Summary: 3,500 banned dogs live legally with their owner in the UK, and the government intends to ban more dogs based on their breed.
Situation:
The UK government recently banned Electronic training collars and is planning on banning pronged training collars.
The UK also banned “Pitbull terriers, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro under the “Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.”
Later this year, The UK plans to ban the American Bully XL
The American Bully was first bred in the 80’s and is a cross between American Pitbull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers.
There are four variations: Standard, pocket, classic, and XL
Problem
Even though these dogs are banned, people still get them and have them.
Anita Mehdi owns a 7-year-old Pitbull terrier.
Four years ago, the police seized her dog, Lola, because someone reported her to the police.
Lola was measured and assessed. She was classified as a “pit-bull-type” because she is an English Staffordshire Bull terrier, American bulldog cross.
Lola also underwent a “behavioral Assessment.” for the local government official tasked with this job.
Anita says she did not know she was unaware that Lola was a “pit bull” when she got her.
Anita had to go to court to find out if she could get an exemption.
The law says no pit bulls, but if you are rich enough to go to court and do the other things the government requires, you might be able to get one.
Exemption schemes allow banned dogs to stay with their owners if a court is satisfied that they do not pose a danger to the public and that strict restrictions will be followed. Lola was returned to Anita with a list of restrictions.
To own one of these dogs, you must own a house, get a 6-foot fence, Spay or neuter, and microchip the dog.
Anita must prove to the government she has third-party insurance and must show a certificate of exemption to a police station within five days if she is asked to do so by police or dog warden.
If Anita fails to comply with these rules could cause the police to seize Lola again.
BBC News submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the government department that monitors the active list of exempted dogs.
Of the data, which showed that 3,499 banned dogs are registered in England, Scotland, and Wales, almost all are pit bull terriers, with 3,316 in England and 149 in Wales. Ten years ago, the BBC reported that there were 2,323 in England and Wales.
a dog that may have characteristics of another breed but still has enough pit bull characteristics to be considered a banned dog.
Dog Legislation Officer PC Paul Jameson said the assessment was based on physical composition and observation.
"We measure around 70 things altogether, looking at every aspect of the dog," he explains.
"We're looking for a triangular head when viewed from the front. The eyes are almond-shaped, not quite deep-set compared to other breeds. We're looking for a long, heavily muscled neck… If it has a significant number of characteristics, it will be classified as a pit bull type."
The government says it will ban another type of dog, the American bully XL, before the end of the year. However, it has not yet defined the breed characteristics for this animal.
PC Jameson says that assessing XL bullies will pose a challenge.
"We don't have accurate numbers of how many of these dogs are really out there. I would say there's thousands."
He says kennels used by police for seized dogs are already "extremely busy," and if XL bullies are to be seized in the future, this will add to the strain.
"But I'm sure we'll rise to the challenge when it comes in,"
Action: This is what happening
Tom Pattison and Casey Norster own an 11-month-old XL bully called Zuma, a family pet they have had since he was a puppy. Despite his fearsome appearance, their two young children, aged four and two, adore him
In preparation for Zuma becoming a banned dog breed, Tom and Casey have started to train him to use a lead and a muzzle. They are taking him to professional dog behavior training classes in the hope he will be assessed as safe to stay with them.
Since the announcement of a future ban on XL bullies, the family has noticed that people react differently to Zuma.
"People are a bit more wary about him now. They don't want their dogs to come close to him. They don't want their children close to him.
"If he's ever off the lead, they'll start walking in the opposite direction."
So, Tom and Casey are opposed to breed-specific legislation, and Anita has been campaigning to change it since Lola was seized. She says the emphasis should be placed on "responsible ownership and accountability."
PC Jameson says the laws are not designed to punish responsible owners. He says it would be "foolish" to return a dog to an owner who does not understand or acknowledge that their pet could be dangerous to themselves and others.
Result: Takeaway
The UK likes to make laws that protect idiots from themselves. They value those laws more than they value their responsible citizens.
Breed bans are stupid
Some good things come from it
People are muzzle-conditioning their dogs.
People are getting training with their dogs.
People are getting smarter about strange dogs
People are a bit more wary about him now.
They don't want their dogs to come close to him.
They don't want their children close to him.
"If he's ever off the lead, they'll start walking in the opposite direction."
Robert Moore of San Jose, California, was turning 100 years old. What a momentous achievement! To celebrate this special milestone, his family planned a big dinner.
Problem
But sadly, as a result of Mr. Moore’s old age, most of his friends had passed.
Action
However, his daughter, Alison, was determined to make it special - and she had a brilliant idea to invite dogs to her father's surprise centennial birthday party!
