10 Cost-Saving Tips For Your Pet's Healthcare

Cutting expenses is on everyone’s mind these days. While we can cut back movie nights and nail treatments, we can’t stop providing for our pets. On average a dog costs $800 - $1,200 per year and a cat costs around $500 - $800: and that’s just for the basics of food and healthcare, without the fancy boutique items and grooming. While pet food and cat litter remain fixed expenses, there are steps that you can take to reduce the amount of money that you spend on your pet’s health. By planning ahead you can lower the chances of having to pay costly veterinary bills. Making prevention of problems your goal will not only save you money but it will also keep your pet happier and healthier.
1. Vaccinations. New infectious diseases are on the rise and veterinarians have found that staying current on vaccinations is a far less expensive way of protecting your pet than treating an illness which could have been prevented. Discuss with your vet which vaccinations are necessary as well as the frequency with which future vaccinations need to be administered. Highly contagious and potentially fatal diseases are part of core vaccines. Additional vaccine selection depends on your pet’s lifestyle, how often he’s outdoors, exposure to other animals, and and life stage, and are not uniform for all pets
2. Parasite Protection. Heartworm occurs when a mosquito bites an animal that has been infected, gets the worm larvae in its blood and then goes on to bite a healthy animal. While this disease is more common in states outside the Rocky Mountains, it has found its way into our Utah ecosystem. It is extremely debilitating and can be fatal if left untreated. There are a number of safe, effective heartworm medicines for both dogs and cats that also protect agains other intestinal parasites that can be transmitted to people. However, while over-the-counter products may be less costly, thay can be dangerous and less effective. Talk to your vet about the best products for your pet. By preventing worms from infecting your pet you can avoid expensive x-rays, bloodwork, and injections for your pet, your children and yourself.
3. Dental Care. Just like you, your pet’s mouth needs to be kept clean every day. Oral care is extremely important in your pet. Infected gums and tartar can lead to more serious infections throughout the body. Invest in specially formulated toothpaste for your pet in addition to a diet that promotes good dental health. There are also gels and rinses that can be used to aid the cleaning process. Look for safe chew toys that rid your dog’s teeth of plaque build-up. Make it a point at your next visit to the vet to ask about dental care so that you are equipped to do it at home. That way you can prevent expensive and painful extractions and infections down the line.
4. Exercise & Diet. Like humans, cats and dogs are also experiencing an obesity epidemic. In 2007, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that 43% of dogs and 53% of cats were overweight. Even 1-2 extra pounds in a small pet is equivalent to an extra 20-30 pounds for you and me. Also like us, increased weight leads to heart disease, diabetes and a number of other ailments. While it’s easy to show our pets love by giving them an extra treat, think twice before you do. A fat pet is most likely unhappy and unhealthy. With regular exercise and a well rounded diet, you can prevent weight-related illnesses and give your animal a better quality of life. Don’t skimp on quality by choosing bargan foods. Select the highest quality food you can afford. Your veterinarian can help you make sense of pet food labels. Check your local paper and even your vet for money saving coupons and frequent buyer programs.
5. Pet Insurance. While you may have trouble securing your own insurance, pet insurance has become increasingly available. By paying a small monthly fee, pet owners can get coverage for costly procedures, medications and visits to the vet. There are a variety of different plans out there so do some research to find one that’s right for you. Many plans have premiums and co-pays, and may have restrictions for particular breeds or require that you go to a certain veterinarian. Greater technology in veterinary medicine also means higher costs. Insurance is a practical way to pay for most of the treatments that your pet may require in the future.
6. Wellness Exams. Do not forgo the yearly exam for your pet if you want to save some money and you think your pal is healthy. Animals age more rapidly than humans and often do not outwardly show signs of illness until the later stages of the disease. Use the visit to ask questions about the latest in treatments, nutrition and dental health so that you are in the know. Many illnesses are treatable if caught early on, so save yourself and your pet the pain and suffering and make that trip to the doctor.
7. Spay/Neuter. All pets should be spayed or neutered when they are young; however, it’s never too late to have the procedure done if your pet has not been fixed. Having this done not only prevents unwanted pregnancies in your pet but it also ensures a great chance of reproductive health. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 50% of all breast tumors in dogs and greater than 85% of all breast tumors in cats are malignant. Spaying your pet when young greatly reduces the chances of mammary gland cancer and other illnesses that afflict the reproductive system, as well as helps prevent many behavior problems.
8. Prevent Accidents. Whether ridding your house of poisonous plants or foods that are harmful to animals, take the time to make your home pet-friendly. Also, think about new items that are brought in on a daily basis. Don’t leave your medications or cleaning products lying around. Be cognizant of open doors and broken fences to prevent runaways and car accidents. Use baby gates to keep animals off of new furniture or a light colored rug. Move vases and antiques out of reach. While you can’t avert all disasters you can minimize the risks by preparing a safe environment for your animal companion.
9. Know Your Pet. Be familiar with your breed and your specific pet. If you know that your pet is prone to joint problems, discuss with your vet ways to prevent or delay the onset of arthritis. There may be a particular diet or certain medicines that will help your pet live without pain and prevent a more serious and costly illness in the future. Think about your pet’s routines. If you can tell that certain times of year or certain behaviors are typical when your pet is unwell, take action before the ailment is full-blown.
10. Give Love. An enjoyable and easy way to nurture the health and well being of your pet is through love and attention. A pet that is loved is more likely to be well behaved and less destructive. The more time you spend with your pet, the more easily you can determine when something is wrong with his health. Taking your dog to the park or giving your cat an extra cuddle is also free!!

