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Dog Bite Investigation Worksheet

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Dog Bite Investigation Worksheet THE SPECIFIC USE OF EVIDENCE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF DOG BITE RELATED HUMAN FATALITIES By JAMES W. CROSBY A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2016 © 2016 James W. Crosby 2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to acknowledge the contributions and efforts of the following: Dr. Randall Lockwood, for his mentorship and for breaking early ground in the field of DBRF research, Dr. Kenneth Cohrn for explaining the intricacies of bites and dentition, Dr. Jason Byrd for shepherding me through the degree jungle, and all three gentlemen for agreeing to serve as my committee advisors. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Dr. Ian Dunbar. I sincerely thank the various Police Departments and Sheriff's Offices with whom I have worked for their cooperation and permitting me to gather data from my cases.1 I thank the National Animal Control Association, the Alabama Animal Control Association, the Florida Animal Control Association, the Alberta Bylaw and Animal Control Officers' Association, and other agencies and groups that have allowed me to interact, share data, and both teach and learn through association with their personnel and their cases. Thank you also to the prosecuting, defense and civil attorneys that have recognized the importance of this work and the need for further investigation, the Animal Rescue and welfare groups that have sought my help and allowed me to observe and evaluate dogs in their care, and particularly the dog owners and victim families who have cooperated and shared access and information to allow research into these tragedies. 1 Due to confidentiality the author is unable to share individual agency identities here, but there are many and all are greatly appreciated. 3 To the families of the victims, past and future: I give my deepest condolences and hope that their families' loss can help save lives in the future. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……………………………………………………………………3 LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………….8 LIST OF TABLES……………………………................................................................9 ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………… 10 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 11 History and Quantification of Dog Bites........................................................................... 13 Review of the Literature ..................................................................................................... 15 Legal Basis for Accountability in DBRF Cases .............................................................. 17 2 INVESTIGATION ................................................................................................................ 24 Need for Competent Investigation.................................................................................... 24 The Effect of Dog Bites and DBRF on Community Perceptions of Safety. ............... 27 3 CANINE AGGRESSION .................................................................................................... 30 What is Aggression?........................................................................................................... 30 Aggression as a Response to Welfare Issues. .............................................................. 31 Defense Aggression. .......................................................................................................... 33 Aggression in Resource Protection.................................................................................. 36 Aggression and the Social Contract................................................................................. 39 Human Factors Influencing Domestic Dog Aggressive Behavior. .............................. 40 Domestic Dog Aggressive Behavior as a Clinical Abnormality. .................................. 40 Domestic Dogs and Perception of Threat and Challenge. ........................................... 41 Pack Behavior...................................................................................................................... 42 4 DOG BITE EVIDENCE....................................................................................................... 43 Definition of a Dog Bite. ..................................................................................................... 43 Defining Bite Mark Evidence. ............................................................................................ 45 Purpose of a Dog Bite. ....................................................................................................... 48 Severity of Bites. ................................................................................................................. 51 Assessment of Dog Bite Injury.......................................................................................... 52 Parameters of Dog Bite Comparison. .............................................................................. 59 Cautions in Bite Mark Interpretation................................................................................. 61 Ante-mortem, Peri-Mortem, and Post-Mortem Bite Injury. ........................................... 67 5 5 BEHAVIOR........................................................................................................................... 72 Behavior Evaluations .......................................................................................................... 72 Risk Assessment................................................................................................................. 81 6 EVIDENCE ........................................................................................................................... 83 Circumstantial or Situational Evidence. ........................................................................... 83 Witness Interviews .............................................................................................................. 88 Behavioral Evidence. .......................................................................................................... 90 Dog Behavior ................................................................................................................ 90 Human behavior........................................................................................................... 94 7 EVIDENCE COLLECTION ................................................................................................ 97 Human Sample Collection ................................................................................................. 97 Sample Collection from the Animal .................................................................................. 99 Media Relations................................................................................................................. 107 8 CASE ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................. 112 Warning and Provocation. ............................................................................................... 116 Interpreting Attack Severity ............................................................................................. 120 9 CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................................ 125 Investigation ....................................................................................................................... 125 Rehabilitation ..................................................................................................................... 126 The Breed Question. ........................................................................................................ 128 Prosecution ........................................................................................................................ 134 APPENDIX A IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ................................................. 136 B RESPONSE CHECK SHEET-ANIMALS....................................................................... 137 C RESPONSE CHECK SHEET-HUMAN VICTIMS ........................................................ 140 D DOG BITE INVESTIGATIVE WORKSHEET ................................................................ 142 E DOG BEHAVIOR EVALUATION WORKSHEET ......................................................... 148 F DUNBAR SCALE .............................................................................................................. 153 G EXAMPLE CASE REPORT............................................................................................. 156 H CASE FILES REFERENCED.......................................................................................... 168 6 LIST OF REFERENCES ......................................................................................................... 169 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ..................................................................................................... 179 7 LIST OF FIGURES Figure page 1-1 Three “killer Pit Bulls” from files of author re: Case #3………………………….23 2-1 ABFO #2 Photomacrographic scale………………………………………………69 2-2 Human dentition…………………………………………………………………….69 2-3 Canine dentition…………………………………………………………………….70 6-1 Severe abdominal tearing from multi-dog attack………………………………..96 8 LIST OF TABLES Table page 2-1 Strict Liability
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