Posted on April 13, 2012 by Colleen Lynn

Malden Councillor Clarifies Pit Bull Ordinance and Confirms 'Rational Fear'

Answers Critics
Malden, MA - Last week we reported on a pit bull ordinance passed by Malden City Council. Part of the blog post addressed Dr. Amy Marder who claimed that "a leash will prevent dog bites as well as a muzzle" when being quizzed by Councillor Neil C. Kinnon. The post also noted that the "hollering pit bull owners" attending the meeting failed to grasp the language of the ordinance, which grandfathered in existing pit bull owners if they registered their dog prior to May 1.

On Wednesday, Councillor Kinnon answered critics of the pit bull ordinance in a letter to the editor of the Malden Advocate. It is a fantastic letter that clarifies the pit bull ordinance, offers city dog bite statistical data, zings the "good Doctor" further by stating that her "evidence lacked credibility, as no scientist would ever claim a sample size of ten" and concludes with a statistical comparison that powerfully confirms the rational fear persons maintain about the pit bull breed.

Dear Editor, Malden Advocate, and Malden’s Citizens:
This past week the City Council passed a Pit Bull Ordinance which will take effect on May 1, 2012 (provided the Mayor signs it). It will exempt current pit bulls which are licensed by that time with some reasonable stipulations. Hopefully this letter might clarify what is in the Pit Bull Ordinance, the reasons for it and why some of the information opponents are spinning is simply misinformation or untrue.

Snippets taken by DogsBite.org:

"According to Animal Control fifty-seven dog bites were recorded from 2009-2011. Eighteen of the bites were committed by pit bulls. The next closest breeds that bit were German Shepherds, Bull Mastiffs and Dobermans, which recorded only two bites each. The data broken down in its simplest terms means pit bulls account for approximately 6.7% of our registered dogs and committed 31.6% of the dog bites."

"The ordinance requires pit bulls to be spayed or neutered in order to get an exemption from the muzzling law. The advocates who spoke to the Council also advocate spaying and neutering of pit bulls as part of any plan."

"The ordinance the Council passed requires a fence if one wishes to let their dog out in the yard without a muzzle. PittBullLovers.com states for those looking to own a pit bull "you should have a six foot privacy fence"

"The ordinance passed by the City Council will guarantee high license compliance for pit bulls, which all advocates say is needed, as it exempts, from the muzzle ordinance, all current pit bull owners who reside in Malden as long as they come in to register for a license and provide the proper spay and neutering documentation."

"The pit bull advocates continue to claim that BSL (breed specific legislation) does not work and yet over 600 communities in America have adopted it. The Marine Corps and the Army have gone so far as to adopt total bans of pit bulls and their close relatives on all their bases in the last few years."1

"When the Doctor was asked how many dogs were in her study and how many had some American Staffordshire, her answer was her study included ten dogs and she didn’t know how many included some American Staffordshire. Her evidence lacked credibility, as no scientist would ever claim a sample size of ten was a real study and after stating that DNA didn’t contain Staffordshire in many instances, she didn’t know how many contained some Staffordshire in the sample."2

"The pit bull advocates continue to state it will be impossible to enforce a muzzle law and that we should instead focus on licensing and strong leash law enforcement of all dogs. One can only conclude from all actual evidence that it would be just as easy for an animal control officer or other law enforcement officer to enforce a muzzle law as it is to enforce a leash law. Is it harder for a dog officer to see if a dog is on a four foot leash or muzzle?"

Councillor Kinnon saved the whopper comparison for his conclusion that illustrates just how dangerous pit bulls are and that fears about the breed are rational:

If there were as many pit bulls in Malden as people, and bite incidents were classified as aggravated assaults, the average rate of aggravated assault by pit bulls in the last three years would have been over 1,500 per year. If one calculated the same math on all other dogs, during that span, the average aggravated assault level each year would have been approximately 220. In the last three years the actual average number of aggravated assaults in Malden, by humans, has been 169. Therefore pit bulls per capita commit almost 10 times the aggravated assaults as do humans. The person who discriminates when seeing a pit bull walking down the street does not do so out of an irrational fear but does so because they are 10 times as likely to be attacked by the pit bull. (Neil Kinnon, Ward Six City Councillor, Malden Advocate, April 11, 2012)

Kudos Councillor Neil Kinnon!

1Underline and bold emphasis by Councilor Kinnon.
2Kinnon is presumably referring to a study by Dr. Amy Marder. Initially, we had thought Dr. Voith's study (Comparison of Adoption Agency Breed Identification and DNA Breed Identification of Dogs) to be the culprit, but it uses a sample pool of 20. We then found a short piece by Marder and Voith that references an "unnamed" study by Marder, "In a separate study, Amy Marder and colleagues analyzed DNA samples from dogs visually identified as "pit bull mixes." (The American Shelter Dog: Identification of Dogs By Personality). Marder's "unnamed" study is also referenced in a March 2009 blog post.

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Colleen Lynn

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Elderly Oklahoma Man Killed by Two Pit Bulls

James Hurst, 92-years old, was brutally killed by his neighbor's two pit bulls.

DNA Confirmation
UPDATE 08/17/12: DNA results show that blood found on two pit bulls captured at the mauling scene matched the victim, according to Sheriff's Investigator Nathan Calloway.1 James Hurst died shortly after arriving at the hospital due to his grievous injuries. The two pit bulls had a history of escaping their yard a few houses down from the Hurst home. District Attorney Emily Redman was informed of the DNA results Thursday. The owners of the dogs have since left the jurisdiction.

