Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data
Dog bites are a public health concern that also implicates animal welfare, with negative outcomes such as rehoming or euthanasia for the animals responsible. Previous research has shown that the severity of dog-bite injuries reflects multiple factors, including the degree of inhibition exhibited by...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/6/324 |
| _version_ | 1811199099982053376 |
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| author | Niamh Caffrey Melanie Rock Olivia Schmidtz Doug Anderson Melissa Parkinson Sylvia L. Checkley |
| author_facet | Niamh Caffrey Melanie Rock Olivia Schmidtz Doug Anderson Melissa Parkinson Sylvia L. Checkley |
| author_sort | Niamh Caffrey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dog bites are a public health concern that also implicates animal welfare, with negative outcomes such as rehoming or euthanasia for the animals responsible. Previous research has shown that the severity of dog-bite injuries reflects multiple factors, including the degree of inhibition exhibited by dogs and how people behave towards dogs. This study utilizes an objective dog bite injury assessment tool: The Dunbar aggression scale. Trained officers employed by The City of Calgary systematically use the Dunbar scale whenever investigating dog-bite complaints. We analyzed The City of Calgary’s administrative data on confirmed dog-bite injuries in people, 2012−2017, with a multivariable generalized ordered logistic regression model. Severe dog-bite injuries occurred more frequently in the family home than in any other setting. Young children, youths and older adults were at higher risk of more serious bites than adults. There has been a decreasing trend in the probability of a high or medium severity bite, and an increasing trend in the probability of a low severity bite since 2012. These results indicate that greater public awareness regarding dog-bite injuries is needed. Consideration should be given to campaigns targeted towards different demographics, including older adults, to provide an understanding of dog behaviour and to emphasize the need to supervise children closely in the presence of all dogs at all times, including family dogs in the home environment. Given that dog-bite injuries are not just a public health issue, but also an animal welfare issue, we endorse One Health responses in educational campaigns, policy development, and professional practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:42:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e3262ff3a3944789b3bb7f71b254ab05 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:42:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-e3262ff3a3944789b3bb7f71b254ab052022-12-22T03:53:10ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-06-019632410.3390/ani9060324ani9060324Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative DataNiamh Caffrey0Melanie Rock1Olivia Schmidtz2Doug Anderson3Melissa Parkinson4Sylvia L. Checkley5Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2nd Floor, TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, CanadaDepartment of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2nd Floor, TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, CanadaDepartment of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2nd Floor, TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, CanadaCity of Calgary, Calgary Community Standards, 2201 Portland St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 4M7, CanadaCity of Calgary, Calgary Community Standards, 2201 Portland St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 4M7, CanadaDepartment of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2nd Floor, TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, CanadaDog bites are a public health concern that also implicates animal welfare, with negative outcomes such as rehoming or euthanasia for the animals responsible. Previous research has shown that the severity of dog-bite injuries reflects multiple factors, including the degree of inhibition exhibited by dogs and how people behave towards dogs. This study utilizes an objective dog bite injury assessment tool: The Dunbar aggression scale. Trained officers employed by The City of Calgary systematically use the Dunbar scale whenever investigating dog-bite complaints. We analyzed The City of Calgary’s administrative data on confirmed dog-bite injuries in people, 2012−2017, with a multivariable generalized ordered logistic regression model. Severe dog-bite injuries occurred more frequently in the family home than in any other setting. Young children, youths and older adults were at higher risk of more serious bites than adults. There has been a decreasing trend in the probability of a high or medium severity bite, and an increasing trend in the probability of a low severity bite since 2012. These results indicate that greater public awareness regarding dog-bite injuries is needed. Consideration should be given to campaigns targeted towards different demographics, including older adults, to provide an understanding of dog behaviour and to emphasize the need to supervise children closely in the presence of all dogs at all times, including family dogs in the home environment. Given that dog-bite injuries are not just a public health issue, but also an animal welfare issue, we endorse One Health responses in educational campaigns, policy development, and professional practice.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/6/324animal welfarebite preventiondogsdog biteDunbar scaledog aggressionOne Healthwounds and injuries |
| spellingShingle | Niamh Caffrey Melanie Rock Olivia Schmidtz Doug Anderson Melissa Parkinson Sylvia L. Checkley Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data Animals animal welfare bite prevention dogs dog bite Dunbar scale dog aggression One Health wounds and injuries |
| title | Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data |
| title_full | Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data |
| title_fullStr | Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data |
| title_short | Insights about the Epidemiology of Dog Bites in a Canadian City Using a Dog Aggression Scale and Administrative Data |
| title_sort | insights about the epidemiology of dog bites in a canadian city using a dog aggression scale and administrative data |
| topic | animal welfare bite prevention dogs dog bite Dunbar scale dog aggression One Health wounds and injuries |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/6/324 |
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