[gemy]

I"d like to see mandatory chipping instituted by all registries in North America. All litters must be chipped, and then when sold the microchip info is transferred to new owner.
Then I'd like to see mandatory reporting, using a chip scanner that then identifies the breed, the bite, the person bit by age and sex, the emergency care given, and a short narrative of incidence description. A standard form that must be filled out by the health care or emt that attends to the person.
In my opinion on all these dog bites stats, we have "garbage in" and therefor no reliable stats out.
I'd also like to see mandatory reporting of health stats that are collected by vets, entered into a OFA like database, sorted by chip number by breed, etc.
I'd like to see that city dog licensing requires a universally identifiable chip, that will help to identify the crossbreeds or mutts.

In terms of public awareness of how to greet or at least to be safe around strange dogs, its almost totally lacking.

Last summer at Kelso a favourite park we swim the dogs in. Magic was on lead with my husband and they were walking down to the water. A little girl perhaps no more than six, came running from across the parking lot, yelling oh doggy doggy doggy, brandishing her cute little baton as she ran. I move to intercept her twice, first time she veered away from me, cause I was blocking her path to Magic; second time I crouched and held out my arms and said Stop sweetie. She did. Where were her parents? Still across the parking lot, sauntering towards us, smiling. Anyhow, I talked with her, she was doggy crazy, and I said to her, that is not the way you want to meet a dog. So we talked some about how to meet strange dogs. By this time, Magic was doing his favourite thing of retreive the toy in the water. Her parents finally arrived, and we chatted. The little girl begged me and her parents to meet Magic. I said honey, you are going to get wet, cause he is all wet now. She didn't care. So she had a grand time meeting Magic, and even, throwing the ball into the water for him.

The only place I've been so far, that seems generally speaking to get dogs, was up north in Lake Superior and environs. What a relief it was to actually be in public with folks that knew to ask before petting, that walked up calmly and spoke with the owners first, and that included most kids too. Made a huge difference.