Southerngirl, pubmed.gov is a great place to look for peer-reviewed scientific articles on everything. I would be happy to help you translate any of the technical 'babble' if there were an article you were interested in
, just PM me. Here are a few:
Vet J. 2010 Dec;186(3):292-8. Epub 2009 Oct 29.
Dog bites in The Netherlands: a study of victims, injuries, circumstances and aggressors to support evaluation of breed specific legislation.
Cornelissen JM,
Hopster H.
Source
Wageningen UR Livestock Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands.
[email protected]
Abstract
As part of an evaluation of Dutch breed specific legislation, data were collected from dog bite victims (1078) and dog owners (6139) using Internet surveys. The incidence rate of dog bites and details of incidents (victims, injuries, circumstances and aggressors) are reported and the justification for using breed specific measurements to deal with dog bites are considered. For aggressors, attack records for breed groups and popular breeds were established by calculating breed risk indices using a reference population. Several breeds and breed groups were over- and under-represented in the biting population and there was a mismatch between risk indices and the then-current legislation. Mitigation strategies should not be based on attack records (since this would lead to the rejection of a significant proportion of the canine population) but on the circumstances of the incidents. Preventative measures must focus on a better understanding of how to handle dogs.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2834488/
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Ann Surg. 2011 Apr;253(4):791-7.
Mortality, mauling, and maiming by vicious dogs.
Bini JK,
Cohn SM,
Acosta SM,
McFarland MJ,
Muir MT,
Michalek JE;
TRISAT Clinical Trials Group.
Source
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Maiming and death due to dog bites are uncommon but preventable tragedies. We postulated that patients admitted to a level I trauma center with dog bites would have severe injuries and that the gravest injuries would be those caused by pit bulls.
DESIGN:
We reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to our level I trauma center with dog bites during a 15-year period. We determined the demographic characteristics of the patients, their outcomes, and the breed and characteristics of the dogs that caused the injuries.
RESULTS:
Our Trauma and Emergency Surgery Services treated 228 patients with dog bite injuries; for 82 of those patients, the breed of dog involved was recorded (29 were injured by pit bulls). Compared with attacks by other breeds of dogs, attacks by pit bulls were associated with a higher median Injury Severity Scale score (4 vs. 1; P = 0.002), a higher risk of an admission Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or lower (17.2% vs. 0%; P = 0.006), higher median hospital charges ($10,500 vs. $7200; P = 0.003), and a higher risk of death (10.3% vs. 0%; P = 0.041).
CONCLUSIONS:
Attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs. Strict regulation of pit bulls may substantially reduce the US mortality rates related to dog bites.
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Remember, you'll have to address the arguments supporting breed bans in order to counteract them, hence the above article. It's clear that some dogs are stronger, faster, more agile, and can do significantly more damage through their bites. What is also clear is that dog bites are a failing of humans to control and restrain dangerous dogs, often accompanied by failings of socialization and recognition of signs of shyness, fear, or predatory aggression. Furthermore, banning certain breeds of dogs doesn't ensure that mixed breeds or other breeds won't be put in the same situations with the same people, and bite.
This is so STUPID!!!! How can they ban/restrict 75 breeds?!?!?!?! My goodness.... I wonder WHY all these breeds were restricted/banned....
was that list from a reputable site?
I have a feeling it will be awesome!
