BEHAVIOUR - Educational Podcasts Focus on Breed Specific Legislation

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) is a hot topic around the world with pit bull bans being repealed or enacted in various jurisdictions.

In response to the debate sparked by the recent pit bull bylaw in Montreal, the Pet Professional Guild’s (PPG) upcoming podcasts will feature animal behaviour experts explaining why breed bans are ineffective in reducing frequency of dog bites.

Experts who will feature in the podcasts include:

• Jean Donaldson, instructor, coach, mentor and founder of The Academy for Dog Trainers
• Victoria Stilwell, television personality and renowned dog trainer
• Janis Bradley, director of communications and publications at National Canine Research Council
• Lori Nanan, founder of Your Pit Bull and You, an educational resource for dog owners of all breeds.

PPG's Position Statement proposes that BSL paints an unjust picture of certain breeds of dogs while punishing responsible dog guardians unnecessarily, and notes that it has been found to be costly and ineffective in its aims to reduce the number of dog bites and improve public safety in any given community.

"Research shows us that all animals learn in the same way and that each animal is an individual regardless of its breed," said PPG founder and president Niki Tudge.

"Many of our professional members interact, either personally or professionally, with many, if not all, of the breeds affected by BSL and will bear witness to the fact that animal learning is not breed specific. BSL does not address this at all. It is intended to improve public safety and reduce the number of dogs bites, yet the practice includes little, if any, assessment of individual behavior or environment, owner knowledge of canine behavior and training, and/or owner suitability as a dog guardian, not to mention the fact that many dogs are inaccurately labeled simply because of the way they look."

The first podcast, with Jean Donaldson, will air on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at noon EST.

The Pet Professional Guild is an organization founded on the principles of force-free training and pet care. Its membership represents pet industry professionals who are committed to force-free training, pet care philosophies, practices and methods.

WELFARE - City of Montreal Can Appeal Suspension of Pit Bull Ban

The City of Montreal has been granted permission to appeal a lower court ruling that suspended its controversial pit bull bylaw.

(bestfriends.org)

Quebec's top court will hear arguments Nov. 25. The two sides will be given 30 minutes each to present their case.

The SPCA had argued the law was discriminatory toward dogs that are not dangerous, overly vague in its definition of pit bull-type dogs, and could lead to the euthanasia of hundreds of healthy, well-behaved animals.

Mayor Denis Coderre's administration wants to see the rules restricting pit bulls go ahead despite a legal challenge to its law.

WELFARE - Judge Suspends Montreal's Pit Bull Ban Pending Hearing

Montreal SPCA’s initial court challenge to the city’s pit bull ban has been successful - the controversial ban has been suspended pending a court hearing on the merits of the case.

In his ruling, Quebec Superior Court Justice Louis Gouin said elements of the bylaw pertaining to the categorization of “pit bull-type dogs” are unclear. For that reason, the temporary suspension he ordered on Monday will remain in effect.

The SPCA argued the law was discriminatory toward dogs that are not dangerous, overly vague in its definition of pit bull-type dogs, and could lead to the euthanasia of hundreds of healthy, well-behaved animals.

"The challenge is to establish the limits of the very elastic definition of 'pit bull-type dog' and the court notes that, during the hearings, even the city has been unable to define those limits," the decision states.

Gouin also questioned whether the City of Montreal has the right to order the seizure and euthanizing of pit bull-type dogs that may not be dangerous.

"This court has the impression that certain articles of the bylaw were written in haste," Gouin wrote in his judgement.

He encouraged the city to go back and reflect on the definitions and wording between now and when the case is heard.

"The fight is far from being over, but we are very pleased with this first victory," SPCA lawyer Sophie Gaillard said in a news release.

"We are particularly delighted to be able to continue finding adoptive homes for all our healthy and behaviorally sound dogs, regardless of their physical appearance."

Other provisions of the new animal control bylaw remain in effect, such as the requirement that all dogs weighing more than 20 kilograms, regardless of breed, wear a halter or harness, and regulations that all dogs and cats have a license issued by the city.