A few days before the party, Alison posted on Facebook inviting friends and neighbors in her community to drop by for a parade with their dogs on June 17th.
Though her post was widely shared, Alison had low expectations for turnout.
Result
However, to Alison’s surprise, when June 17th rolled around, hundreds of dogs and their owners lined up on the streets outside their house, waiting to be pet by the birthday boy.
Not just any dogs showed up, but dogs in costumes like tuxedos, cowboy hats, and bumblebees—pups in classic cars and even dogs with disabilities pulling carts.
People brought their dogs and their entire families to wish Mr. Moore a happy 100th birthday - some even brought flowers, posters, and cupcakes.
Mr. Moore, while overwhelmed with the response, made it a point to pet every dog that showed up to his party.
Executive Summary: A mysterious, lasting respiratory disease in dogs has been found in several states
Situation:
An unusual respiratory illness in dogs is being investigated in several states, including New Hampshire, Oregon, and Colorado
Veterinarians in Oregon have reported more than 200 cases since mid-August
The illness was described as an “atypical canine infectious respiratory disease” in a press release from the Oregon Department of Agriculture on November 9th
Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nasal/eye discharge and lethargy.
In some cases, the illness progresses very quickly, with dogs becoming very ill within 24 to 36 hours
Problem
Dogs with the mystery illness are showing similar signs of upper respiratory disease but don’t generally test positive for common respiratory illnesses
According to Dr. David B. Needle, a pathologist at the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and clinical associate professor at the University of New Hampshire, the disease is also generally resistant to standard antibiotic treatment.
Needle went on to explain that “Fatalities do not seem to be a large part of the syndrome we are investigating, with rare animals developing an acute and sometimes fatal pneumonia after the longer chronic disease. We think these may represent secondary infections.”
Action
Dr. Needle is part of a team trying to identify the disease
“If what we have identified is a pathogen, it is likely that the bacteria is host-adapted bacteria with long histories of colonizing dogs,” Needle said. He said that an “evolutionary event” like spontaneous mutation or getting a gene from a different source could then have led the bacteria to become virulent.
EP-40: What if Your Dog Bit 10 People in Four Months?
Episode 40
Saturday, December 2, 2023 • Duration 23:46
Title: Biden’s dog Commander has bitten Secret Service officers ten times in four months, Records show and Consider This Before You Judge Commander (or Any Other Dog)
The Biden’s German Shepherd Dogs Keeps on Biting People at the White House.
Secret Service records show that President Joe Biden’s German Shepherd Dog Commander has bitten agency officers stationed at the White House 10 times between October 2022 and January. At least one biting incident required a trip to the hospital for the injured officer.
Problem
The President’s dog keeps biting people.
This dog, Commander, is their second dog to bite secret service members.
Major, the other dog, also bit White House staff
Major was sent to live with friends in Delaware after the bites.
White House staff point out that the White House is a unique and often stressful environment.
And that the Bidens are working through ways to improve the situation.
Chief spokesperson for the Secret Service said, “The Secret Service navigates how best to operate around family pets, and these incidents are no exception. We take the safety and well-being of our employees extremely seriously.”
Executive Summary: A couple in northwestern Pennsylvania were surprised when their barking dog led them to an escaped homicide suspect who was hiding on their property.
Situation:
Cindy and Ron Ecklund of Conewango Township had noticed their dog was barking on a Saturday afternoon and hopped in their golf cart to see what all the fuss was about
When they got to the rear of their property, they encountered a man who claimed to be camping.
Problem
When they got to the rear of their property, they encountered a man who claimed to be camping.
Ron Ecklund said he soon recognized Michael Burham from news coverage of his escape from Warren County jail - authorities said Burham escaped by climbing on exercise equipment, going through a window, and scaling down a rope fashioned from jail bedding in the late evening hours of July 6th.
What Was he in prison for, you ask? Burham was being held on arson and burglary charges and was a suspect in a homicide investigation. He was also associated with the carjacking and kidnapping of a local couple.
Action
Ron Ecklund told his wife Cindy to get back in the golf cart so they could return to their house.
On the way, he told Cindy to call 911.
Result
Searchers and two dogs tracked Burham through the woods and eventually encountered two troopers who were part of monitoring the perimeter set up by police.
Though he tried to hide, Burham was approached from behind by federal marshals, border patrol, and state police - who arrested him at gunpoint.
EP-38 Host Chat
Episode 38
Friday, November 10, 2023 • Duration 18:45
New dog chat
Katie waiting
Martin is Considering a Pittie
Katie's travels
Martin's Travels to the International Association of Canine Professionals Conference
Summary: Summers are getting hotter. Here are things to consider as we walk our dogs on hot days.
