[darkpuppet]

guess this probably doesn't come as much surprise to people here, but a report now confirms it

Quote:Pit bull ban not reducing dog bites in Ont.: study

28/04/2010 11:28:07 AM

ctvtoronto.ca
Ontario's controversial pit bull ban has not resulted in a decrease in the number of dog bites in the province, according to a new study by the Toronto Humane Society.

The pit bull ban, passed as an amendment to the Ontario Dog Owners Liability Act in 2005, banned the breeding, sale and ownership of pit bulls.

The ban was introduced as a public safety tool after a series of pit bull attacks in the province.

In announcing the plan to ban the breed in 2004, then attorney general Michael Bryant said pit bulls were "inherently dangerous animals" and "ticking time bombs."

But a statistical survey completed by the THS suggests that the ban on the breed has not reduced the number of dog bites in the province, and that the number of dog bites in the province has not significantly decreased since the ban came into effect.

"Countless" pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers have been euthanized because of the ban, the humane society said.

And a spokesperson for the humane society said targeting specific dog breeds is not the way to reduce dog attacks.

"If we want to reduce the number of dog bites, we have to address the root cause of the problem, those irresponsible owners who do not appropriately care for their animals," Ian McConachie said in a press release. "It is clear from these figures that the BSL aspects of the Dog Owners Liability Act has not worked to decrease the incidents of dog bites."

According to the humane society's study, there were 5,428 reported dog bites in 2005, the year the ban came into effect. Since then, the number of dog bites has remained fairly constant, with 5,360 in 2006, 5,492 in 2007, 5,463 in 2008 and 5,345 in 2009.


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