When the bylaw was initially passed, there was an immediate outcry against it, so it's no surprise the suspension has resulted in a positive outpouring from organizations and individuals online. 

Many people opposed to the breed ban support legislation based on responsible pet ownership and dangerous dogs by deed rather than breed.

WELFARE - Montreal SPCA Fights City Breed Ban

This week Montreal city council passed a bylaw banning pit bull type dogs and digital media has erupted with outrage.

Breed specific legislation (BSL) is a controversial topic with passionate opinions on both sides.

The Montreal SPCA had threatened to tear up its contract for animal control services in Montreal if a breed ban went ahead.

They have taken their opposition to the new bylaw a step further - the SPCA filed for a judicial review and a stay of the bylaw in Quebec Superior Court on Wednesday.

"What we're asking as a first step is a judge from Quebec Superior Court suspend the application of the sections of the bylaw that deal with 'pit bull-type dogs' in order to eventually have these sections be eventually declared illegal, null and without effect,"  Alanna Devine, director of animal advocacy for the Montreal SPCA told the Canadian Press.

Devine said her organization supports measures to reduce serious dog bites, but doesn't think a breed ban will be effective.

The Montreal SPCA takes about 2,000 dogs into the city shelters it runs every year. Among them, she says, about a third, or 700, meet the bylaw's very broad standard as pit bulls or mixed with pit bulls or having characteristics of a pit bull type dog.

"Based on the way legislation is drafted, they can't be adopted," Devine told the Dodo.

All these animals, good-tempered or not, will have to be euthanized under the new legislation.

The Montreal bylaw was enacted in response to the fatal mauling of Christiane Vadnais several months ago.

After the vote was passed by a 37-23 margin, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre told reporters, "My duty as mayor of Montreal is making sure I am working for all Montrealers. And I am there to make sure they feel safe and that they are safe."

The dog that attacked Vadnais was initially identified by police and media as a pit bull, but the dog’s breed is in question because he was registered as a boxer and police admit they are not experts in dog identification.

Critics of the bill claim it was enacted based on emotion and fear rather than science.

Ewa Demianowicz, a spokesperson for the Canadian branch of Humane Society International, told the Montreal Gazette in the last 30 years in Quebec, five other people have been killed by dogs, and all five cases involved dogs from the husky family.

The Quebec Order of Veterinarians has a lodged a formal complaint against the ban, saying its members have the right to choose whether they want to euthanize a dog.

The American SPCA (ASPCA) has even released a statement condemning Montreal’s bylaw.

“Studies have concluded that dog-breed identifications based on looks alone are completely unreliable—and the confusion only grows when dealing with mixed breeds, which is a fatal flaw in BSL,” the ASPCA wrote.

They went on to say that with the growing realization that more progressive, well-rounded “dangerous dog laws” that address individual animals and owners are more effective public policy than blanket breed bans, the trend in recent years has been for BSL to be repealed.

Other professional organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers all agree that BSL does not work.

The new Montreal bylaw will come into effect next week, apply to all 19 boroughs and define pit bulls as:

• Staffordshire bull terriers
• American pit bull terriers
• American Staffordshire terriers
• Any mix with these breeds
• Any dog that presents characteristics of one of those breeds.

Anyone who currently owns a dog of those breeds and lives in Montreal will have to acquire a special permit in order to keep their pet by Dec. 31, 2016.

Other components of the bylaw:

• The cost to register a pit bull or other dog deemed dangerous is $150.
• Ownership of pit bulls and other dangerous dogs would be restricted to those 18 and older without criminal history of violence.
• The animals would have to be microchipped and sterilized by Dec. 31, 2019.
• Pit bull type dogs would also have to kept on a halter, muzzle and four foot leash whenever they are off their owner's property.

BEHAVIOUR - Dog Bite Prevention and BSL, What Works?

When it comes to breed specific legislation (BSL), emotions run high and empirical evidence is lacking.

The dogs most commonly targeted for BSL are “pit bulls,” a group that includes Bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, and any mix of these breeds.

