The Peoples' Wolf Podcast

EP - 35 Who is Responsible for Keeping Communities Safe from Biting Dogs?

Episode Summary

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.

Episode Notes

Who is responsible for keeping communities safe from biting dogs?  

Edits:

Title: Who is responsible for keeping communities safe from biting dogs? 

Source: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/multiple-attacks-reported-at-dc-dog-park, 

Date: 

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:

  1.  There is a park in DC. called Swampadoodle Dog Park. 
  2. 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’”  
  3. Kasia claimed to have had problems with that dog a few times. Maybe 3 times in the past 3 months. 
  4. Kasia posted a picture of a bite she received at the dog park on Facebook. It does not look pleasant.
  5. But the picture is of a bite from a different dog that was going after her dog at the same park. 
  6. Schuessler reached out to the nonprofit board that maintains the park.
  7. The board directed her to animal control because they investigate dog bites. 
  8. Fox 5 spoke to the president of the board, who confirmed they don’t have the power to ban dogs or enforce park rules. 
  9. 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. 
  10. D.C. law authorizes the mayor to designate dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs but does not specify what would trigger that designation. 
  11. 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.
  12. There are multiple reports of off-leash dogs biting in regular parks - sometimes biting people. 
  13. D’Eromo says a dog biting another at a dog park does not necessarily indicate aggressive behavior outside the dog park.     

Problem

  1. Kasia's dog gets into a lot of fights at the dog park 
    1. Why does Kasia continue to bring her dog to the dog park 
  2. Dogs that like to fight with Kasia’s dog and other dogs repeatedly attend D.C.’s dog park. 
  3. The park's rules can not be enforced by the nonprofit that governs the park. 
  4. 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.
  5. The article is written to disparage the mayor and D.C. Health  

Action

  1. Responsibility to stop bites 
    1. Owner 
    2. The Community 
    3. Owner/manager of the property 
    4. Municipal government 
    5. State government 
    6. Federal government 

Result

  1. Fewer bites 
  2. Fewer complaints 
  3. Fewer regulations

Closing 

  1. Where you can find us at 
    1. https://www.facebook.com/peopleswolfpod
    2. https://www.instagram.com/thepeopleswolfpodcast/
    3. peopleswolfpod@gmail.com
  2. Music Produced by: Waresdanny
    1. IG: @waresdanny, 
    2. Website: https://waresdanny.bandzoogle.com/home