Oral Home Care

Latest Product Available: OraVet
Bad breath may be a sign of bacteria attacking your petʼs teeth and gums. Make sure you are taking your petʼs bad breath seriously.
The Family Pet Hospital is now offering a breakthrough product called OraVet. While other products may remove plaque and tartar, OraVet is the first plaque prevention system. It significantly reduces plaque and tartar formation by creating an invisible barrier that helps prevent bacteria from attaching to your pet's teeth. This breakthrough approach to oral healthcare begins in the hospital when Dr. Madsen applies the OraVet Barrier Sealant after your pet's dental cleaning. It continues at home when you apply the OraVet Plaque Prevention Gel weekly to your pet's teeth and gum line. The OraVet system helps to reduce plaque buildup and calculus formation on your petʼs teeth between dental cleanings.
Our role at the Family Pet Hospital is to recommend a dental cleaning for your pet once a year, which would include an application of OraVet barrier sealant to the newly cleaned teeth. In order to maintain adequate protection against periodontal disease it is recommended that you follow-up weekly with the at home OraVet applications. The at-home process is simple and easy. OraVet is tasteless and you should have no problem applying it to your dogʼs teeth.
"The American Animal Hospital Association recommends applying an anti-plaque substance, such as a sealant, as an essential step in dental cleaning. That's why applying OraVet sealant is standard procedure for every dental prophy in our clinic. OraVet allows our clients to keep up with their pet's oral hygiene after they leave the clinic. The once-a-week home care component is easy, and clients tell us that their dogs respond well."
Thomas A Carpenter, DVM, President 2007, American Animal Hospital Association
Please contact the Family Pet Hospital to set up your complimentary dental check with a nurse today or if you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
Family Pet Hospital
448 North 1600 West
Mapleton, UT 84664