Identifying pit bulls is a challenge, since the validity of genetic testing is ineffective because “pit bull” is a type rather than a recognized breed, and identification based on physical characteristics is unreliable.

BSL has been enacted in many jurisdictions globally, despite evidence that bite frequency does not drop as a result.

In fact, some jurisdictions have seen an increase in bite frequency following BSL.

Toronto, as a notable Canadian example, has had an increase in bite instances since instituting a pit bull ban in 2005. The Netherlands repealed a 15-year ban after finding that dog bite frequency had not been reduced.

When a jurisdiction is used as its own control, meaning that the jurisdiction is tested against itself before and after enacting BSL, there is no significant reduction in incidence.

So why does it remain such a popular option if it is expensive to enact, difficult to maintain, and demonstrably ineffective?

One study published by the AVMA suggests that this enthusiasm is due to a misperception of risk (people believe that the risk associated with dog bites is higher than it is, and that the risk associated with certain breeds is higher than it is), stereotyping and misinformation about breeds, and the belief that BSL is effective despite evidence to the contrary.

There are alternatives, and they appear to be effective. Italy repealed its breed-specific regulations in 2009, and replaced them with laws that focus on the owner. Health Undersecretary Francesca Martini said, “The measures adopted in the previous laws had no scientific foundation… With this law we have overcome the black list, which was just a fig leaf (over the larger problem), and we have increased the level of guarantees for citizens.”

Calgary, Alberta has adopted a similar approach to dog bite prevention, focusing on owner education and placing the responsibility for safety on the owners, rather than the dogs.

Calgary-based trainer Megan Armstrong, CPDT-KSA, CBCC-KA, agrees that focusing on the owner is critical. “We must better educate dog owners on canine communication and body language… In an ideal world, we would be looking at it being mandatory that dog owners train and socialize their dogs versus putting the blame on a breed. Dogs follow our direction, so we must hold dog owners more accountable to how they are training and raising them versus making the dog pay for our errors.”

Despite this evidence, and public support for owner-focused legislation from high-profile pet organizations such as the National Companion Animal Coalition, BSL seems here to stay.

As some repeal BSL, other jurisdictions, like Quebec, are currently contemplating enacting it. And some Canadian insurance providers deny coverage to pit bull owners, or charge higher premiums for owners of pit bulls.

By Tiffany Sostar

Tiffany is a writer, editor, academic, and animal lover who came late to her appreciation of pets. At 18, a rescue pup named Tasha saved her from a depression and she hasn't looked back. She has worked as the canine behaviour program coordinator for the Calgary Humane Society, and was a dog trainer specializing in working with fearful and reactive dogs for many years. She doesn't have any pets right now, but makes up for it by giving her petsitting clients (and any dogs she comes across on her frequent coffee shop adventures) extra snuggles.

Despite Breed Ban, Toronto Dog Bites Increase

(bestfriends.org)

Despite a breed-based ban culminating in a dramatic drop in the number of pit bull type dogs in Ontario, reported cases of canine bites has increased.

In Toronto, for instance, there were 576 bites in 2004 (a year before the ban) and 767 in 2014, Global News recently reported.

The numbers are not what those who backed the ban would have predicted. 

Indeed, then-Attorney General Michael Bryant, assured the ban was “the beginning of the end of the reign of terror, imposed by pit bulls” and would “over time” mean “fewer pit pull attacks.”

Now, however, the question illustrated by Global News remains – if almost all the pit bulls are gone, why do dog bite numbers continue to climb?

Parkdale-High Park MPP Cheri DiNovo, says it is because the problem was never with pit bulls. “I’m not surprised at all by those statistics,” she told Global. “I would think they were inevitable.”

Under the ban, four breeds often all referred to a'pit bulls' (pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and American pit bull terriers) had to be kept muzzled or leashed in public and sterilized within two months of its passage and it became illegal to breed the dogs or import them into the province.

There are now just over 300 pit bulls in Ontario compared with more than 1,400 about a decade ago – and in theory, pit bulls should cease to exist in Toronto by 2020.

