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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Replacing the I-5 viaduct would come at a steep price ... Since You Asked: City, county enforce woodstove regulations ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 29, 1916 ... Replacing the I-5 viaduct would come at a steep price ... Since You Asked: City, county enforce woodstove regulations ... Mail Tribune 100, Jan. 29, 1916 ... Dogged by doubt As a Medford Police Advisory Committee prepares for a hearing on dangerous dogs, statistics show some surprising breeds other than pit bulls also have a record of biting Pit bulls top the list of dog-bite cases involving humans in 2013, a report by Jackson County Animal Services shows. By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted Jan. 26, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jan 26, 2014 at 12:26 AM By DAMIAN MANN Posted Jan. 26, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jan 26, 2014 at 12:26 AM County dog bite cases --> Cases of dogs biting humans in 2013 reported to Jackson County Animal Services No. of cases Percent of total Pit bulls and mixes 46 17% Labrador retrievers 31 12% Chihuahuas 24 9% ... » Read more X County dog bite cases Cases of dogs biting humans in 2013 reported to Jackson County Animal Services No. of cases Percent of total Pit bulls and mixes 46 17% Labrador retrievers 31 12% Chihuahuas 24 9% Border collies/cattle dogs 24 9% Australian/German shepherds 19 7% Boxers 10 4% Rottweilers 9 3% Parson/Jack Russell terriers 8 3% All other breeds 95 36% Total 266 Medford dog bite cases Bite cases recorded in Medford in 2013 Amount Percent of total Pit bulls and mixes 19 15% Labrador retrievers 16 12% Chihuahuas 16 12% Border collies 12 9% Australian/German shepherds 9 7% Boxers 6 5% Rottweilers 4 3% Parson/Jack Russell terriers 3 2% All other breeds 46 35% Total 131 (49% of cases in Jackson County) Dogs brought to shelter, number euthanized Most of the 1,539 dogs taken in by the Jackson County animal shelter in 2013 were adopted or returned to the owner. Fifteen percent of all dogs brought in were euthanized. Following is the total number of dogs brought in and how many were euthanized: No. brought to shelter No. euthanized Percent euthanized Pit bulls/mixes 323 98 30% Labrador retrievers 200 28 14% Australian/German shepherds 124 13 11% Chihuahuas 115 8 7% Border collies/cattle dogs 83 8 10% Parson/Jack Russell terriers 49 3 6% Alaskan/Siberian huskies 38 5 13% Dachshunds 31 3 10% Boxers 30 4 13% Miniature poodles 25 4 16% Rottweilers 20 5 25% All other breeds 501 52 10% Total 1,539 » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Pit bulls top the list of dog-bite cases involving humans in 2013, a report by Jackson County Animal Services shows. Countywide, there were 46 cases of pit bulls biting humans, or 17 percent of the 266 reported cases. Labrador retrievers were the second highest with 31 cases, or 12 percent. Pit bulls have become the center of attention recently as the city of Medford explores options to deal with dangerous dogs. More than half of the bite cases in Medford for the past three years were by pit bulls or pit-bull mixes, according to Medford police. Jackson County Animal Services reported that 131 people were bitten by dogs in Medford in 2013. Barbara Talbert, manager of Jackson County Animal Services, said the animal shelter sees both sides of the pit-bull issue. Most of the dogs sitting in cages waiting for adoption are pit bulls or pit-bull mixes. The shelter hears from pit-bull owners who don't want their dogs euthanized, she said, and it hears from others who have been bitten by pit bulls. "We have successfully placed many pit bulls in homes, but they have to be the right homes," Talbert said. "They are very strong dogs with an intensity that if they get riled up, you have to be careful." Every dog that is placed in adoption is screened according to a standardized test that determines temperament, Talbert said. She said the animal shelter attempts to determine how the dog will behave in a home setting. Dogs can become agitated and stressed out in their cages at the shelter, but mellow out once they are in a calmer home environment, she said. Talbert, who has been a foster parent for many pit bulls, is quick to verbally reprimand Murphy, a 3-month-old pit bull, which was playfully mouthing someone's shoe on Friday. The statistics prepared by Animal Services have been forwarded to the city of Medford and the Police Advisory Committee, which will recommend a course of action to deal with dangerous dogs by April. Despite the high number of bite cases involving pit bulls and pit-bull mixes last year, only 653 of the 15,399 licenses issued since June 2013 were for this type of dog, or 4.2 percent. Talbert's statistics show there were 19 human bite cases involving pit bulls or mixes in Medford ZIP codes last year. Labrador retrievers came in at a close second, with 16 bite cases. A total of 131 bite cases were recorded in Medford from all breeds, or 49 percent of all the cases in the county. Central Point has the second highest number of bite cases at 46. Pit bulls or pit-bull mixes were involved in 10 cases, or 22 percent, followed by Labrador retrievers with six cases, or 13 percent. Ashland, with a total of 23 bite cases, had three for pit bulls and three for Australian/German shepherds. Border collies, heelers and cattle dogs had the most bite cases in White City at three, with two for pit bulls. Pit bulls, which are also the most common shelter dog, had the highest euthanasia rate at 30 percent. Rachelle Long, a 43-year-old Phoenix resident who has spoken before Medford City Council on the pit-bull issue, said she's frustrated that many homeless people in the area seem to have pit bulls. "If you're seeing somebody who owns a pet, and they're acting irresponsibly, seize the dog, then make them pay for a license if they want the dog back," she said. Long, who owns a 3-year-old pit bull named Ellie, said pit bulls have been around for decades, but it's only in recent years that the breed has been targeted as being overly aggressive. She said the dogs have gained a bad reputation because they are used by gangs, drug dealers and in dog-fighting. By DAMIAN MANN MailTribune.com By DAMIAN MANN Posted Jan. 26, 2014 @ 12:01 am Updated Jan 26, 2014 at 12:26 AM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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