Feb 27, 2017

BCSP Report – Week 7

Bollinger County Stray Project Report February 13-20

Last week I talked about the anger that I would suggest euthanizing an eight week puppy that was excessively aggressive. This week I would like to extend the topic and discuss some behavior and training tips as well as start by sharing with you statistics about dog bite cases from a website I recently posted on our Facebook (FB) page. I would like to invite all our readers to review that website. It is eye opening and factual about what breeds are more apt to attack a human.

The purpose of this article and future related article I will be sharing on this topic is to inform you to become a better pet owner who manages their pets and to be a smarter guardian or parent.

I also need to mention I am not a fan of breed bans, I am however a strong advocate for owners of strong willed breeds such as the Pit Bull and related breeds as well as Herding breeds and the Working breed category to manage those dogs in a more controlled and wise manner. You then protect your pets as well as others who by default may provoke bad behavior even from the dogs we believe to be sweet and loving.

Let’s start with some statistics. Any paragraph or sentence with “quote” marks around it is directly quoted from a dog bite website named at the end of this article.

About 15 years ago the “death by mauling” rate averaged10 dogs a year. The last 11 years the average number of humans killed by dogs has risen to 30 or more per year.

The number one breed or breed mix responsible for these deaths is the Pit Bull or relatives of that breed. “Together, Pit Bulls (28) and Rottweilers (3), the second most lethal dog breed, accounted for 91% of the total recorded deaths in 2015. This same combination also accounted for 76% of all fatal attacks during the 11-year period of 2005 to 2015”

“34 U.S. dog bite-related fatalities occurred in 2015. Despite being regulated in Military Housing areas and over 700 U.S. cities, pit bulls contributed to 82% (28) of these deaths. Pit Bulls make up about 6.6% of the total U.S. dog population.”

“In the year of 2015, the combination of pit bulls (28), their close cousins, American bulldogs (2), and Rottweilers (3) contributed to 97% (33) of all dog bite-related fatalities. Both American Bulldog fatalities occurred in Miami-Dade County, Florida.”

“In the 11-year period of 2005 through 2015, canines killed 360 Americans. Pit Bulls contributed to 64% (232) of these deaths. Combined, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths.”

“Dog bites occur every 75 seconds in the United States. Each day, over 1,000 citizens need emergency medical care to treat these injuries.”

“Adults with two or more dogs in the household are five times more likely to be bitten than those living without dogs in the home. “

Pits above other breeds are more likely to bite a victim in multiple locations and they inflict a higher rate of damage causing the injured people to need emergency surgery more often than other breeds.

There are ways to better manage the Pit Bull type breeds. First, they are not pack animals. They are best managed with only one dog of the opposite sex or with no other dogs in your home. They are not dogs to be loose in the country because of their playful energetic character which often chases livestock. They also are not a good breed to chain or tether because their playful personality feels teased when watching kids running in the yard, riding bikes past their yard, or when you walk your dog past their territory.

They are a breed that is best served to be given obedience training and NOT heavy handed training, meaning when slapped or struck by the hand or foot when you are not happy with their behavior. They can quickly turn on you or someone else they feel is weaker than you and when they grab they often do the ripping and tearing action if you pull away from them or not…

Several years ago I was bitten in the leg by a neutered Pit Bull mix we had rescued as a puppy when trying to break up a fight he started against a sweet Beagle we had in rescue, resulting in me suffering deep puncture wounds. I euthanized the Pit mix.

They make the best pets when neutered or spayed which helps relieve them from hormonal stress, generally, not always, resulting in a milder more tolerant temperament.

Owners should NOT play tug of war games with Pit type dogs nor rough play because it is too easy for this strong and playful breed to become turned on by the games and quickly turn from play to grabbing and over extending into aggression. At first they may not realizing they are hurting a child, the owner, or another person, but when the human reacts to the pain and fear the “game” can turn into a potential deadly situation.

The brain of the Terrier type dogs is activated or excited by movement as was their breeding purpose to catch vermin, bulls, etc.  Screaming can activate even more rough behavior by the dogs because again, that is how their brain works.

Pits bred to old standards are alpha dogs and that is why they are not generally good with packs or with another dog of the same sex. When a person trains a dog to fight he “faces off” his dog to another. It is when a dog is forced to stare at another dog, antagonizing, teasing the dogs to face off towards each other that they attack. Staring in the dog world is disrespectful. A submissive dog will turn their head from an alpha leader. Two alpha dogs will stare and a battle will be the result if they are not contained.

Imagine a child or stranger staring at a dog who is territorial or feeling chained and the dog has the ability to be in contact with that person (who is not dog savvy)? Even dog savvy people are attacked by dogs with high aggressive tendencies.

