglected in healthcare and public health, and our study may help to understand why. Media coverage can influence policy directions, including policies that address dogs. We collected articles (n = 65) published in two local newspapers, 2012-2017, then carried out an ethnographically-informed discourse analysis of the dog-bite reports. The newspapers portrayed dog-bites mainly as matters of public disorder, as opposed to priorities for healthcare and public health. Even as our study took place in a city that has shown dog-bite reductions without recourse to 'breed bans' or restrictions (i.e., breed-specific legislation), journalists still tended to emphasize dog breed as a narrative element in explaining dog-bite incidents. Nonetheless, the news coverage did not reproduce a 'nature versus nurture' dichotomy. Rather, the journalists presented dog breed, and presumably associated aggressive behaviour, as entanglements with social, economic, and cultural contexts. Meanwhile, the news stories reduced contextual complexity to geographic locations, as codes for community reputation, in attributing causality and morality.

The effect of breed-specific dog legislation on hospital treated dog bites in Odense, Denmark-A time series intervention study.

As dog bite injuries are a considerable problem in modern society, in order to reduce such injuries, breed-specific legislation has been introduced in a number of countries. Whilst many studies have shown a lack of effect with such legislation, the commonly used methodology is known to be flawed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the Danish breed-specific legislation on the number of dog bite injuries using more credible methods. A time series intervention method was used on a detailed dataset from Odense University Hospital, Denmark, regarding dog bite injuries presented to the emergency department. The results indicate that banning certain breeds has a highly limited effect on the overall levels of dog bite injuries, and that an enforcement of the usage of muzzle and leash in public places for these breeds also has a limited effect. Despite using more credible and sound methods, this study supports previous studies showing that breed-specific legislation seems to have no effect on dog bite injuries. In order to minimise dog bite injuries in the future, it would seem that other interventions or non-breed-specific legislation should be considered as the primary option.

Fatal dog attacks in Spain under a breed-specific legislation: A ten-year retrospective study

Abstract Forensic evaluation of fatal dog attacks requires interdisciplinary teams where veterinarians testify with forensic pathologists and odontologists to provide information about the circumstances of the attack, examine the scene, and study the autopsy of the victim or animal. In Spain, there is a shortage of scientific studies focused on dog bites and fewer studies on fatal attacks. The aim of this study is to use a multidisciplinary approach to review fatal dog maulings that occurred in Spain over a 10-year period. A retrospective descriptive epidemiological study of all deaths that resulted from attacks by domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) that occurred in Spain during a 10-year period (2004–2013) was performed. Different sources of information were reviewed: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (National Institute of Statistics), electronic search of media reports, forensic autopsy, and police reports. Demographics and epidemiological information related to the victims, dogs, and scenario of the events were collected. In the study period, 16 cases of fatal dog attacks (mean 1.6 cases/year) resulting in 17 deaths (71% male) were identified. The mean age of the victims was 45.9±31.5 years (range 1-90). Victims were over 65 years in 35% and younger than 5 years in 29% of cases. Fatal attacks were reported from 13 provinces. Barcelona was the province with the major incidence: (3 cases with 4 victims) followed by Tenerife, Canary Islands (2 cases). Some risk factors were identified: males and adults over 65 years, 1 dog involved, certain dog breeds, pet dog owned by the victim, attack at the victim's property, and injuries localized in the head, face, and neck areas. Most breeds involved in fatal attacks are considered by the current Spanish legislation as potential dangerous dogs. The implementation of breed-specific legislation in Spain (1999 and 2002) does not seem to have produced a reduction in dog bite–related fatalities over the last decade. A national reporting system on dog bites and dog attacks with a multidisciplinary approach including veterinary specialists is necessary (e.g., behavioral medicine), with the aim to reach a better understanding of the related risk factors as a first step in their prevention.