But as pit bull numbers dwindle, dog bites have continued to climb since 2012. In Toronto, bites hit the highest levels recorded this century in 2013 and 2014.

That is because other dogs do the biting.

In 2014, German shepherds, labs, and Rottweilers were among the top offenders along with little dogs including Jack Russell terriers, shih tzus and Maltese.

Some believe breed-based bans are a practical ploy to improve public safety.

While others, like Teegan Buckingham, with the Toronto Humane Society, say it has punished a particular breed - the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association estimating the law, by 2012, had led to more than 1,000 of the demonized dogs and puppies with no history of violence being euthanized. “We would love to see the pit bull ban lifted,” Buckingham told Global.

DiNovo favours a system similar to Calgary where officials have seen a dramatic drop in bites since the 1980s without a breed-based ban but by promoting education of dog owners, children and strict enforcement.

Bill Bruce, Calgary's animal services director at the time, spoke before an Ontario government committee several years after it imposed its ban to debunk beliefs it would mean less bites.

“What we did learn is that when you do ban a breed, of course, the bites go down for that specific breed; that’s no surprise,” Bruce told the committee. “If there are fewer of them, there are fewer opportunities. But what we found is that bites tend to go up dramatically in other breeds. Any dog, again, can bite, and it’s coming back on the owner to make that determination if a dog is safe or not.”

Dr. Dale Scott, president of the Ontario Veterinary Association at the time, told the committee breed-based bans do not work because they are based on incorrect assumptions not backed by scientific research - “that only certain breeds are dangerous and that all dogs that belong to those breeds are dangerous.”

By Nadia Moharib

Nadia Moharib is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

RESEARCH - DNA Study Shows Inconsistent Identification of Pit Bulls

A recent survey shows shelter staff are inconsistent and often incorrect when it comes to identifying a dog's breed - a potentially devastating, if not deadly, error for any canine labelled a pit bull.

"In the high-stakes world of animal shelters, a dog's life might depend on a potential adopter's momentary glimpse and assumptions about its suitability as a pet. If shelter staff has labelled the dog as a pit bull, its chances for adoption automatically go down in many shelters,” says Julie Levy, professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the lead author of a study published in The Veterinary Journal.

"Identification of dogs as pit bulls can trigger an array of negative consequences, from the loss of housing to being seized by animal control, to the taking of the dog's life."

The findings show one in five dogs genetically identified as 'pit bulls' were missed by shelter staff while one in three deemed to be pit bulls had genetic testing which contradicted the claim.

More than half (52%) of staff identified dogs as pit bull-type when in fact DNA showed only 21% were indeed pit bull type.

The findings are troubling given shelter staff and veterinarians are often expected to guess a dog's breed based on appearance alone and potential adopters often infer, based on apparent breed, what kind of pet a particular pooch will make.

The past few decades have seen an increase in ownership restrictions on breeds including pit bulls and dogs that resemble them based on assumptions certain breeds are inherently dangerous, that such dogs can be reliably identified and restrictions will improve public safety, the study states.

That reality, in addition to negative stereotypes dogging pit bull-types, means inconsistency by shelter staff to correctly identify a breed can be dangerous - the designation often devastating, and at times a death sentence, for dogs waiting to be adopted.

"These results raise difficult questions because shelter workers and veterinarians are expected to determine breeds of dogs in their facilities on a daily basis. Additionally, they are often called on as experts as to whether a dog's breed will trigger confiscation or regulatory action. The stakes for these dogs and their owners are in many cases very high,” Levy says.

"A dog's physical appearance cannot tell observers anything about its behaviour. Even dogs of similar appearance and the same breed often have diverse behavioural traits in the same way human siblings often have very different personalities.”

Researchers evaluated breed assessments of 120 dogs made by 16 shelter workers, including four veterinarians, at four facilities – all had a minimum of three years experience working at shelters.

Then researchers developed DNA profiles from blood samples taken from each dog and compared the findings against staff assessments.

Levy suggests, rather than relying on a dog's appearance or apparent breed as a predictor of behaviour, public safety would be better served by taking steps to prevent dog bites, including supervising children, understanding canine body language, fixing dogs and socializing puppies.