Situation:
June was hot for many dogs and dog owners in the Northern Hemisphere.
Dogs need walks and should be walked every day. Some dogs need more than one walk a day to live happily with their family.
It can be dangerous for our dogs to walk when it is too hot.
The Vet Now Website made an infographic to help people remember to consider the temperature when considering walking their dog this summer.
Problem
Dogs can suffer from heatstroke.
Heatstroke happens with dogs are not able to self-regulate and keep their temperature at a comfortable level.
Heatstroke can be fatal in as little as 15 minutes.
Action
Vet Now claims that 12-15 Degrees C (53- 59 f) has no evidence of risk of heatstroke
16-19 degrees C (60.8-66.2 f) is generally safe to walk your dog, regardless of the time of day, but large breed dogs, obese and flat-faced dogs should be watched for signs of discomfort
20-23 degrees C, (68- 73 f) there is a risk of heat stroke if the dog is exercised too rigorously or sufferers from obesity or breathing difficulties.
Summary: Body camera footage is forcing people to reconsider whether drug-sniffing dogs are impartial
Situation:
For decades, American courts have presumed that drug-sniffing dogs were impartial as supported by training records and proper credentialing by local K-9 organization
However, body camera footage is now causing people to rethink the impartiality of these dogs, as evidenced by a newly filed federal lawsuit in Texas
Problem
In the lawsuit, 37-year-old Houston resident Alek Schott accuses Bexar County Sheriff's deputy Joel Babb of pulling him over on Interstate 35 on false pretenses
Upon refusing to give permission for law enforcement to search his pickup truck, Schott claims that K-9 unit deputy Martin A. Molina III prompted his dog to "alert" to the scent of drugs.
Action
Historically this would have been nearly impossible to prove, but with the advent of body cameras, things are changing
So Schott requested and received the body camera footage, which gave him almost the same view as that of K-9 deputy Molina
The video shows the moment Molina gestured towards his attentive dog with his right hand, at which point the dog jumped up on the pickup’s door, and Molina let him into the cab to search the truck.
"It's clear to me that he's telling the dog to alert," Schott says. "I thought, 'These guys are trying to destroy my life.' "
EP - 35 Who is Responsible for Keeping Communities Safe from Biting Dogs?
Episode 35
Monday, July 17, 2023 • Duration 21:58
Who is responsible for keeping communities safe from biting dogs?
Edits:
Title: Who is responsible for keeping communities safe from biting dogs?
Summary: In Washington, DC, there is a problem with dogs biting, mostly other dogs but also people. The locals have a hard time finding answers.
Situation:
There is a park in DC. called Swampadoodle Dog Park.
According to the report, Jenn Schuessler “was still holding my puppy, and she (Kasia Scott) said, ‘Did that dog attack your dog,’ and I said ‘Yes twice’”
Kasia claimed to have had problems with that dog a few times. Maybe 3 times in the past 3 months.
Kasia posted a picture of a bite she received at the dog park on Facebook. It does not look pleasant.
But the picture is of a bite from a different dog that was going after her dog at the same park.
Schuessler reached out to the nonprofit board that maintains the park.
The board directed her to animal control because they investigate dog bites.
Fox 5 spoke to the president of the board, who confirmed they don’t have the power to ban dogs or enforce park rules.
Dan D’Eramo, director of field services at Humane Rescue Alliance, said, we put together a thorough and fair packet of information outlining the history of the animal, the circumstances of the bite, the severity of the bite … As well as our recommendation to the department of health for a possible designation as a dangerous dog or potentially dangerous dog.
D.C. law authorizes the mayor to designate dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs but does not specify what would trigger that designation.
Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to The Peoples' Wolf Podcast, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
While this disease is unusual, periodic outbreaks of canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) do happen, which is transmitted by respiratory droplets
So, what can dog owners do to keep their dogs safe?
If your dog exhibits any of the symptoms (coughing, sneezing, nasal and/or eye discharge, and lethargy) - contact your veterinarian and keep your sick dog at home
In terms of prevention:
Make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccines such as canine influenza, bordetella, and parainfluenza
Reducing contact with many unknown dogs - another vote against dog parks!!
Reduce contact with sick dogs
Avoid communal water bowls shared by multiple dogs
Biden received Commander in December 2021 as a gift from his brother James. The records released cover a fraction of his year and a half as a presidential pet.
On November 3rd, 22, a uniformed officer was bitten twice. The officer suffered injuries serious enough to require aid at the White House and at the hospital and was placed on restricted duty for several days.
Action/ What’s happening
Jill Biden’s Spokesperson said, “The Bidens have been working with the Secret Service and the White House residence staff “on additional leashing protocols and training” for the Commander and establishing designated areas where he can run around for exercise.