I will attempt to inform you about what to do and what to look for in your pets in future articles too. I suggest you visit the following website and do some research on your own as well. Visit the following link: http://www.dogsbite.org/

Accepted strays and relinquished pets (Facebook FB) (2:

… Black with white Beagle Lab type mix female from Reynolds County. Property owner recently lost her job and no local rescues stepped up to help her with this stray so we did.

… Catahoula male from north of Marble Hill, brown with black spot adult.

 Adoptions, return to owner or placed in other rescues (2):

… Lady Byrd: Husky and Great Pyrenees mix was adopted by a veterinary student and her husband from Columbia Missouri.

… DooDad: Bully breed mix adopted by an Illinois family, retired veteran.

Cat calls:

… Tiny kitten, white with brown tabby spots, 8 weeks of age, witnessed dumped by a silver 4 door SUV, B Hwy, 7 miles from Hwy 34.

… Most days we are receiving multiple calls about cats with litters. Please spay your cats.

Dogs with Heartworm (HW), Ehrlichia, special needs, or that were euthanized:

… 18 month old Lab Beagle type mix female is stage 2 heartworm positive.

… Beagle who was rescued at Crosstrails parking lot in Marble Hill was serious stage 3 positive for Heartworm, coughing. The owner surely knew this dog, age 2-3 was so sick. Shame on the owner of this Beagle who dumped him or didn’t coming forward to claim this amazingly sweet male dog. This little guy is the result of an owner not able to afford their pet or not caring for their pet, not willing to give monthly prevention to keep him healthy. This dog’s suffering, not unlike the very good natured German Shepherd mix we had to euthanize two weeks ago, especially hurts me, the vets and all who have met and cared for them including the nice lady who fist saved this stray Beagle at her office parking lot.

Calls requesting assistance for dogs we did not admit:

… Black bully mix, spayed, totally vetted needs a new home, call Marilyn 722-3035.

… LOST 2/16/17, Hwy FF just past Co Rd 513: Blue Heeler male mix age 3-4, orange shock collar, beloved child’s pet. .

… LOST 2/18/17, NUT Junction area on N, red male Boxer with lots of white, microchipped, child’s pet.

… FOUND early February, City of Marble Hill: male Beagle, age 3.FB

… LOST between Oran and Bell city: Chocolate Lab male, age 1, intact, belongs to a man in the military. Please return this dog by calling Kodi at 573-887-1533

Miscellaneous and contact info:

We had 30 dogs and pups at our home 2/20/17. If you have a stray camping out in the yard don’t wait, call us at 573-722-3035 or email photos at ace@clas. net.

We LOVE Buchheits! Donate a buck or more at the Jackson store for dog food and supplies when you shop. Also, Second Time Around in Marble Hill is taking donations for the Stray Project. Monetary donations are accepted at the Bollinger County Veterinary Service, Marble Hill Coop, Buchheits, and the MH Town and Country.

Stray Project monetary donations accepted at the Marble Hill Coop. We purchase de-wormer and other supplies at the Coop and donations are greatly appreciated.

Please be advised that the Bollinger County Stray Project is not the county or City of Marble Hill dog catcher. When you have a stray we try to help and can usually offer solutions. Patience is required of the caller towards our ability to find and implement a solution. I wish we had a magic wand but we don’t and can’t always help the callers in a manner they may demand of us. Remember, we are volunteers and help as time and space allows.

Offer a stray water on day one and food day two or three. Call if missing a dog or if you have a stray. We don’t always have room but we may have a solution to help you and the stray.

Dumping dogs is a form of abuse and against the law. Please report animal abuse or neglect.

Please do the following when your pets are expecting or caring for a litter: offer any pregnant dog small-breed-puppy-food the final 1-2 weeks before delivery and while the pups are nursing. Give those mothers all the food they want: bowls full all day and lots of fresh water available all day. Cats need kitten food. Free feed the higher calorie food during the nursing stage to help mom make milk and maintain her own body mass. Babies need to be de-wormed as young as 1-2 weeks, then every 7-10 days until age 10-weeks or older if in a confined environment with re-infestation concerns.

Thank you to the County Residents who have continued to support the Bollinger County Stray Project. 

Check out our available pets at Petfinder.  Call 573-722-3035 about our adoptable pets.

If you suspect an animal is being neglected or abused, call the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Hotline, 314-647-4400 or 800-383-9835 or you can make a confidential report on line at Humane Society of Missouri.

To understand when an animal is being abused or neglected in the state of Missouri read the following link:http://asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cruelty/mo_cruel.htm