Keith Fraser canada.com
Tuesday, December 31, 2002

One of two mastiff cross dogs who attacked Shenica White in Vancouver.

As 14-year-old Shenica White recovers from the wounds she received in a vicious mauling by two dogs, people in Vancouver are calling for policy reviews to prevent such attacks.

Vancouver Coun. Fred Bass, a dog owner himself, wants the city to look at how many vicious-dog attacks occur and whether certain breeds pose a higher risk.

But an animal rights group says that it's not the breed of dog that is the biggest indicator of aggressive behaviour -- it's the training and care of it.

The Animal Advocates Society of B.C. claims to have warned Vancouver council in a report 18 months ago that the city's backyards are full of 'time bombs' -- dogs who have become dangerously aggressive from constant confinement in small spaces.

The animal activists say too many dogs are left tied up in back yards by themselves for long periods of time. Their research shows that if the dogs escape, they'll be more insecure and aggressive than dogs who have been properly cared for.

The group would like Vancouver city council to introduce bylaws that would improve conditions for urban dogs. AAS outlined the suggestions and the reasons for making them in the report It's Time.

The report's suggestions include:

Ban tethering: Dogs can easily get accidentally entangled in their tether. Also, being tied prevents the animal from escaping a frightening situation. AAS is not asking for a by-law to prohibit temporary tethering.
Protect dogs kept in garages and sheds: Some dogs in Vancouver live their entire lives in a garage or shed. Although these dogs have shelter, they are lonely, spend most of their lives in the dark and sometimes have no sanitary place to sleep. AAS says the bylaw enforcer should have access to garages and sheds if there is reason to believe that a dog lives there for a substantial part of its life.
Establish a minimum dog pen size: AAS would like to see a by-law that states than a pen must be at least 200 square feet and that limits the length of time a dog can be isolated.
Ban muzzles: Dogs whine and bark when they are lonely and are neglected by the humans they count on to take care of them. Muzzling a dog to prevent it from making its needs be heard is inhumane and barbaric. Muzzling a dog has the same effect as chaining. It is an irresponsible way to control a dog's natural behaviours instead of appropriate human interaction and socialization training. It's the lack of responsible pet care that forces a dog to whine and bark incessantly.
The newly elected council hasn't said yet if it will revisit that issue.

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