VIN Buddies

West Vancouver veterinarian Cathy Wilkie, Animal Medical Hospital
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia veterinarian Walter Britt Schaffeld, Animal Medical Center
Toronto, Ontario veterinarian Allen Gignac, Yorkville Animal Hospital
Morgantown, WV veterinarian Steve Zucker, Animal Medical Center
Colchester, CT veterinarian Janet Ford, DVM, Paw Prints Animal Hospital
Addison, TX veterinarian David Landers, Brookhaven Pet Hospital
Plymouth, MA veterinarian Norm Stillman, Court Street Animal Hospital
China Grove, NC veterinarian Scott R Vaughan, DVM, China Grove Animal Hospital
Adelaide veterinarian Mark Reeve, Tea Tree Gully Veterinary Hospital
Clinton Township, MI Hardev Saini, veterinarian, Great Lakes Animal Hospital
Baltimore, MD veterinarian Sue Reiter, Rosedale Animal Hospital
Nanuet, NY veterinarian Michael Goldmann Nanuet Animal Hospital
Cincinnati, OH veterinarian Richard Seaman, Madeira Veterinary Hospital
Garden City Park, NY veterinarian Keith Niesenbaum, Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey veterinarian Akif Demerel, Istanbul Veterinary Polyclinic
Saanichton, BC Canada veterinarian Nick Shaw, Shaw Pet and Equine Hospitals
Brooklyn, NY veterinarian Jo Ann Greenberg, Atlantic Animal Care
Chilliwack, BC Canada veterinarian Josephine Banyard, Little Mountain Veterinary Clinic
Sioux Falls, SD veterinarian Angie Anderson, Heather Ridge Pet Hospital
Stuart, FL veterinarian Gary Zinderman, Animal Health and Healing Center
Jacksonville, FL veterinarian Barbara Kempf, Parkway Animal Hospital
Nashua New Hampshire veterinarian Richard McAroy, Lowell Road Veterinary Center
Greenlawn , New York veterinarian Jeff Garretson, Greenlawn Animal Hospital
Sunnyside, NY veterinarian Stuart Goldenberg Sunnyside Pet HealthCare Center
Pensacola, FL veterinarian Shelly Ashley, Cordova Animal Medical Center

What is pet wellness?

At Family Pet Hospital we will treat your pets as though they were our own. This includes doing all that we can to prevent or minimize injury or disease. We seek to help your pets enjoy the best quality of life and to help them live a healthy lifestyle.

Pet wellness includes a thorough physical examination done every six months, routine health screenings, ongoing communication between yourself and the veterinarian, and a risk assessment for the pet’s individual lifestyle.

Why do pets need an exam every six months?

Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian and spokesperson for National Pet Wellness Month, discusses in an interview how our pets age at a more rapid rate than we do as humans.

“On average, most dogs and cats reach adulthood by age two... By age four, many pets are entering middle age. And by age seven, most dogs, particularly large breeds, are entering their senior years.”

“Because dogs and cats age seven times faster, on average, than people, significant health changes can occur in a short amount of time. And, the risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic problems and other serious conditions all increase with age.

Many pet owners are not aware that taking a dog or cat to the veterinarian once a year is the same as a person seeing their doctor or dentist once every seven years, says Dr. Becker. He recommends pets have a wellness exam every six months so that veterinarians have the opportunity to detect, treat or, ideally, prevent problems before they become life-threatening.

"Prevention is the real goal of twice-a-year wellness exams," says Dr. Becker. "When veterinarians see a pet on a regular basis, they can help pets avoid some preventable illnesses and diseases. Plus, a pet will never have to suffer from pain that could be treated or prevented by the veterinarian."

Dr. Becker’s full interview can be found at:
http://www.npwm.com/pdf/Q&AwithDr.Becker.pdf

How old is my pet?

You can estimate your pet’s age by clicking on the link below:
http://www.npwm.com/petagecalculator.htm

Pet wellness screenings check for a variety of potential diseases. These screenings are usually accompanied by an individualized risk assessment of your pet's environment - where you live, emerging disease risks in your community, your pet's interaction with other pets and wildlife, travel plans, and other lifestyle considerations.
Pet wellness exams help your veterinarian determine a proper prevention program, including a vaccination schedule tailored specifically for your pet. By using personalized pet health protocols, veterinarians can pinpoint specific preventive health care needs for your pet.

Here is a list of some of the most important health screenings for cats and dogs. Dr. Madsen may recommend additional tests depending on your pet's health history and other factors.

Adult dogs (1-6 years) Additional exams for senior dogs (7+ years)

Vaccinations Osteoarthritis check
Parasite screen (fecal sample) Chest radiograph
Heartworm test Thyroid check
Dental health
Blood panel (CBC)
Chemistry panel
Urinalysis

Adult cats (1-6 years) Additional exams for senior cats (7+ years)

Vaccinations Osteoarthritis check
Parasite screen (fecal sample) Renal (kidney) disease screen
Heartworm test Thyroid check
Dental health Blood pressure check
Blood panel (CBC)
Chemistry panel
Urinalysis

Remember that your pet is worth it! They deserve the best care. Please call the Family Pet Hospital to set up your pet’s six month wellness exam.

