the issues ::
Medical Cost and Safety
In the State of Washington, only one insurance company will cover injuries caused by pit bulls and other fighting breeds, on the liability clause of the homeowner’s policy. Many owners of pit bulls and other fighting breeds are often "judgment proof" -- they are renters and uninsured. Therefore, victims of such attacks, without adequate financial resources themselves, are left with few ways to pay their medical costs. Personal healthcare coverage does not include "being attacked by a dog."
In Seattle, many owners of non-fighting breeds no longer feel comfortable taking their dogs to off-leash areas for fear of their pet being attacked. As citizens, we all pay for our parks and dog parks, and many dog owners feel they can no longer attend these parks safely. Several recent attacks, that have occurred in public environments, have involved a person walking a leashed pet and a pit bull first attacking the pet and next attacking the person as he or she intervenes to stop the attack. These are just a few examples since June 2007:
Currently, Seattle does not restrict or regulate fighting breeds in any kind of way. As a result, in the last year, there has been a 13% increase in pit-bull ownership. Along with this increase, there has been a rise in pit bull bites and pit bull euthanasia rates. Between 2002 and mid-September 2007, 48% of all dogs euthanized at Seattle Animal Shelter were pit bulls. They are euthanized for liability reasons and because they are difficult to adopt out.
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