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VanKavage opened her brief, information-packed presentation with a
slide showing Abraham Lincoln caring for some cats that were
surrounding him in a Civil War setting. She said she thought it
appropriate, since we are in Lincoln, that we start out with this
humanitarian concept. She quoted Lincoln as saying, "I'm in favor of
animal rights, as well as human rights."
She then provided statistics and descriptions of different
control measures that, if adopted and implemented locally, could
protect human health and safety, as well as reduce the costs of
animal control and the number of animals euthanized.
Two good laws have come forth in Illinois, she said. A boy nearly
losing his thumb to a Rottweiler resulted in "Ryan's Law" passing in
2003. In that law it is identified that local government bodies
cannot pass legislation that is specific to breed. That would be
canine profiling, VanKavage said. Research showed that outlawing
breeds does not work, and there are more proactive measures to take.
Ryan's Law protects humans from dangerous dogs, regardless of their
breed. The legislation increased the penalty for having a dangerous
dog in Illinois.
"Anna's Law" was created when a pediatric nurse was attacked and
killed by two stray dogs while she was out for a run in a Chicago
Park. Out of this law, animals are now to be microchipped and are
required to be spayed or neutered if picked up from running at large
a second time.
VanKavage read a long list of different dog breeds that have
killed people. "Outlawing dog breeds simply doesn't work," she said.
However, you can look at commonalities to address the problem.
She said that of the 28 fatal dog attacks in the United States:
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Reproductive
status: 90 percent were not spayed or neutered. Hormonal status
can be a contributor toward aggression. This involves unaltered
males, females protecting puppies and during mating.
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Function as a dog:
81 percent were not maintained as a pet; they were used as guard
or fighting dogs.
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Owner
irresponsibility: 61 percent of the dogs were contained, abuse
or neglect cases. "That's why it is so important to get the
police to enforce the abuse or neglect laws," she said.
Eighty percent of male dogs presented to veterinarian
behaviorists for dominance aggression are intact male dogs. The dogs
that attacked Anna were intact male dogs.
States have a variety of measures in place to help identify and
prevent potentially hazardous animal behaviors. In Illinois it is
unlawful for a convicted felon to own an unsprayed or un-neutered
dogs or dogs determined by a court to be vicious. Their dogs must be
microchipped for proof of identification.
Cities and counties that run their own sterilization programs
consistently find that the number of animals entering the animal
control or shelters stabilizes or even declines with an increase in
citizen population.
New Hampshire has a $2 surcharge on annual licenses. This
resulted in a savings of $3.15 for every $1 spent in their spay and
neuter program. This also resulted in decreasing their euthanasia by
77 percent, and sheltered admissions were reduced by 36 percent in a
10-year period, VanKavage said.
The national average to shelter a dog is $129, VanKavage said.
The cost at the Logan County facility is between $75 and $110,
Hasprey said.
VanKavage asked what the euthanasia percentage is at the
facility.
Hasprey said that it varies from month to month, but between
about 10 percent and 25 percent.
That's great, VanKavage said, because where she is from in
southern Illinois it's 80 percent.
[to top of second column]
 |
 Through Anna's Law the Illinois statutes now allow local
governments to enact ordinances to require registration and
microchipping of all cats and dogs. Right now Kankakee is the only
county in the state that has adopted this measure.
Registration fees must have a minimum differential of $10 between
spayed or neutered animals and unaltered animals. That fee is then
put into either the state or the county pet population control fund.
Beginning in 2007 the fund will help pay for spay or neuter costs
for pet owners receiving Social Security disability benefits, those
receiving food stamps and feral cat caretakers (if they are
recognized by city or county). These owners can get their animals
spayed or neutered and vaccinated for only $15.
Feral cat: A cat that is born in the wild, the offspring of a
feral or unsocialized cat, a formerly feral cat or abandoned cat
that is not socialized, or cats that live on a farm.
The feral cat inclusion has several benefits. It is great for
farmers, VanKavage said. In addition, you can't charge registration
fees under the feral cat recognition. It aids in cat population
control and limits liability to government and to veterinarians who
sterilize feral cats.
VanKavage believes that more dogs need to be declared as
dangerous. This is a case-by-case identification process that begins
with a registered complaint by a bite victim.
There is currently only one dog identified as dangerous living in
Logan County.
If a dog attacks without being provoked and causes severe damage
or death, it is deemed a vicious dog. Also, a dangerous dog that has
gotten three strikes becomes labeled as vicious.
A court determines if a vicious dog will be put to death or will
be subject to enclosure for the rest of its life. Enclosure means
being kept under limiting conditions, which includes muzzling. It is
allowed to move around a residence because it is a known fact that
socialized dogs tend to be more stable than dogs that are isolated.
An offense (even getting picked up running at large) by a vicious
dog places responsibility on the owner and is punishable as a Class
3 or Class 2 felony.
Owner irresponsibility has been found to be a major factor in
aggressive dog behavior. This includes chained or tethered dogs,
dogs allowed to roam, dogs permitted to be aggressive, and abuse or
neglect cases. Chained or tethered dogs are responsible for 25
percent of all fatal dog attacks.
Some states and municipalities are implementing a variety of
controls that are improving quality of life for humans and animals.
In Lawrence, Kan., and California they've enacted one- to three-hour
tethering regulations that are enforceable and are working for them.
Other places require owners to participate in a responsible
ownership program if their dog is identified as dangerous.
During the question-and-answer period VanKavage said that the
county is responsible with enforcing the county ordinance. However,
the county may relinquish that responsibility to the city if the
city has animal control wardens, or it may be the city's
responsibility if it is in their incorporated limits. It is the
responsibility of the county to enforce the state laws, such as
implementing the pet population control programs.
City attorney Bill Bates asked about dogs running at large.
VanKavage said that it is her understanding that the dogs running at
large in the city of Lincoln are the city's responsibility, but that
the county would be responsible to enforce dog bite cases.
Proactive public safety laws are more productive than reactive
responses. The legislative measures available help protect
governments from liability, save taxpayers money and help reduce the
killing, VanKavage said.
[Jan
Youngquist]
The ASPCA hosts a communications board that is helpful in
debunking pet myths and sharing useful information. [ASPCA
discussion boards] |
