About us ::
DogsBite.org is a public education website about dangerous dogs -- specifically pit bull type dogs.1 We are the only website dedicated to putting the safety of humans before dogs, as we are the only source of information on this topic that is not owned, controlled, or funded by pit bull breeders, owners, veterinarian or animal welfare groups.
We educate
Every year, pit bulls inflict severe bodily injuries and death upon children, adults, elderly citizens and domesticated pets and animals. Victims across the country regularly suffer horrific permanently disfiguring injuries due to the acute damage this breed inflicts when it bites victims with its powerful jaws, holds that bite, and then shakes its head back and forth, ripping and tearing the victim’s body. According to forensic medical studies, similar injuries have only been found elsewhere on victims of shark attacks.2
As a direct result of policy makers failing to address the pit bull problem, a massive number of new victims have been created since the early 1980s when the pit bull problem first erupted. Avoiding the problem has not served pit bull dogs well either. Due to lack of breed-specific action, the pit bull population has exploded, pit bull euthanization rates have soared and pit bulls used in criminal operations, including dogfighting, has skyrocketed.
The argument that lies before policy makers today is not the "demonization" of pit bulls; it is the issue of public safety. Second to public safety is the treatment of pit bull type dogs, which are already euthanized by the hundreds of thousands. Of the upwards of 1.6 million shelter dogs projected to be euthanized in 2009, pit bulls and their mixes account for 58% (967,300). This sizeable disparity exists despite the fact that pit bulls only comprise about 5% of the total U.S. dog population.3
DogsBite.org advocates breed-specific laws to correct the pit bull problem. Only through such measures can we effectively prevent future victims from being created and simultaneously protect pit bull type dogs. Each community must determine for themselves which type of breed-specific law best solves the issues they face. DogsBite.org supports four key regulations.
We advocate
- Pit bull ban
A breed ban is the most proactive policy that can be undertaken regarding the pit bull problem. A ban saves the most human lives by preventing attacks before they occur. By criminalizing pit bull breeding, a ban saves countless pit bulls from systematic euthanization and dramatically reduces the number of pit bulls used for dogfighting.
- Mandatory spay/neuter
Cities and animal advocates that truly seek to address the unwanted, overpopulation of pit bulls must enact a mandatory sterilization policy. San Francisco's pit bull sterilization ordinance has produced encouraging results. Additional California cities have adopted a similar law including: Lancaster, Manteca and Ripon. - Identification and liability insurance
No form of breed-specific law regarding pit bulls is adequate without the inclusion of mandatory micro-chipping and substantial liability insurance -- $300K at least. If a dog is unidentifiable, its owner cannot be identified and criminally prosecuted. If an owner is "judgment proof," and holds insufficient levels of liability insurance, the victim’s medical bills, loss of income, and rehabilitation expenses can't be covered.
- Prohibit felons from ownership
Pit bulls were selectively bred for an activity that is now a felony in all 50 states: dogfighting. Moreover, they are the "chosen" breed for drug dealers, gang members and other violent offenders. Convicted felons do not have the right to own a gun, nor should they have a right to own a dog declared a "lethal weapon" by our courts.
We advise
- Legislative support
Many small municipalities struggle in responding to the sudden loss of innocent life or a horrific mauling due to a pit bull. Families of victims, emergency first responders, medical professionals, law enforcement agencies, and elected officials seek reliable sources of information and model drafts of legislation that will provide answers and viable solutions to prevent further tragedies. We strive to be the most reliable source for these services.
- Litigation support
Municipalities that have taken action to protect their citizens are often harassed by a flood of well-organized, artificially created telephone calls, letters, and emails and threatened with lawsuits by pit bull owners, breeders, and organizations that advocate their interests from questionable funding sources with possible hidden agendas. However, well-written pit bull laws enjoy a 100% success rate in litigation. One case in 2009 resulted in both the individual pit bull owner and the American Canine Foundation, a pro-pit bull advocacy group, ordered to pay the litigation costs of the City of Aurora, Colorado.4 We strive to facilitate communication between small jurisdictions and the leading legal experts in the nation, so the leading scientific evidence and the winning legal research and writing can be easily obtained.
About the founder
Colleen Lynn resides in the State of Texas. On June 17th, 2007, she was attacked for approximately 5-seconds by a leashed pit bull while jogging in her former Seattle neighborhood. She was hospitalized for two days at Harborview Medical Center after undergoing surgery to repair a severe bone fracture. Four months later, she launched DogsBite.org. Read more about her story and see her on-camera interview by clicking here.
About contributors
DogsBite.org is a volunteer website. Research contributions and active website participation stems from individuals that span the United States of America and across the world.
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