By Martin Delfin. Memo from Madrid
Every so often we get a misguided signal from the media about a surge in the number of pit bull dog attacks around the country. When one isolated incident is reported, other sad episodes, mostly involving children, pop up across the country, making it appear that Spain is suffering from a dangerous-dog “epidemic,” and rekindling a new debate over whether certain breeds should be banned altogether.
This is one of the quirky ways of how the press works – if a mauling occurred in Barcelona, a new report quickly surfaces days later of an even worse episode in Extremadura.
In May, a two-year-old died in Galicia after he was attacked by the family pit bull, which was later lynched by the infant’s grandfather in a fit of rage. Then a report came from Alicante of a six-year-old girl who required 50 stitches on her head after being bitten by a loose dog. One man in Valladolid lost his eye when he went to pet a friend’s dog last week and the animal pounced on him. In another tragic case, a four-year-old died earlier this month after being attacked by the family dog in Santa Cruz de Tenerife . According to police, the boy and his mother were playing inside their home when the pit bull went straight for the child’s neck.
The press went to town. “The number of dangerous dogs grows in the capital,” screamed Andalucía Información of Seville . “Pit bulls are bred to fight among other dogs,” bannered La Opinion de Tenerife, quoting a so-called expert. My favourite is the headline of a column that appeared on June 8th in Madrid ’s conservative daily La Razón that merely read: “Crazy dogs.”
Yes, it is that time again to re-educate people about pet owners’ responsibilities now that canines are under siege. In Madrid, as in many other regions, there are special requirements for having certain breeds such as Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Dogo Mallorquin, Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu, to name a few. The owners must have a licence and the dogs cannot be walked without a muzzle. The Madrid regional government also requires that owners take out an insurance policy with third-party injury coverage of no less than €120,000. But that isn’t enough. Like any other canine breeds, pit bulls and other reputed “bad breeds” need much attention from their owners. Yes, it is true that these animals have powerful jaws and can easily be trained to attack, but it is also true that an owner’s behaviour reflects in a dog’s demeanour.
David is a neighbour of mine who has been breeding pit bulls for years. He admits that he has neither a licence nor insurance for any of his three dogs because he is unemployed and cannot afford the fees. Yet he has been able to sell a few of the pups he breeds for about €400 each without AKC papers. His massive muscular dogs are docile yet he walks them on a short leash with muzzles so as not “to have any trouble with the police.” David was stopped once by the authorities but, he says, wasn't asked to show his “dangerous animal” permit, only to be told that the dogs need to be put on a muzzle.
“Pit bulls are dangerous if you want them to be dangerous,” he told me. “Not everyone can handle them and not everyone should own them.” Miguel Ibáñez, a dog expert from Madrid ’s Complutense University, told El País that “there is nothing scientific to demonstrate” which breeds are more dangerous than others. “What makes an animal dangerous is the lack of socialisation during critical periods,” he says, explaining that it isn’t wise to separate any new born pup from the rest of the litter before seven weeks. This gives a dog enough time to register “basic information” to be more secure and act less aggressive, Ibáñez says.
The unfortunate incidents over the last few weeks must be examined more closely and on a case-by-case basis rather than for any of us to jump to the conclusion that Spain is being over populated with dangerous animals. The are thousands of pit bull owners out there and the majority, like David, haven’t had any incidents with their pets because they are aware of this breed’s potential character and know how to handle them. Still, regional governments should do more than just issue permits.
They should also require that people who want to apply for a licence to own a pit bull, a rottweiler or any other breed on their lists must undergo a certain number of hours of training on how to handle the dogs. This is being done in other countries, such as Germany, where dog laws are quite strict. Dogs are our friends and it isn’t fair they should all be getting a bad rap because of a string of tragic events brought on, unfortunately, by irresponsible owners.
Martin Delfin also writes for the English language version of El Pais
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