THE CULT OF RESPONSIBILITY

We must understand that as we bring dogs into our lives that we are responsible for them. We must feed them, provide medical care, enrich their lives, and make them a part of our family. It is up to us, as their guardians, to learn their quirks, understand their behavior, and provide guidance and training just as you would provide guidance for children.

It is irresponsibility that is often the cause of injury inflicted by a dog and lends itself to fueling the fear. It seems that the most rabid forms of irresponsibility include chaining, little to no socialization or integration into the family unit, and little to no training. Irresponsibility is not a new issue or the most recent hot topic the infiltrate the animal behavior world. But it is gaining ground within the realms of Breed Specific Legislation…and it is about time!

How many times have you read a media report about a dog bite and sat back an analyzed the situation? It has become habit for myself as I pour over stories of dogs who are chained, who are resident dogs, and who are poorly trained or are abused. The CDC states, “Each year, 800,000 Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children.” (CDC, 2008) I am willing to bet that the majority of these attacks could be prevented if proper training and socialization were introduced to the dog.

There is a video which was found on YouTube which depicts a man “playing” with a German Shepherd. The man antagonizes the dog to a point where he gets bit and blood is drawn but yet he continues to tease the dog. Is this called responsible? I will let you decide. You can see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP8eysRL3gY

A recent news article in which two boys were attacked by a pit bull in Clinton, Maryland caught my eye and really drives home the concept of responsibility, rather the owner’s irresponsibility. The dog was being walked without a leash and attacked the boys who eventually jumped up on a car in their attempt to escape. You can view the story here: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/07/two-children-attacked-by-pit-bull-in-clinton-92052.html

There are many things wrong with this situation and it all falls upon the dog owner’s lap. First and foremost, the most obvious fault is that the dog was not on a lead. Taking your dog off of your premises without a leash is an example of ignorance, plain and simple. I would also be willing to bet that this dog was enticed to play rough, similar to the German Shepherd in the video. It makes me wonder why people set their dogs up for failure and it angers me even more when I see it. It is irresponsibility at this level that fuels the BSL fire, but the loser is often the dog because they pay the ultimate price.
We must realize that all dogs have the capability to bite and that is a fact that we must respect. At the end of the day we must take responsibility for our actions and invest time and effort to train and nurture our companions.

“Dog Bite: Fact Sheet.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, 1 Apr. 2008. Web. 27 July 2013. .