Tyler: A "pit bull," and TAI therapy dog, is a member of the all-breed, inter-species non-profit group, Creatures and Kids, in Oklahoma.

The NCRC thanks Molly Gibb, their owner, for use of photos and for the contributions Tyler (and Coco) make to their community.

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Above and beyond their place as family companions and in traditional service occupations, dogs in Oklahoma serve in an ever-widening spectrum of therapeutic roles. The physical and emotional benefits to humans that come from relationships with dogs are now recognized and utilized by psychiatric facilities, assisted living centers, hospitals, schools and even prisons.

Today, dogs contribute more to the welfare of individuals and society than perhaps any other time in the history of the human-dog bond. Additionally, over the past three decades, increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in drastically lowering the number of reported dog-related injuries nationwide.

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Dr. Wm. Blake Gibb with his "pit bull" dog, Jack, out on house calls in 1917

"PASSING A HUMANE TORCH"

Dr. Wm. Blake Gibb , world reknowned eye surgeon and WW1 veteran, respected and valued his companion dogs. Believing in the importance of the human/canine bond he would take his "pit bull," Jack, with him on house calls to visit patients. He was also an avid supporter of service dogs for the blind. He and his wife, Eileen, instilled in their family this same sense of appreciation.

Today, the torch has passed to his grand-daughter, Molly. Also, protecting the virtues of the working dog in positive community service, she and her certified Therapy Animal Intervention "pit bull" dogs, Coco and Tyler, volunteer in educational venues that focus on children and young people.

"My family gave me the opportunity to experience animals in a responsible and meaningful way - always hands on. I benefited greatly from that and continue to do so! Getting to share my Pit bulls to yet another generation in positive, experiential ways is a real honor. I am hopeful these young people will continue to pass the torch, and even more brightly.

Molly Gibb

National Canine Research Council

What is a dog bite?

While the question seems simple enough, the answer is often not what we imagine.

Over the past 3 decades, increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in lowering the number of reported dog-related injuries nationwide.

National Canine Research Council

Over the past 47 years (1965 - present) there have been seventeen (17) dog bite-related fatalities in Oklahoma, an average of one (1) fatality every 3 years.

NCRC's 2011 Preliminary Report on Dog Bite-Related Fatalities illustrates the challenge of accurately reporting on these extremely rare, tragic events. Our mission of preserving the human-canine bond obligates us to be as accurate about these emotionally charged incidents as we can, so that they are calmly, correctly and, therefore, usefully understood. Accuracy takes time.

At least nine (9) different breeds/types of dogs were reported to be involved in these incidents.*

None of the dogs had been spayed or neutered by their owners.

At least three of the dogs involved were suffering the effects of extreme abuse and/or starvation.

The victims were 4 adults and 13 children.

Five of the dog owners/parents were charged with criminal offenses.

• In 1987, a Jones couple was convicted of criminal negligence after they allowed their 16-month-old daughter to wander out to one of the four dogs they kept chained behind their trailer.

• In 2005, an owner was charged with involuntary manslaughter after his chained dog attacked and killed his visiting 4-year-old nephew. The starving, chained dog (pictured above) was described by the Oklahoma media as the "family dog." The mother stated the child, on previous visits, "rode the dog like a horse." It is disturbing that neither the dog's owner, nor the mother, could foresee the possibility that an animal in such obvious physical distress would react aggressively to an approaching child, especially a child that had "ridden him like a horse." In 2007, a 65-year-old woman was killed by her son-in-laws's loose dogs in Pontotoc County. The owner was charged with obstruction of justice for initially denying the dogs belonged to him.In 2008, a Tulsa infant was mauled to death after being left alone for nearly two hours with a starving dog. The infant's mother was convicted of manslaughter and placed on probation.

• In 2007, a 65-year-old woman was killed by her so-in-law's loose dogs in Pontotoc County. The owner was charged with obstruction of justice for initially denying the dogs belonged to him.

• In 2008, a Tulsa infant was killed by a dog after being left alone for nearly two hours with a starving dog. The infant's mother was convicted of manslaughter and placed on probation.

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*Note: In recent years, scientists have established that visual identification of dogs of unknown origin is extremely unreliable; therefore, while we can be sure these listed incidents involved varied types of dogs, we cannot be certain of the accuracy of most breed identifications.

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In spite of the reckless, abusive or dangerous ownership practices of some dog owners, dogs still pose an incredibly low risk for causing a fatality in Oklahoma:

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

In 2007, 31 Oklahoma children died as a result of maltreatment (abuse, neglect).

In the single year 2007, more than twice as many Oklahoma children died from maltreatment as the total of all children killed by dogs in the state over the past 45 years.

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People in Oklahoma routinely accept far greater risks from ATVs, bicycles and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.

National Canine Research Council