Just got the 1998 figures for the top ten most popular dogs in Canada and I'm glad to report Rotties have fallen from #6 in 1997 to #10 in 1998. Even though it may well be due to their bad reputation, I'll take this loss of popularity any way I can get it. It means fewer uninformed people are out there buying Rotties and therefore, hopefully, some BYB's will be put out of business.
The other thing I've seen recently that gives me hope is a couple of recent newspaper articles. A major Toronto paper had an article on "Muzzling the Biters" (with a picture of a GSD instead of a Rottie for a change
). Anyway, it was a very fair and balanced article. Today an inquest starts into the death of a child last year (attack by a bull mastiff) and into dog attacks in general. The reporter interviewed the coroner conducting the inquest, a local trainer, several Ontario Humane Society officials and some vets. All of them stated that the problem lies with the owners and no one particular breed of dog. It is very encouraging to me that the coroner, in particular, stated this.
In a public opinion poll, in a nearby town, conducted on how dog attacks could be stopped, all respondants said that they thought the owners should be penalized, not the breed of dog.
Of course, I immediately fired off a letter to the Toronto paper congratulating them on their fair reporting of the situation and reiterating the problem of irresponsible owners. While the fight is not over yet, the word does seem to be getting out. The coroner was quoted as saying, "What happened to Courtney is not an isolated incident, and to have an inquest into just one type of dog would not be as useful to the public as a more comprehensive and broad look over the whole spectrum of dogs that are family pets. Breeding, training, legislation and penalties against dogs and their owners will all be explored." This is the sanest thing I have heard on this subject in a long time and I hope this trend continues.
04-27-1999, 10:07 AM
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