Dog bites in the emergency department: a descriptive analysis

The purpose of this study was to assess the pattern of adult dog bites presenting to a medium size Canadian city’s Emergency Departments. All adult (≥16 years) patients presenting to Emergency Departments in our region during a 30-month period (January 2013 to June 2015) were identified. Demographics, injury patterns, and dog-specific characteristics were studied. A total of 475 dog bites were identified. The greatest proportion of dog bites occurred in the summer months (140, 30%). Pit-bull type was the most frequently implicated breed (27%). The majority of patients identified were female (295, 62%). The majority of bites occurred in the hands (264 cases, 56%). Bites occurring in the head and neck accounted for 11% of all injuries. Although 50% of injuries required only washout and dressing, 15 cases (3%) required a complex primary closure. The operating room was utilized in the reconstruction of eight defects (2%). There were four (1%) tendon repairs, one (0.2%) nerve repair, and one injury requiring a skin graft (0.2%). Three patients were admitted to hospital. We identified an overall infection rate of 10%. Dog bites most commonly occurred in the hands and upper extremities, and carried an infection risk of approximately 10%. Large, muscular breeds were the most frequently implicated. The effectiveness of breed-specific legislation remains unclear, but educational programs for dog owners, children, and health care workers may help decrease the number and severity of attacks.

(Ne)potrebno uvođenje breed-specific regulative

Damage that comes as a result of an animal's activity, and consequently number of issues regardless liability for damage that is caused by an animal, do not stop occupying and intriguing legal theory for centuries. These questions, but also the answers that have been offered so far, are especially interesting when they are analyzed in context of actions of men's best friend - a dog. Among other activities directed toward preventing damages caused by dogs, although we believe that educational ones should have priority, attention should also be directed to legislative activities. Namely, there is a need to analyze state authority's activities related to implementation of so called breed-specific and dog-specific legislation. Both types of regulations are part of Serbian legal system as well. Being so, in this paper we will share our thoughts on the first-mentioned group of rules based on previously conducted both theoretical and empirical research.

Examining the Policy Learning Dynamics of Atypical Policies with an Application to State Preemption of Local Dog Laws

AbstractMost of the literature on policy diffusion focuses on palpable issues such as economic or morality policies. As such, we know little about the mechanisms of diffusion for preemption of atypical policies such as animal regulations that lack a clear economic or ideological motivation. In this article, we propose and test a theory of conditional policy learning to explain the diffusion of atypical policies. We posit that a type of policy learning is occurring here, but that states only look to their neighbors when certain policy specific factors are present in their state. His theory is then applied to examine the dynamics of state adoption of laws preempting local Breed Specific Legislation from 1988 to 2014. Using an exponential model, two policy learning and two conditional learning hypotheses are tested. This study finds that policy learning is occurring through both external and internal pathways. This advances the literature by demonstrating that preemption occurs through the learning mechanism, but this learning effect is conditioned on policy relevant factors within the state.

Dog bite injuries to humans and the use of breed-specific legislation: a comparison of bites from legislated and non-legislated dog breeds

BackgroundThe primary objective of this study was to investigate if differences in dog bite characteristics exist amongst legislated and non-legislated dog breeds listed under breed-specific legislation in Ireland (age when bitten, anatomical bite locations, triggers for biting, victim’s relationship with the dog, geographical location and owner presence, history of aggression, reporting bite incident to authorities, medical treatment required following the bite, and type of bite inflicted). A second objective of the current study was to investigate dog control officer’s enforcement and perceptions of current legislation. Data for statistical analyses were collated through a nationally advertised survey, with Pearson Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact Test statistical methods employed for analyses. A total of 140 incident surveys were assessed comprising of non-legislated (n = 100) and legislated (n = 40) dog bite incidents.ResultsLegislated breeds were significantly more likely to be perceived as aggressive and less fearful as triggers for biting compared to non-legislated breeds (P = 0.003). Non-legislated breeds were more likely to inflict a bite with the owner present on own property and on a business premises compared to legislated breeds (P = 0.036). Non-legislated breeds were more likely to not be reported to the authorities before (P = 0.009), and after (P = 0.032) the bite occurred compared to legislated breeds. There were no significant differences observed between both groups for; age when the victim was bitten, bite location, relationship with the dog, history of aggression, outcome for the dog, if the dog bit again, and seeing a professional trainer or behaviourist. No significant difference was observed between both legislated and non-legislated groups for medical treatment required following the bite, and the type of bite inflicted.ConclusionThe present study results did not observe evidence of any differences between legislated and non-legislated for both the medical treatment to victims required following the bite, and the type of bite inflicted. The significant differences in bites being reported to authorities, perceived triggers for biting, and biting locations suggests distinctly differing perceptions relating to risk between legislated and non-legislated dog breeds. Further consequences relating to the introduction of breed-specific legislation in Ireland are discussed.