[QUOTE=CanadianTrotter;8903737]
I couldn’t agree more with this.
All dogs, regardless of size or breed should be properly restrained and muzzled in public. Anything less is just pure irresponsibility.[/QUOTE]
It was actually meant more tongue-in-cheek than serious when I wrote this.
But you know what, if a community really has a serious problem, IF they have the numbers to show it, IF there are already properly enforced leash laws in place, IF it was decided that more stringent regulations are necessary in a thoughtful, democratic process where all interest groups were heard, IF there is a proper plan in place to enforce the new legislation and a system to measure the outcome, then I would be on board too.
But unfortunately, most laws get passed in a bout of populist actionism, with no thought given to how they can be enforced and what the outcome should be.
In the course of this thread, I have gained some understanding for the position of people like sswor, having a small dog and feeling scared and threatened by loose larger dogs. I still don’t think BSL is the answer to the problem, but I can relate to her worries and maybe I’d feel the same way if I were in her situation.
Other people on this thread, however, I feel like I live in a completely different world.
Honestly, if I were concerned enough to muzzle my dogs at all times in public and isolate them from my children and the family at home, cause it is the only way I can guarantee that they won’t maul or kill someone out of nowhere, I wouldn’t have them. That would be a really stressful and unsatisfying experience for me.
I have my dogs for companionship, I take them hiking and to the barn and snuggle up with them at night to watch a movie. My three year old son plays with them and feeds them and learns how to give them commands and teach them tricks.
I pick dogs that suit my lifestyle, an even temperament and stable nerves are very important to me. I put good obedience training on all of them, our yard is securely fenced, I obey leash laws and pick up the poop. I never leave my toddler and my dogs alone together. I make sure no one and no dog has to be in contact with my dogs if he/she doesn’t want to.
My female has been through several lengthy and painful medical procedures and surgeries without ever mauling a vet or tech.
Of course, when a dog is new and you(g) just get to know each other, you(g) err on the side of caution, but after 6+ years of living with them I think I have a pretty good idea of what my dogs can handle and what their limitations are.
I feel that this has to be enough.
Ontario must be a pretty dangerous place if there is really a need for all dogs to be muzzled all of the time, seems like the 11 years of BSL haven’t worked out all that well then. Reported dog bites in Toronto are at an all time high, despite all the restrictions.
We are all on this board cause we are dealing with horses. The risk of dying in a horse related accident is many, many times higher than being mauled to death by a dog. According to an article in “The Horse”, there are about 100 riding related fatalities a year, and 10-20 fold more traumatic brain injuries per 7 million riders in the US, compared to ~30 dog related fatalities per year per 78 million dogs in the US. That’s a factor of ~ 30, and it doesn’t even account for the non-riding horse related accidents or for the fact that we spend many more hours wih our dogs than our horses. I am MUCH more hesitant to put my toddler on a horse than have him live with my dogs. But we all decide to take that risk.
The risk from dogs is in no relation to the measures you are calling for.