Family Pet Hospital Privacy Policy

This privacy policy sets out how the Family Pet Hospital uses and protects any information that you give to the Family Pet Hospital when you visit our hospital or use the website.

The Family Pet Hospital is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified, you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

The Family Pet Hospital may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from October 1, 2008.

What we collect

We may collect the following information:

· Name and address
· Contact information including phone numbers and email address
· Social security number and/or driver licenses number
· Other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers

What we do with the information we gather

We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service and in particular for the following reasons:

· Internal record keeping
· We may use the information to improve our products and services.
· We may periodically send information, which we think you may find interesting (i.e. surveys, newsletters, service reminders, etc) using the email address, which you have provided.
· From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you directly by email, phone, fax or mail.
· We may use the information to customize the website according to your feedback given by surveys and/or suggestions.



Security

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect.

Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to enable you to visit other websites of interest easily. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Controlling your personal information

We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties, which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen.

You may request details of personal information whish we hold about you under the Date Protection Act 1998.

If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please call or email us as soon as possible. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.

Should Pit Bulls be Banned?

Mapleton City recently considered legislation specifically targeting and banning pit bulls as pets. Springville has ordinances that single out pit bull type breeds. Provo and Orem are currently debating instituting similar laws. Across the nation, isolated incidents of vicious dog attacks are sparking a wildfire of fear-induced laws banning entire breeds of dogs, especially those that comprise the group known as Pit Bulls. Is this fair? Is it right? We all want our children and pets to be safe from unprovoked maliciousness, but how is this best accomplished? Here is how I responded to our city council, trying to share my professional experience in dealing with agressive dog behaviors.


Mapleton City Council Members,

As your local veterinarian, I am concerned about the recent proposal to ban specific breeds of dogs from our communities, specifically pit bulls. I am also glad that the city has elected not to pursue that course of reasoning. Such legislation often arises out of fear and is promoted under the guise of public safety, but in reality is an indication of misinformation and uneducated decision-making. It is also questionable in constitutionality and enforceability. Please allow me, as an animal health and welfare professional working daily with a wide variety of breeds, to share my expertise should you choose to formulate a comprehensive plan that will be both fair to those pet owners that demonstrate reponsible ownership and their well-behaved dogs, as well as providing proper identification and recourse in situations where irresponsiblity and vicious behaviors truly exist.

I am freqently asked by clients as they ponder the type of new dog to get for their family "What is your favorite kind of dog ?" My answer has developed over the past couple decades of dealing with dogs of various demeanors as such: "I like the nice ones." I have found that it is not the breed, per se, that determines a dog’s demeanor toward other people, although genetics certainly play an important role. Behavior is primarily determined by proper and timely socialization and training, as well as attitudes of the dog owners themselves.

Statistics show that there are over 68 millions dogs owned as pets in the United States. There are approximately 350,000 people treated (although actual number of unreported bites could be much higher) for dog bite-related injuries annually, with only 12-15 resulting in fatalities. According to a Denver study, biting dogs are 6-8 times more likely to be male than female, 2.6 times more likely to be intact than neutered, 2.8 times as likely to be chained as unchained, with 20% of fatalities involving dogs that were chained at the time of the incident. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) records, approximately half of the people bitten are children <14>
The reasons that Pit bull-type breeds are being targeted in breed-specific legislative bans is because they currently account for >60% of bite-related injuries and insurance company claims related to dog bites have quadrupled in recent years. However, the frequency of pit bulls being involved is simply due to their increased popularity. In the 1970’s, Doberman Pinscers were the dog to fear. In the 1980’s, it became the Rottweilers. It wasn’t until the mid-1990’s that pit bull-type breeds gained popularity as increased prejudice and fear built against the other breeds. It reflects the breed of choice among people who want to own an aggressive dog. Unfortunately, it has become "cool" to own a "bad" dog.