By Nadia Moharib
Nadia Moharib is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

2015 Summit Forum: Rescue Dogs

Animals are regularly adopted from rescues while dog breeding has taken a downturn; it is becoming less socially acceptable to purchase a dog from a breeder. Part of this stems from the idea that there are too many dogs and that breeders are contributing to the homeless dog population. A study in the United States has shown that this is not the case, purebreds make up a very small proportion of homeless dog.

The homeless dog population in North America is declining and has been for years. This can cause rescues and shelters to run out of adoptable dogs. A simple solution to this problem is to import dogs from other jurisdictions, countries, and even continents. However, the importation of dogs does not help the environment that they came from. It does not help other dogs. It does not help the dogs or people in our own country; in fact, humane relocation poses serious health risks to our pets and to civilians. How can health regulations be enforced? What guidelines are in place to allow a dog to enter the country? Should the movement of these dogs into the country be tracked and regulated? Is there a way to recast this dilemma as an opportunity to enrich communities or should these imports be shut down?

People are also concerned about the ethics of animal rescue. Is it always truly best for the animal? Another concern is the increasing behavioural problems that people are experiencing and the increase in dog bites. As rescue dogs become more prevalent in the adoption environment from myriad sources, issues in the areas of health and socialization have emerged. Who should be assessing dogs to ensure they contribute to a safe environment for people and animals?

Get the facts, have your say, move the industry.

If you are interested in participating at the 2015 Summit for Urban Animal Strategies please contact Shannon Woodward, Urban Animal Program Manager. 

INTERVIEW: Dr. Rebecca Ledger: Digital Journalist Scholarship Applicant

Dr. Rebecca Ledger writes for the Vancouver Sun about animal welfare issues including animal legislation, pet care/health, and animal behaviour. Her articles may also be found in the National Post, the Leader Post, the Calgary Herald, The Star Phoenix, The Windsor Star, the Montreal Gazette and the Ottawa Citizen. Dr. Ledger is also active on her Twitter account and in in the process of creating her Animal Behaviour and Welfare Consulting website.

Dr. Ledger is a Faculty Member at Langara College, teaching Basic and Advanced courses in animal behaviour, animal welfare, animal law and business. She was awarded her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of London, her Masters Degree in Applied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from the University of Edinburgh (The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies) and her Doctorate in the assessment and treatment of behavioural disorders in shelter dogs from Brunel University.

InfoStream (IS): Your passion for animals is evident; tell us more about how this came to be.

Dr. Rebecca Ledger (DRL): I was just born this way! I can't remember a time when I wasn't drawn to animals and experienced a respect for them. I was lucky that my family were like-minded and nurtured this calling.

IS: The pet experience is big for you. Tell us about your pets.

DRL: We have a dog (Poppy, a 2 year old English Springer spaniel), a rescue cat called Gilly (11 years old) and recently we adopted two stray guinea pigs, Guiness and Fred. The g-pigs had been abandoned by a bus stop and were picked up by Vancouver Animal Control.

IS: How do you use media in the pet industry?

DRL: I have a privileged opportunity to write animal related articles for PostMedia. The articles are published biweekly in the Vancouver Sun, and often picked up by the other newspapers. So far, the articles have been reprinted in the The National Post, Ottawa Citizen, the Leader Post, Montreal Gazette, the Calgary Herald, the Edmonton Journal and the Windsor Star and the Star Phoenix. This provides an opportunity to bring animal-related news to the whole of Canada. It is astounding how many people these stories reach, both in print and on-line.

IS: What is the main focus/goal of your use of digital media?

DRL: To bring science-based information on animal health, animal behaviour and animal welfare to Canadians. There are plenty of non-science based opinions on 'the internet', pushing practices that are actually bad for animal welfare. My goal is to help Canadians make evidence-based, informed, effective and humane decisions regarding their pets.

IS: What do you see as the greatest risk for the pet industry as you know it? What is your greatest concern?

