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10 thoughts on “A Review of Louisville Metro Animal Services Open Data Set: Dog Bite Investigations by Breed, Dog Licenses and Other Activities

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  1. Another excellent piece of research and analysis. Colleen’s contribution to public safety through reporting of facts, interviews, FOIAs, local-state- and national media, public records, and more is incomparable, trustworthy and current. Thanks again for another important article on the subject of dangerous dog breeds. You are saving lives and doing it inspite of the personal costs.

  2. It’s almost as if they need a separate entity (perhaps funded by a pit bull tax) to cater to the problems pit bulls cause. Instead of Animal Control, it would be Pit Bull Control. At the very least it would give our Animal Services back to the animals who are being pushed out because pits are taking up all the resources. I would love to go to a County or City run Animal Shelter and see normal dogs up for adoption.

    • 1000x THIS^^^Farmer Jayne. I wholeheartedly, concur.

      I remember two friendly husky brothers being euthanized at the shelter for the crimes of eating a sofa and being rambunctious (and needing a suitable owner) while crazy pitbulls were being doubled up in cages and living in workers’ offices. Husky teen idiocy is a fixable problem for someone with a bit of skill and dog handling experience. 50%+ of adult pitbulls are severely dog-aggressive and that’s *not* fixable in most cases and imminently dangerous public behaviour.

      We’ve neutered so many friendly mutts because nobody wants to point out the pitbull problem–that finding a friendly, inexpensive mutt is nigh impossible in most urban shelters.

      How about, no public funding for pitbulls. These pitbull enthusiasts like them so much? Let THEM pay for their own shelters. Pitbull comes in, Animal Control calls the pitbull facilities and if there’s no room? Too bad, so sad and euthanize them.

      Let some friendly mutt, or lost poodle or failed hunting dog get a second chance because the odds are in their favour as a family pet.

      Or maybe, add some extra cat room. Cats are useful urban pets and most people aren’t really dog savvy nor do they realize how much work a dog, is. Cats are easy for busy people.

      And wow Colleen…that’s a well-researched article. Thanks! Not only will it save human lives, for the dog lovers out there–it will save dog lives, too.

    • I think the X-factor in all of this is the insurance industry. Once they get the memo on the Pit Bull Surcharge, they’ll change their policies and premiums in a New York minute.

      And, DBO, I hope you’re getting this study into the hands of all of the major insurers in the United States.

      • Quiet, I suspect that’s why countries with universal healthcare and disability supports and less lawfare are quicker to institute pitbull bans.

        They take one look at the millions of dollars they’re spending in reconstructive surgeries, disability payments, physio, ongoing doctor’s fees, medications, trauma therapy for families etc etc …

        …and start screaming for legislation

      • No renter or owner’s policy covers pit bulls already. They’ve been excluded for decades. Which means when someone with a pit bull bites a victim, there is usually no money and no recourse for said victim. It’s completely unfair.

  3. The pitbull problem is huge. I find the sex difference in biting interesting.
    In veterinary practice as well as in obedience classes, I saw a dramatically higher percentage of aggression in male Rottweilers and Chow chows compared to females. I never handled enough pitbulls to have a personal opinion of them other than I trusted none of them. However, human stupidity was always a factor. Explosive aggression cannot be trained out. It can only be managed. The dogs with explosive aggression explode before the handler can realize that there is a problem. That makes consistent correction impossible. I personally had a GSD with explosive aggression. This dog was great with people but would bite a person trying to get to a dog. His son is totally nonaggressive, but his son’s sister is good with people and a real snot with dogs. Genetics matters in all breeds.

    • Absolutely, Rachel.

      I worked male and female protection dogs. Give me a female, any day. Only ever saw one with an overt aggression problem. They’re often more stable, more devoted and less prone to distraction during handling.

      Genetics absolutely matter. Knew a line of Bouvs, handsome in the ring–but half or so of the male pups from that line were stark raving psycho.

      Also true about the impossibility of predicting and explosive incident. This is when owners are in, far over their heads and the dog should be euthanized for everyone’s safety and the lines should be culled out.

      Yes, we’re big bad meanies but there will never be enough “safe spaces” for all the insane dogs that require them.

      We need to make room for all the dogs that are good family dogs instead of expecting the average dog owner to spend 15 years in abused misery.

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