Denver, Dog Bites and Pit Bulls

From Westword, the free weekly alternative newspaper in Denver:

First we looked at the number of bites recorded by Denver Animal Care and Control going back to 1990, the first full year the breed ban was in effect. Aside from a bump in 2004 when enforcement of the ban was temporarily suspended, reported bites from pit bulls in Denver have stayed relatively static -- around twelve per year. What is notable is the significant drop in dog bites of all breeds, from 1,146 in 1990 to 305 in 2008. Animal control officials attribute this decrease in total bites to increased enforcement of Denver's non-breed specific dog laws and county-wide spaying and neutering efforts.

That "bump" in 2004 appears to be a tripling in dog bites from Pit Bulls in a single year due to a one-year relaxation of the ban.

Wow!

The Westword article glosses over this jump, as it does not seem to support the reporter's thesis, but it is sobering as it is just about a perfect temporal study for Pit Bull bites.

Also illuminating is this absolute declarative from Denver Animal Care and Control head Doug Kelley:

"What we do know is that, since the ordinance was put into effect, we haven't had a severe mauling or fatality from a pit bull in Denver."

Not one serious mauling by a Pit Bull in more than 20 years? Wow! That's a pretty powerful statement, if true.

Have other breeds mauled people in Denver since? Yes.

Do I support breed bans? No.

Do I think a better way is perhaps found in Portland? Yes.

That said, it's always interesting to look at the data, especially at the bits that are inconvenient to the thesis.

And, for the record, the data is inconvenient to the thesis on both sides -- pollyanna Pit Bull apologists and anti-Pit Bull authoritarian demonizers.

One side seems to want to do nothing, while the other side wants to put the hammer down, and never mind if that hammer is actually hitting the nail.

Measures that address real problems with Pit Bull owners? Neither side is too interested in that.

The Pit Bull Apologists bridle at any increased or articulated responsibility for their dogs.

The anti-Pit Bull Authoritarians bridle at more complex regulatory frameworks that might require more funding for Animal Control.

Both sides can articulate their rights, but neither side can articulate their responsibilities.

What? Dog ownership is about responsibility?

What? Taxes are about responsibility?

Outrageous! On that, they both agree.

Their unified response: Better to shovel more dead Pit Bulls in the ovens than actually face the problem of too many Pit Bulls, and too few responsible owners prepared to deal with them in a responsible way.
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