AMERICAN ANIMAL FOUNDATION ARE FATAL DOGS ATTACKS ACCURATE WHEN WE READ ABOUT THEM IN THE MEDIA ?

 

The Center for Disease released a study on fatal dog attacks from 1979 - 1998.

The CDC study assistance from the HSUS an organization supporting the end to domestic 

pet ownership. The CDC study was bias and serves no scientific purpose. The study was 

done intentionally to support breed specific legislation by making claim that Rottweilers and 

Pit Bulls were responsible for the majority of fatal dog attacks during 1979 - 1998. The CDC 

study failed to include the populations of breeds responsible for fatal attacks and without 

populations of breeds to make a statement that specific breeds are responsible for the 

majority of fatal attacks is intentional.

 

The CDC has been used by organizations lobbying to pass breed specific legislation in an attempt to target Rottweilers and Pit Bulls.Data shows us apx. 22 people die each year from using hiar dryers while standing in bath tubs filled with water. For the last 40 years 

between 12 -25 people each year have died from dog attacks and the numbers have not changed even though the populations of canines has increased.  

 

The main cause of fatal dog attacks is irresponsible dog owners who do not properly train 

and socalize their dogs which leads to aggressive behavior and irresponsible parents who 

leave young children unattended around dogs.

Breed is not a contributing factor to fatal dog attacks and spay and neutering does not reduce canine aggression.

 

DR POLLEY DVM

 

Addressing The Testosterone Issue

 

"Testosterone plays a role in modulating certain behaviors such as roaming, urine marking in-doors, sexual mounting and aggression toward other dogs (versus playful activity or dominance).   Neutersol reduces the male hormone, testosterone, by 41-52% while surgical castration reduces testosterone by 95%. These behaviors may persist after either neutering method.

 

While testosterone plays a role in affecting certain sexually dimorphic behaviors, it is not the only factor. In fact, the veterinary behavioral textbooks point out that there are multiple contributing factors with regard to these behaviors. Surgical castration does not completely eliminate these behaviors. The controlled scientific studies that have assessed the effects of surgical castration with regard to behavior have shown that most dogs continue exhibiting these behaviors. Aggression toward humans shows little 

significant effect after surgical castration. Surgery can have an effect in some of these, but is far from absolute. The FDA has reviewed the data for both surgery and Neutersol and included wording in the prescribing information of Neutersol addressing this fact, "As with surgical castration, secondary male characteristics (roaming, marking, aggression and mounting) may persist."

 

There is no scientific process available to identify the American Pit Bull Terrier and over 30 breeds that look like the Pit Bull. We find the media only reports what they call Pit Bull attacks labeling dogs that are not even related to the American Pit Bull Terrier. Of the fatal dog attacks in the last 40 years very few dogs labeled as Pit Bulls were actually purebred American Pit Bull Terriers registered 

with dog registries with pedigrees.