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Calgary Dog Attacks Fall to Lowest Levels in 25 Years

May 19, 2009, 12:35PM MT

By Cheri Moon

Holding reckless owners responsible for dog's behavior—not BDL—works!

Holding reckless owners responsible for dog's behavior—not BDL—works!

By Lynn Ready, Best Friends Network Volunteer

Communities that have enacted Breed Discriminatory Legislation (BDL) in an attempt to lower dog bites can take lessons from Calgary, Canada.

Calgary, a city in Canada, has significantly reduced dog bite incidents without enacting BDL. Instead they have established humane education programs, and work closely with local animal rescue groups and various city/government departments to identify and penalize reckless owners.

Despite Calgary’s steady population growth (from 600,000 to 1.1 million between 1984 and 2008) and the absence of BDL, attacks by aggressive dogs are the lowest they've been in 25 years.

Calgary Holds Reckless Owners, Not Dogs, Responsible
“Everything goes back to responsible pet ownership,” says Bill Bruce, Director of Animal Bylaw Services in Calgary. In 2006 his team incorporated the bylaw which holds owners responsible for their dog’s behavior.

Bruce says there are four things that are absolutely essential to lowering dog bites:

1. Licensing and permanent pet ID.
2. Easily accessible spay/neuter programs.
3. Training, socialization, grooming and food—basic needs for a dog to feel safe and comfortable.
4. Proper supervision to prevent a pet becoming a nuisance in the community.

Calgary law has a provision that prohibits leaving a dog unattended. An unattended dog tied to a sign or bicycle rack can become scared and bite out of fear. Also, dogs are never allowed to be chained or tethered outside the house unless someone is home. The city doesn’t treat dog bites lightly—a minor bite is a $350 fine and a serious offense is $1,500.

This common sense approach is luring many of Ontario’s residents who live in areas that have breed bans to move to Calgary. Calgary is simply a dog friendly municipality that is working together to do things right. In fact, Calgary’s Annual Citizen Satisfaction Survey results show that over 91% of residents rated Animal Services as "good" or "very good."

Humane Education Proves Effective
The city of Calgary organizes many public speaking programs to teach owners about their pets. These programs address how to properly socialize a dog and understand dog behaviors and needs.

The program has even been incorporated into school curriculums—both public and private. Programs/classes include bite prevention, dogs in society, laws in society, and a junior bylaw project in which kids identify problems in their community.

Investigating Problem Behaviors
Bruce says they spend a lot of time trying to “understand animals.” If a dog bites, for example, the team goes into the house and asks questions such as: Where did the dog come from? Are there children in the house? Where are the dog’s parents? What are the dog’s triggers?

Investigators even give the dog a medical exam to make sure it isn’t suffering from an underlying health problem. In addition, investigators will visit another home in the area with the same breed that hasn’t bitten and thoroughly investigate what that owner is doing right. Again, as Bruce says, it all comes down to responsible pet ownership. Incidentally, Bruce notes that one of their top “biters” is border collies and not “bully breeds.”

This type of investigation certainly entails high costs, but Bruce says those are all taken care of through licensing. Dog owners pay licensing fees (slightly higher rates for unaltered dogs) and those fees go toward the cost for the humane education and other services.

American Pit Bull Terriers on the Rise in Calgary
Brandy Campbell-Biggs, President of Pit Bulls for Life, a non-profit animal rescue operation geared specifically toward pit bulls, says targeting bad owners instead of stigmatizing entire breeds is the key to reducing aggressive incidents. She says that while dog bites have been going down, the number of pit bulls coming to the city has actually been increasing.

A Community Working Together
Ed Fritz, Best Friends campaign specialist for pit bulls, Saving America’s Dog, says, “The good news coming out of Calgary goes to show what can happen when a community is serious and diligent about safety instead of reactionary like so many United States communities in regards to dog ordinances.”

He adds, “When members of a community —in this case the post office, humane society, rescue groups and government—work together to identify dangerous dogs and hold dog owners accountable for the management and care for their dogs, a safe humane community is the result. This is something that Best Friends and many other groups are advocating.”

Ledy VanKavage, senior legislator at Best Friends summed it up with the following. “American cities can learn a valuable lesson from Calgary. They take a community policing approach to animal control. Their animal control wardens get out of the trucks and work with folks—educating them. Their wardens have degrees in criminal justice and training in problem solving, and they don't view their job as simply catching animals.”

