Dangerous breeds of dog are back in the back spotlight -but any breed has the potential to be dangerous.Sloppy dog owners (and parents) are to really blame for fatal incidents involving dogs -not the animal.
I get really narked when I see kids (unaccompanied by adults) walking huge, wolf-like mutts in public places - sometimes off the a lead. Ok, the chances are that the dog is totally placid and harmless but what if it suddenly became aggressive or out of control?
I've seen it happen a few times - The last incident I witnessed, a dog being walked (no lead) by a child. suddenly decided to bolt into a busy road and nearly caused two cars to crash.
A bit of common sense and better parenting wouldn't go amiss here. Also, the dog licence and dog wardens should make a come-back.
Redsquirrel I have to agree, whilst you never know what a dog could do even the best behaved, by putting Chrildren and even the animals in certain situations is crazy.
For example leaving a dog tied up outside a shop in the summer if the dog bites someone then the dog gets blamed and probably put to sleep. But the reality is the dog is hot and obviously agitated at being touched by a stranger and should not have been left on its own in the first place.
We have a Jack Russle she's very well behaved and never growled or been unwelcoming to anyone but I would not let a child stroke her in the street or leave her alone with a younger family member.
It's true that any breed can be dangerous and that the owners need to take responsibility but some breeds are specifically bred for aggression and fighting. The people you usually see with this type of dog only seem to want it to add to a 'hard' image.
There was something in the paper about a woman who had a lovely little miniature Daschund dog, and it allegedly "nipped" a neighbour while the woman was unloading the shopping from her car, and the fascist neighbour put up a stink and now the dog may risk being put down, which is going to leave the woman and her kids devastated! The dog is a really friendly, placid little thing too!
A world away from a pit bull terrier who is capable of killing a child!
I'd quite happily give the little Daschund a "safe house" away from those murderous bureaucrats who live by the letter of the law!
Richard