"Owning a dog is almost a God-given right in the United States," says trainer Gina Lyn Hayes, "but with enough bad owners, it could cease to be easy or convenient to own a dog."

 

Hayes, who lives in Vineyard Have but spends most of her days on the Cape as a dog trainer and behaviorist, said she felt compelled to speak out about dog ownership in the wake of a spate of stories, both on the Cape and elsewhere, about miscreant dogs.

 

She said insurance companies that ban homeowner insurance policies to households owning certain breeds of dogs is not a new concept.

 

"Many of us dog professionals have worked with insurance companies the past five years helping to educate them on dog issues," she said.

 

"On a personal level," she said, "I am not in favor of breed bans. On a professional level, however, I can emphasize with the insurance companies and courts on the rising number of dog incidents."

 

She said that insurance companies deal in statistics compiled for them by hospitals, doctors, law enforcement agencies, and insurance claims.

 

"Folks become angry with the companies if they impose breed bans, but yet, if a child is bitten severely, people scream accountability and responsibility.

 

"So enough claims go in, and insurance rates or policies change," she said. "That's the way of life, right or wrong.

 

"Finally, the issue is hitting home to us here on Cape Cod. But don't feel distraught. In some countries, certain breeds are required to be muzzled if they are out in public, whether or not there has even been a sign of agression by a particular dog."

 

Insurance companies cannot determine the genetic characteristics of each breed of dog, she said, or if the owner was responsible for training, or how to even decide when dogs will bite in what situation.

 

"Every dog can bite, given an individual situation," she said. "And as dog owners, we must be honest and accountable for our beloved four-legged family members. We have no alternative but to follow state and local dog laws."

 

Hayes singled out for particular criticism those dog owners let their animals run loose every day or who do not get them vaccinated as required by law.

 

"These are not responsible dog owners," she said. "Owners who let their dogs run loose have no idea of what their dog's behavior is like when it is faced with too much unrestrained freedom.

 

"Dogs who run loose often develop a number of problems, such as territorial or dominant aggression issues," she said. "Owners who do not vaccinate expose our children and dogs to diseases.

 

"These types of owners," she added, "show a complete lack of respect toward neighbors or other community members. They should be held accountable and run the risk of losing ownership of their dog."

 

Fads often play a role in dog purchases, she noted.

 

For a while, herding breeds, such as Border Collies or Australian Shepherds, seemed to be high on the popularity list.

 

Now, there seems to be a big shift - particularly in the Northeast - to rare breeds, such as the Fila Brasiliero, a mastiff-type, South African Boer Boel and the Cane Corso.

 

"People go onto the Internet, find what they consider a cool-looking dog, locate the breeder, then pay thousands of dollars for a dog on which they haven't done any research," she said.

 

Hayes, who also has done some training work at Brewster's Animal Rescue League animal shelter, urged potential dog owners to educate themselves before buying or adopting any dog.

 

"If you are purchasing a purebred, what do you know about the breeder? Take the time to do research. Is the breeder knowledgeable about the breed, and the best environment for this breed? Do they have a solid reputation in their own communities with local animal control officers?"

 

And if you are adopting a dog from a local shelter, be honest with the shelter worker as to your needs and desires, said Hayes.

 

"This will allow the shelter to help you in picking the right dog, because no shelter worker wants to see the dog returned."

 

There is no perfect person and no perfect dog, and the dog owner must commit time and energy in the proper training of the animal, she said.

 

"At the very least," she added, "we owe it to our community to manage and control our dogs."