Data in a report published in the Sept 15, 2000 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) indicate that breed-specific legislation is not the solution to dog bite prevention. The report revealed that, during the previous 20 years, at least 25 breeds of dog have been involved in 238 human fatalities. Pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers were identified as being involved in 66 and 39 fatalities, respectively, over that 20-year period; however, other purebreds and crossbreds caused the remainder of fatalities. Over time, the breeds involved in human fatalites have varied, and include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and even a Yorkshire Terrier and a Pomeranian, with a different mix represented every year. Not long ago, Dalmations were listed as the number one breed for human bite wounds.

Thus, as CDC epidemiologist Dr. Jeffrey Sacks indicates, "a dog of any breed can become dangerous when bred or trained to be aggressive. Fatal attacks represent only a very small proportion of dog bite injuries and shouldn't be the primary factor driving public policy regarding dangerous dogs." In my own professional experience, and confirmed in discussions with colleagues across the nation, veterinarians and their staff are more likely to be bitten by Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Amerikan Eskimos, Akitas, Chow Chows, Cocker Spaniels and German Shepherds because of aggressive tendencies. In general, the majority of the pit bull breeds tend to be very docile and loving toward people. It is recognized, however, that the wounds inflicted by breeds bred with dog-fighting in mind do tend to be more extensive that those by the miniature breeds.

A very informative article appeared in The New Yorker, that can be found online at http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/060206fa_fact, identifies the problems with generalizations against a specific breed (or group of people for that matter). One of these problems is that pit bulls are not a single breed, but include an number of related breeds, including the American Staffordshire Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and the American Pit Bull Terrier, all of which share physical characteristics of a square and muscular body, a short snout and a sleek, short-haired coat. Banning "pit bulls" then becomes a challenge in identifying what actually constitutes a pit bull. Then introduce the reaction of people to circumvent the law by breeding pit bull breeds to other breeds. Is a cross between an American Pit Bull Terrier with a Golden Retriever a pit bull or a Golden Retreiver-type dog? This line of reasoning often results in making generalizations about generalizations and eventually ends up with something totally undefineable and unenforceable. Furthermore, ostracizing a given breed will simply result in another shift toward other aggressive breeds for those who want the "bad dog" image.

The New Yorker article cites that the American Temperament Test Society has put 25,000+ dogs through a 10-part stardardized set of drills designed to assess a dog’s emotional stability, shyness, aggressiveness and friendliness in the company of people. They are judged on reactions to such stimuli as gunshots, someone opening an umbrella unexpectedly near them, and the approach of a weirdly-dressed stranger that acts threatening. In these tests, 84% of pit bull-type dogs have passed, ranking higher than Beagles, Airedale Terriers, Bearded Collies and all but one variety of Dachshunds.

A description of pit bull breeds often refer to them as having a "strong desire to please, good-natured, amusing, affectionate, extremely loyal, good family pets, and intelligent." Pit bulls were bred for the dog fighting and bull baiting sports. Thus, their "natural" aggressions are toward other animals, and not towards people. So then, which are the ones that have gotten into trouble and ellicited so much emotion over any other breed in history? The ones that have aggressive tendencies "bred into them by the breeder, trained in by the trainer, or reinforced in by the owner." However, the strongest connection of all in determining a dog’s viciousness, is certain kinds of owners. The New Yorker cites that "in about a quarter of fatal dog-bite cases, the dog owners were previously involved in illegal fighting. The dogs that bite people are, in many cases, socially isolated because their owners are socially isolated, and they are vicious because they have owners who want a vicious dog." This includes the owner of the junk yard, the drug dealer, the abusive husband, the socially outcast teenager and anyone else with issues about their self image. The article goes on to state that cities can easily prevent recurrences of dog attacks not by making generalizations about specific breeds of dogs, but on the "known and meaningful connection between dangerous dogs and negligent owners."

