TY - JOUR T1 - Decline in hospitalisations due to dog bite injuries in Catalonia, 1997–2008. An effect of government regulation? JF - Injury Prevention JO - Inj Prev SP - 408 LP - 410 DO - 10.1136/ip.2010.026997 VL - 16 IS - 6 AU - Joan R Villalbí AU - Montse Cleries AU - Susana Bouis AU - Víctor Peracho AU - Julia Duran AU - Conrad Casas Y1 - 2010/12/01 UR - http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/16/6/408.abstract N2 - Objective To analyse population-based data on hospitalisation caused by dog bite injuries after changes in legal regulations on dog ownership, including breed-specific regulations.Design Descriptive study.Setting Hospitals in Catalonia (Spain), 1997–2008.Subjects Persons hospitalised with injuries caused by dog bites.Results There has been a significant decline in hospitalisation caused by injuries from dog bites from 1.80/100 000 in 1997–9 to 1.11/100 000 in 2006–8, after the enactment of stricter regulations on dog ownership in 1999 and 2002. The magnitude of this change is significant (−38%), and has been greatest in less urban settings.Conclusions Government regulations were associated with a sizable decrease in injuries caused by dog bites in Catalonia. More evaluative studies in this field may provide criteria to focus future regulations and other preventive interventions. ER -