For More Information
• Read the news story about Calgary’s approach to dangerous dogs.
• Join the Stop BDL community for more information on how you can help put an end to breed discrimination.

Photos by Clay Myers, Best Friends photographer
Posted by Cheri Moon, Best Friends staff

Comments

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:9PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted June 02, 2009, 12:25AM by nicol

The HSUS kills pit bulls and supports BSL.

Please sign and circulate:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Demand-Wayne-Pacelle-of-HSUS-Resign

Posted May 23, 2009, 12:13PM by Cairo

We need Ontario to follow Calgary's lead. We currently have a ban on pitbulls or anything that looks like a pitbull. One women in Kitchener actually took the Humane Society to court to "prove" her dog was not a pitbull, nor had any pitbull genetics. She won her case, but not everyone has the resources to do so. If only people would listen to the "animal authorities" and not to the media or ignorant public. I swear in my heart that ban was imposed to guarantee votes in the next ellection.
Thank you Galgary, for paving the way, maybe my province will take heed, especially when they see the statistics, in your city, promoting the education, and having educated "animal officers', in control of the ones who can't speak for themselves!

Brenda. P. from Ontario, Canada

Posted May 20, 2009, 9:13PM by Kelly4cats

Is Denver paying any attention?

Posted May 21, 2009, 12:55AM by MonikaSwiss

Calgary is way ahead in their relations to the public... and animals. Denver is stuck in the dark ages, with an ignorant city council and dead-end "solution", which we will fight until they lift the ban. Adamant witch-hunters who spend time sending anonymous emails and posting nasty blogs while collecting a paycheck ... just shows the niveau Denver is falling to. Not a mile-high at all.

I suggested workshops/classes/training months ago to the Head of Denver Animal Control. Not only would it educate all dog owners, of any breed, but it would teach compassion to our fellow canines who very often get so misjudged and fall victim to oblivion because people are not in tune with them or simply treat them as a throw-away commodity.

Teaching classes funded by licensing is the best idea to a safer community - and fair for all. Boycott Denver until it wakes up from it's dormant state of ignorance and indifference.
www.denverkillsdogs.com

Congrats to Calgary - you are an example others should follow.

Posted May 22, 2009, 7:30PM by cambridgeratmom

Denver has been and continues to be a horror show. They're just too lazy to try something other than euthanasia despite tons of people who would be willing to participate. VOTE THEM OUT!!!!!

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:9PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:10PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted May 26, 2009, 10:43AM by dionie

Bully dogs will be safe in Calgary and Victoria BC.

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:10PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:10PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:9PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:10PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted May 24, 2009, 2:19PM by marys

Perhaps everyone needs to print this article and send it to the politicians in Denver, and many other cities! Wouldn't it be great if it could go to the news and newspapers in Denver. It makes me sad for anyone having to live in such a backward, ignorant city.

Posted May 20, 2009, 11:10PM by bdemott

Calgary is a city not a Province. It is in the Province of Alberta

Posted May 20, 2009, 1:5PM by cambridgeratmom

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See, it can be done. It takes time and patience, not knee-jerk, quick-fix mentality. Responsible owenrship--what a concept!

Posted May 20, 2009, 10:49AM by maryann_i

This is a GREAT article!

Posted August 11, 2009, 1:31PM by Yours in Rescue

Its so sad that the government of the province of Ontario did not take the review sent to them by the city of Calgary before introducing the BSL law into account instead of just stating it wouldnt work in Ontario. Had the government listened & educated themselves by visiting Calgary & basing a program similar to Calgary here in Ontario, there would be less innocent lives being lost by the hundreds here. Ontario government turned a blind eye & a deaf ear on something that could have worked as well as it has proven to out in Calgary & decided mass slaughter of any dog they can class as a Pitbull (not even a real breed) to be a better solution. SHAME ON YOU GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO. You are death mongers who have no time for anything else but money matters. The people & animals of Ontario suffer everyday because ofd your uneducated decision. Beth Coleman Advocate to all animals in harms way. Yours in rescue :)

Posted August 12, 2009, 3:42PM by gloriadangerfield

I know it's already been said... but Ontario should take a lesson from Calgary! I know of a few a cities in Ontario (ex. Peterborough) who have already reported higher dog bites since BSL was put through in 05.