DRL: Overall, I have fewer concerns now than I did 10 years ago. Things are progressing and generally getting better. Dog over-population and humane training is getting better. And, I find that owners are now also better informed on positive pet keeping practices than they were before. But, some challenges still exist. Cat over-population and the management of feral populations is still a challenge. So too is where pet seekers should acquire their new pets from. As Canadians are becoming more responsible at spay / neutering and pet identification, so the number of adoptable pets in shelters is going down. This is good for pet welfare. So, where are owners getting their next pet from now? We are seeing an increase in un-regulated rescue groups and owners taking on challenging pets that have not been adequately vetted. I see owners with these challenges daily in my practice.

IS: What in your history has taken you to where you are now?

DRL: A very convoluted and complex career path, which I'm not sure could ever be easily replicated! Apart from years of study (a BSc in Biology, a MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour & Animal Welfare, a PhD in the behavioural assessment and treatment of dogs with behavioural disorders and three Fellowships in animal behaviour & animal welfare), I have had the good fortune to work with some of the best animal welfare scientists and organizations in the world, across Europe and North America. I think that the diversity of animal organizations that I have had the privilege to work with has given me both a deep and broad understanding of the field. These include humane organizations, Universities, the military, sled dog companies, pharmaceutical companies, pet food companies and the veterinary profession.

IS: What motivates you to share your knowledge to promote the well-being of pets?

DRL: The positive impact that I see it having. Seeing first hand how knowledge can transform how someone understands and manages their pet for the better makes it all worth while. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a pet and their owner live a happier, less stressful, more fulfilled life as a result of something you been able to teach them.

IS: Thank you!

Breed Specific Legislation heading the way of the dinosaur

Several U.S. municipalities are reconsidering their approach to breed specific bans. 

For 30 years, more than 700 cities across the country enforced pit bull restrictions and bans. Over the past two years, more than 100 of those communities have overtunred the legislation, including nine since June, 2014. 

Advocates argue the bans have been ineffective in reducing dog bites and led to millions of dogs being euthanized. They say too often, animal control officials, law enforcement and the media misidentify offending dogs as pit bulls. 

This year, South Dakota and Utah joined 17 other states in passing laws to prevent local governments passing "breed-specific legislation" (BSL), making it illegal for cities to pass bans targeting pit bulls or any other breed. 
  
READ MORE: U.S. Communities increasingly ditching pit bull bans 

In Canada last year, New Westminster B.C. reviewed their own breed specific provisions. At the time, most of the Lower Mainland was moving toward breed-neutral legislation. The City of Winnipeg introduced Canada's first ban on pit bulls in 1990 and Ontario introduced its province-wide Pit Bull Ban in 2005. In 2004, New Brunswick considered breed specific legislation but opted instead for legislation which deals with all dangerous dogs. In Calgary in 2013, the city received public pressure for BSL following three separate attacks by pit bulls. 

According to statistics posted online in February 2013 by the American Temperament Test Society, 86.8% of American Pit Bull Terriers successfully pass their temperament evaluations - a higher passing rate than many other popular breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Boston Terriers and Dachshunds. Out of 32,438 dogs tested since the organization was founded in 1977, the average passing rate for all breeds is 83%.

READ MORE: Does the breed of a dog tell us anything about its behaviour?

South Dakota law prohibits municipal breed bans

A new law protecting breed specific discrimination in municipalities went into effect in South Dakota  July 1, 2014. 

Senate Bill 75, signed into law by Gov. Dennis Daugaard in March, prevents local governments from regulating certain dog breeds. The bill was specifically aimed at preventing municipalities from banning ownership of pit bulls, a dog breed often deemed vicious but which animal rights advocates consider trainable and safe. 

At least three South Dakota cities currently place restrictions or enforce pit bull bans. In the United States, 17 other states have passed bills similar to SB 75. 

Jacque Johnson, a representative for the Best Friends Animal Society said bans on specific dog breeds go against the grain of equal property rights. 

"We are kind of hoping that it sets the tone for the rest of the Midwest states because it really is a property rights issue," she said. "If you're a responsible owner then you should be able to own any breed of dog that you choose." 

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