Insurance companies use generalizations when they charge young men more for car insurance than the rest of us, even though many young men are perfectly good drivers (teen drivers represent 8% of all licensed drivers in Utah, but they account for 28% of all crashes). Doctors use generalizations when they tell overweight middle-aged men to get their cholesterol checked, even though many overweight middle-aged men won’t experience heart problems. The problem becomes making the right generalization. Defining a handful of certain breeds as "dogs that bite" results in the assumption or generalization that all the rest are "dogs that don’t bite." Of course, we all know that anything with teeth can bite, but people who don’t deal with dogs very often may end up assuming that anything that isn’t a pit or rottie is safe to pet because they aren’t part of the banned list of breeds. It’s a little like assuming that any drug offered over-the-counter is risk-free, then becoming shocked when a dozen Tylenol tablets land someone in the hospital. You invite lawsuits when the government bans specific breeds "because they can kill you" and suddenly, a Standard Poodle attacks a child when it was thought to be a "safe" breed because it wasn’t included on the government’s list of banned breeds.

In the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC states that bite prevention is best avoided primarily through programs designed to educate children in proper behaviors and interactions around dogs. Additionally, prevention efforts should include "training, socializing, and neutering family pets. Additional strategies that encourage responsible pet ownership and reduce dog bites include "regulatory measures (e.g., licensing, neutering and registration programs, and programs to control unrestrained animals) and legislation." "Dangerous dog" laws should focus on dogs of any breed that have exhibited harmful / aggressive behavior and place primary responsibility for a dog’s behavior on its owner. The report also indicates that because other factors beside genetics (e.g., medical & behavioral health, early experience and socializaiton, training and even victim behaviors), "such laws might be more effective than breed-specific legislation."

Utah has formed the Driver License Point System Administration for drivers under the age of 21 years that assesses points for violations of safe driving rules. The points are weighted based on severity of the infraction with minor, intermediate and extreme levels, as well as the precedence of prior infractions. Consideration is taken for completion of defensive driving courses. Finally, there is a set of consequences based on the accumulation of points that reflect the driver’s risk of injury to self and others.

I propose that a similar system be implemented for ALL cases of dog aggression that takes into account ANY vicious behaviors regardless of the breed involved. Such a system would assign points according to the ability of the dog to inflict serious harm (e.g., a pit bull-type dog would score worse than a Shih tzu), whether the aggression was directed toward a human or another animal, toward a family member versus a stranger, on the owner’s premesis or off, according to the animal being properly restrained / confined as opposed to running loose. A properly implemented system would also have points assigned according to the attitude of the owner, history of prior illegal activities (especially those involving aggression), taking into account any history of prior pet-related complaints, and compliance with existing local dog ordinances. Penalties could range from a written warning to enforced use of secure enclosures and restraint devices, to bonds or penalties / fines (including damage restitution for victims’ health and veterinary fees) to removal of an animal from city limits and even mandated euthanasia. A properly formulated system could foreseeably result in a "one-strike-and-you’re-out" ruling for particularly vicious, unprovoked attacks involving unsocialized "powerful" breeds with beligerent owners, while being lenient toward random incidents involving docile pets taunted by neighborhood bullies.

The number of fatal maulings is extremely low, but still unfortunate, especially if you or your loved ones are among them, but it pales in comparison to other really dangerous things in life. Fifty-some odd kids die every year by drowning in buckets, not to mention how many die in swimming pools. An estimated 40,000 die in motor vehicle accidents. Hundreds of kids are killed by their own parents. Too many kids die being shot by other children when playing with their parents’s gun unsupervised. We’ve all heard that "guns don’t kill people, people kill people." Well, dogs aren’t inherently bad or vicious just because of their breed, but irresponsible ownership and lack of proper training and socializing create vicous dogs, of all sizes. If pet owners aren’t willing to provide the proper care, training and socialization that tend to develop well-mannered pets, they should not be permitted to own pets, or at least the large, dominant-attitute breeds that have been historically developed for aggressive behaviors.
Unfortunately, promoting and encouraging responsible ownership and compliance with local laws and judgements involves tracking compliance and follow-up by animal control officers and applying laws more exactingly rather than rash generalizations. We cannot fall into the false security mindset of "it’s always easier just to ban the breed."

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