Study of dog control strategies.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To explore the relationship between regionally implemented dog control strategies and dog bite injuries (DBIs) and (2) to evaluate current implementation of dog control strategies. METHODS: Observational study using a nationwide online survey of territorial authorities (TAs). Domains of interest included complaints for attacks on people, dog population, primary and secondary prevention strategies, resourcing and perspectives of current strategies. Quantitative variables were compared with DBI Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) claims by region from 2014 to 2018. RESULTS: Two-thirds of TAs (70%; n=47/67) responded to the survey. No clear relationship was observed between DBIs and: registered dog population, proportion sterilisations or microchipping, classifications due to dog behaviour, or existing limited resourcing. Legislated breeds and infringements for failure to control a dog or non-registration were higher in areas with greater DBIs. Educational messages varied widely and were predominantly victim directed (67%; n=71/106). Complaints for dog attacks on people were lower than DBIs in most areas, with no formal cross-agency notification policies. Few prosecutions or dog destruction orders were made. CONCLUSIONS: Regional inequity in DBIs could not be explained by differences in the registered dog population or dog control strategies. Minimal and inequitable resourcing exists to implement current dog control strategies and provide owner-directed education. Gaps in legislation include environmental barrier requirements for all dogs (leash/muzzle use, adequate fencing), notification of incidents and child protection. Partnership with the Indigenous community (Maori) and other community groups will be required to implement these measures successfully.

An audit of dog-related injury notification practices in a New Zealand public hospital.

AIM: This study aimed to investigate the rate of notification by health professionals to an appropriate authority, for all DRIs that presented during the 2018/19 year to a New Zealand public hospital, and to describe the incidence and characteristics of these presentations. METHOD: Data were obtained from all discharges from a New Zealand public hospital, with the primary external cause of injury code W54.0 (Bitten by Dog) + W54.1 (Struck by Dog) or W54.8 (Other Contact with Dog) as per the Australian Modification of the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, during the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019. Clinical notes were screened for documentation of notification of the incident to an appropriate authority, including local animal management, social work, Oranga Tamariki (NZ's child protection services), or police. RESULTS: There were 329 presentations to the emergency department with a DRI, 97% of which (n=320) were dog bites. There was a non-significant higher one-year cumulative incidence in children aged 0-9 years compared to adults aged 15 years and over. Children aged 0-9 years were also more likely to be injured on the head, face or neck, compared to adults or children 10-14 years, who were more likely to be injured on their limbs or torso. Notification of incidents were notified to an authority in 1.5% of incidents, including animal management services or a social worker. CONCLUSION: This study found a low rate (1.5%) of documented notification by health professionals of dog bites and other DRIs. Further research is required to investigate the evidence for introducing strategies to increase reporting on the incidence of injuries, and any potential impact on presentations for medical attention.

Epidemiology of dog-related injuries within New Zealand.

AIM: To describe the epidemiology of DRIs in New Zealand. METHODS: A review of Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) new claims for DRIs that required medical attention, and publicly funded hospital discharges identified from the National Minimum Dataset (NMDS) for the period of 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2019. ACC cases were identified using the TE60 READ code and relevant diagnosis or external agency descriptions; NMDS cases with an ICD-10-AM external cause of injury code of W540, W541, or W548 were included. RESULTS: There were 108,324 new ACC claims for DRIs and 3,456 hospitalisations during the five-year review period. The majority of injuries were dog bites (51%, n=54,754 ACC claims; 89%, n=3,084 hospitalisations). The all-age incidence of ACC claims for all DRIs significantly increased by 1.75% per year (p<0.001) during the period reviewed, with a significant increase in claims for dog bite injuries of 1.64% per year (p<0.001), a significant increase in DRI hospitalisations (2.43% per year, p=0.046), and a non-significant annual increase (p=0.217) in dog bite injury hospitalisations. Children aged 0-9 years had similar rates to adults of ACC claims for dog bite injuries; however, children 0-9 years were more likely to be hospitalised. Maori had a higher incidence of ACC claims and hospitalisations for dog bite injuries than non-Maori. ACC claims and hospitalisations for dog bite injuries were more likely to occur in areas of greater deprivation, with substantial regional variation across the country. CONCLUSION: The incidence of injury from dogs in New Zealand is increasing. Inequity exists with substantial regional variation, in higher rates among those living in areas of greater deprivation, and with Maori in the setting of the ongoing effects of colonisation. Children aged 0-9 years are no more likely than other age groups to present for medical attention but are more likely to be hospitalised. Reasons for these disparities require further investigation.

Systematic review of dog bite prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND: The prevention of dog bites is an increasingly important public health topic, as the incidence of serious injury continues to rise. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to prevent dog bites and aggression. METHODS: Online databases were searched (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Google Scholar), using the search terms: dog/s, canine, canis, kuri, bite/s, bitten, aggression, attack, death, fatal, mortality, injury/ies, prevention, intervention, for studies between 1960 and 2021. All study designs were considered. Outcomes of interest were the incidence of dog bites or dog aggression. Non-English studies, and those without full-text access were excluded. RESULTS: Forty-three studies met the review criteria, including 15 observational and 27 interventional studies. Fifteen studies investigating dog-control legislation, including leash laws, stray dog control and infringements indicated this can reduce dog bite rates. Breed-specific legislation had less of an effect. Six studies investigating sterilisation, showed while this may reduce dog bites through a reduction in the dog population, the effect on dog aggression was unclear. An alcohol reduction programme showed a significant reduction in dog bite rates in one study. Seven studies assessing educational approaches found that intensive adult-directed education may be effective, with one study showing child-directed education was not effective. Eight studies on dog training (two police-dog related), and six evaluating dog medication or diet were generally low quality and inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple strategies including effective engagement with indigenous communities and organisations will be required to reduce dog-bites and other incidents involving dog aggression. This review provides some evidence that legislated dog control strategies reduce dog bite rates. Available evidence suggests greater restrictions should be made for all dogs, rather than based on breed alone. Due to a burden of child injury, protection of children should be a focus of legislation and further investigations. Prevention strategies in children require redirection away from a focus on child-directed education and future research should investigate the effectiveness of engineering barriers and reporting strategies.

The incidence and risk factors of dog bite injuries requiring hospitalisation in New Zealand.

AIM: This retrospective cohort study aims to describe the incidence of dog bite injuries requiring hospitalisation across New Zealand in the 10-year period between 2004 and 2014. METHOD: The National Minimum Dataset (NMDS) was used to collate information from public and private hospital discharges for publicly funded events in New Zealand with the external cause of injury code W54.0 (Bitten by Dog) during the period of 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2014. Information regarding potential risk factors and indicators of severity was also collected. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2014 there were 4,958 dog bites requiring hospitalisation in New Zealand, giving an overall incidence of 11.3 (11.0-11.6) per 100,000 people per annum, representing 496 events per year on average. The average length of stay in hospital was 2.5 days (SD = 3.5 days). The overall incidence has been rising during this period from 9.7 (8.8-10.7) per 100,000 population per annum in 2004 to a peak of 12.3 (11.3-13.4) per 100,000 in 2013/14. The highest risk factors were identified as children under the age of 10 years, Maori and those with a higher deprivation score. In cases where the scene of injury was recorded, 69% occurred at a private residence or property. Head and neck bites were increasingly common in younger age groups, with 78% of the 0-4 year age group and 63% of the 5-9 year age group injured in the head/neck region. Upper and lower limb bites were increasingly common in older age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of dog bite injuries requiring hospitalisation has continued to rise in comparison with previously published rates in New Zealand. Additionally, more vulnerable population subgroups have been identified who are most likely to require hospitalisation.