Danish Lawmaker: Kill All Mutts

Appeals court ruling a legal boost for victims of attacks

(NEWSER) - If you've been attacked by a pit bull and want to sue, you'll have a leg up if you happen to live in Maryland. The Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled that pit bulls are an "inherently dangerous" breed, a ruling that deems Maryland owners completely accountable for their dogs' actions. The SPCA is not pleased, reports MSNBC , and asserts its belief that an animal's behavior, not breed, should be the deciding factor. It also worries that the ruling could lead to a rash of abandoned pit bulls. More»

Staten Island pooch helps scare off home invader

(NEWSER) - A courageous dog saved the day in Staten Island when he helped scare off a home invader and survived a bullet to the head, reports the New York Post . The drama began when a burglar disguised as a FedEx deliveryman tried to break into Justin Becker's apartment. Becker threw the man to the ground and wedged him into the doorway. Kilo, Becker's 12-year-old pit bull, then leaped into action. That's when the would-be burglar shot him and fled. More»

Somali-born brothers overheard discussing methods and targets

(NEWSER) - Danish intelligence officials say they've arrested two brothers who were plotting an unspecified terrorist attack. The brothers, ages 18 and 23, were born in Somalia, but have spent most of their lives in Denmark and are Danish citizens. Authorities say they were overheard discussing methods, targets, and types of weaponry for an attack. One allegedly attended an al-Shabab training camp in Somalia, the AP reports. More»

Those darn Victorians did it

(NEWSER) - Our ignorance about canine history can be blamed, ironically, on our own love for dogs, LiveScience reports. Scientists recently tried tracing dogs' genetic lines—and culling out details of their early domestication—but lost track in the 19th century, when Victorians established today's standard breeds. The 15,000 years that came before that are a "big blurred mess," says a British researcher. "We love them so much, we've completely obliterated their early history and made it more difficult to understand their origins." More»

State Farm alone paid out $109M in claims last year

(NEWSER) - Dog bites are costly things: The nation's insurers paid out about $479 million in claims in 2011, reports AP , which rounds up a hodge-podge of related nuggets:

• State Farm alone paid $109 million to settle 3,800 dog bite claims in 2011, and both figures were up from 2010.
• The average claim nationally is estimated to be $28,799.
• Worst states: California, 527 claims, $20.3 million; Illinois, 309 claims, $10 million; Texas, 219 claims, $5.1 million; and Ohio, 215 claims, $5.4 million.
• Dog bites cost the post office about $1 million a year, though kids in general are far more likely to be bitten than a carrier.