04/10/12: Killed in His Front yard
Mead, OK - In a developing story, a Bryan County man was mauled to death by two pit bulls in his front yard. James Hurst, 92-years old, was discovered badly mauled and bleeding on his property Monday afternoon. Neighbors say the same dogs had been aggressive in the past. Bryan County Undersheriff Kenneth Golden said Hurst was working in his yard when he was attacked by the dogs. Golden says of all the dog attacks he has seen, he has never witnessed one this bad.

"Both feet, his face, his ears. His lips were gone. He didn't even look like the same person ... They eat him up real bad." - Neighbor Levi Duncan

Hurst also suffered "extensive injuries to his feet" -- both may have been torn off -- and was taken to a Durant hospital where he later died. Neighbor Judy Boone told reporters, "It's terrifying to know that you can't come out on your own front porch or stand in your own yard without being mauled and attacked." Neighbor Ryan Matlock, 11-years old, said that he had an encounter with one of these pit bulls -- "It crawled through a hole in the fence and got a hold of my leg."2

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Oklahoma Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1It is great to see that small jurisdictions, such as Bryan County, OK and Person County, NC, are reaching out to DNA labs to prove culpability in the instances of fatal dog attacks.
2A subsequent news article indicates that Ryan's bite was not reported.

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Colleen Lynn

Pit Bull Ordinance Passes in Malden City, Massachusetts

Pit Bull Muzzle Law
Malden, MA - On Tuesday, Malden City Council approved a measure requiring pit bull-type dogs to wear a muzzle in public. The city now joins a growing number of municipalities in Massachusetts to place restrictions on the notorious breed, including: Boston, Lowell, Lynn, Worcester and others (See: Full list). The 7-4 vote follows three years of discussion and debate and represents a legislative victory for Councillor Neil C. Kinnon who has fought for the pit bull muzzle law.

At one point during Tuesday's meeting -- packed with hollering pit bull fans -- Kinnon questioned three "animal experts" who advocate against breed-specific laws. Ethics sell-out Dr. Amy Marder,1 director of the center for behavior and training at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said: "A leash will prevent dog bites as well as a muzzle." Obviously that is entirely untrue. Who knows? Perhaps Kinnon even read the anniversary post written by the founder of DogsBite.org?

Notably, the new muzzle law will not effect existing pit bull owners who register their dog before May 1. The ordinance only applies to pit bulls obtained or brought into the city after this date and to current owners who fail to register their dog. The question is, how many so-called responsible pit bull owners in Malden City will follow through with registration by May 1? This overly generous grandfather clause was apparently missed by the hollering pit bull owners Tuesday night.

1Amy Marder is an "adviser" to the Jane Berkey owned pro-pit bull propaganda machine. Also, the "enforcement of leash laws" as the solution to preventing dog bites is the default position of the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Colleen Lynn

2012 Dog Bite Fatality: Victoria Boy, 4, Mauled to Death by Chained Pit Bull

Kylar Johnson, 4-years old, fatal pit bull attack victim #329.

News Conference
UPDATE: 03/28/12: The Victoria Advocate released the 30-minute news conference given by Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael O'Conner. In summary, investigators do have answers to many questions, but are not releasing them yet. The time of the boy's death has yet to be determined by the medical examiner's office. O'Conner does address many aspects of Kylar's death including that many "conspiracy theories" were formed and launched in social media channels.1

03/27/12: Preliminary Autopsy Results
Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Kylar Johnson was mauled to death by a single pit bull. Manuel (Manny) Garcia found Kylar's body in his backyard Monday morning near one of 10 pit bulls that he keeps chained up in his yard. Officials said Garcia's dogs were used for hog hunting. Investigators speculate that the boy may have been hiding from searchers on purpose, playing a type of game. The Click2Houston update did not reveal the time of the boy's death.2

03/27/12: Mauling Death Confirmed
KHOU.com reports that, "Evidence shows the child was mauled to death by a pit bull kept chained in the neighbor's yard. The Victoria County sheriff believes Kylar wondered into the mostly-fenced yard about half a mile from his home." The neighbor and owner of the pit bull, who joined in the search effort, has so far not been named and owns as many as 10 pit bulls. A new Victoria Advocate article says that preliminary autopsy results should be available by Tuesday.3

03/26/12: Boy Discovered Monday
Victoria, TX - In a developing story, the body of a missing 4-year old boy was discovered today and was reportedly mauled to death by pit bulls. The boy, Kylar Johnson, disappeared about 8 pm Sunday night. A neighbor found the boy about 10:30 am this morning. A family friend, Ken Hutchins, told The Victoria Advocate the boy was mauled to death by pit bulls kept in a neighbor's enclosure near his home. Police, however, have not yet confirmed the cause of death.

An extensive search was carried out over Sunday night and into the morning by police search teams, K-9 units, and family members, but it was hampered by tall grass and fog. The fog finally lifted about 10:30 am. The boy's body was found near Village Lane several hundred yards from his home. Cole Johnson, the boy's father, had been cleaning his car on Sunday with Kylar playing nearby. He looked up and Kylar was gone. The boy's family will speak to the media soon.

View the DogsBite.org Google Map: Texas Fatal Pit Bull Maulings.

1The distance Kylar traveled is still being reported as a half-mile, quarter mile and several hundred yards.
2A 4-year old played such a game all night long?
3The Click2Houston video shows that the dog owner is "pit bull in a barrel" breeder. Nice.

Photo: KTRK-TV

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