Secret Service Spokesperson said, “While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,”
Commander is often seen being led around by the White House’s chief groundskeeper.
Chief government relations officer of the Humane Society of the United States and president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund said dog bites can happen for a variety of reasons, and the odds of it happening can be reduced by understanding the signals a dog sends when it is in an uncomfortable situation and removing whatever is causing fear or stress. But sometimes, changing a dog’s environment may not be enough to keep them from biting.
The Biden’s are seeking the help of a professional dog trainer.
The AP reported on Oct. 5th that Commander was sent to an undisclosed location.
Result
Other questions: Why did James give them a GSD?
Are GSD good white house dogs?
This is a touchy situation
Stressful life
Trained fighting men dressed in suits everywhere
The owner does not have the time to train the dog or to do the things needed to change the dog's behavior.
Managing the environment to prevent bites is possible.
Other Presidents with biting pet dogs
Alexandra Horowitz wrote in the NY Times, “Commander is not the first biter in the White House. The Bidens’ previous dogs, Champ and Major, were sent back to Delaware in March 2021 after what was described as a biting incident. Teddy Roosevelt had a bull terrier called Pete who bit a Navy Department clerk and tore off the pants of the French ambassador. Franklin D. Roosevelt exiled his dog — also, coincidentally, a German shepherd called Major — after he bit the British prime minister, as well as the first woman elected to the Senate, Hattie Caraway (Lest anyone start hand-wringing about German shepherds, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier Meggie, a squat, short-legged dog, was a biter: She was sent away after biting a journalist.)”
24-27 degrees C - (75-80) “Extreme caution should be taken as most dogs, particularly those who are large, obese, flat-faced, and very young, will find these temperatures uncomfortable.
32 degrees C and higher (89.6 f) heat stoke becomes a major risk regardless of condition, size, or dog breed.
According to the head vet at Cherry Tree Veterinary Practice, Clare Hamilton, “If you stand barefoot on the patio or pavement and it feels too hot for you, then it’s certainly too hot for your dog.”
She says, “Anything over 25 degrees C (77 f) is very risky…depends on humidity and breeze.”
Look for the signs of heat-related health issues, Heavy panting, red eyes, red gums, hot skin, reduced activity, Vomiting, diarrhea, and collapsing.
Clare gives ideas to keep your dog cool, like Putting ice cubes in water bowls, getting a doggie pool and putting it in the shade, Getting fans for indoors, do not leave your dog in the car or shadeless yard, Inside do not shut dogs in a closed room without an open window.
Result
What is Heat Stroke?
Heat stroke is a term commonly used for hyperthermia or elevated body temperature. Generally speaking, if a pet's body temperature exceeds 103°F (39.4°C), it is considered abnormal or hyperthermic. Body temperatures above 106°F (41°F) without previous signs of illness are most commonly associated with exposure to excessive external or environmental heat and are often referred to as heat stroke. The critical temperature where multiple organ failure and impending death occurs is around 107°F to 109°F (41.2°C to 42.7°C).
What to do if your dog has heat stroke?
Move the dog to a shaded, cool area, and immediately pour cool, not cold, water over the dog to avoid shock. Tap water 15-16 degrees c (59- 60 f) is the most effective at cooling dogs down.
No drugs were found in Schott's pickup, and the county later reimbursed him for damage done during the search — including dog scratches outside and inside the truck.
Schott, who is suing the sheriff’s office, is represented by Christine Herbert, an attorney with the Institute for Justice, a civil liberties organization focused on search and seizure.
Herbert says they’re pursuing the lawsuit because they believe the deputies violated Schott's rights — and did so in part by relying on the dog.
The potential influence of a handler’s agenda on their dog has long been a nagging doubt about drug-sniffing dogs - more specifically, handlers might influence them to alert to a scent that may not be there.
Research has shown handlers may not even realize they're doing it.
Fox 5 asked the mayor's office and D.C. Health about how many dogs are designated each year and if there is a publicly available list, so residents can know if they are near one. They have not gotten a response.
There are multiple reports of off-leash dogs biting in regular parks - sometimes biting people.
D’Eromo says a dog biting another at a dog park does not necessarily indicate aggressive behavior outside the dog park.
Problem
Kasia's dog gets into a lot of fights at the dog park
Why does Kasia continue to bring her dog to the dog park
Dogs that like to fight with Kasia’s dog and other dogs repeatedly attend D.C.’s dog park.
The park's rules can not be enforced by the nonprofit that governs the park.
If a dog or person is bitten, the biting dog has to go through the process to be designated dangerous. That takes time. And the dog can move at liberty before designation.
The article is written to disparage the mayor and D.C. Health
