Another baby killed

MayBee70

There are several people that you can contact if you are concerned about a dangerous dog in your area. When our dog was attacked we were supported by the police and a safe neighbourhood officer at our local council. This was after getting a crime number from the police. A dog doesn’t actually have to attack anyone for a report to be made: if you are afraid in your own neighbourhood you can contact the council. He, along with the police, visited the owner of the dog. We only met him by accident and he has told us to contact him if we have any further problems. If you get a crime number the police can then notice if there’s a pattern forming with a particular dog. There are lots of ways you can air your complaints but unfortunately they aren’t very well publicised. We didn’t contact the dog warden but we could have done. My daughter didn’t report a dog that attacked her dog and it attacked another dog soon after: the same thing had happened with ours and the owner of the other dog felt awful that she hadn’t reported her dogs attack to the police. Every incident needs to be reported.

Hello! Is anyone bothering to read the options I’ve given if anyone is concerned about a dog behaving dangerously. Especially as I have been at the receiving end of a dog attack? Or doesn’t it matter that it was my nasty horrible dog that was attacked and not a person…(I give up….)

Chestnut

Good points, Luckygirl3. It would take a huge effort to properly control dog ownership as there are so many dogs and it has all been so casual for so long. But it should be done, as it should have been done many years ago. Few people are brave enough to tackle the dog brigade, who will set on them like a pack of wolves. There are many who would rather have children killed than agree to proper dog controls.

By the way, it's not always dangerous breeds who attack children. At least one of the links I posted involves a supposedly non-dangerous dog breed.

Seriously - you’re accusing the responsible dog owners who contributed positively here of setting on others ‘like a pack of Wolves” ?

But who knows? - they might feel a sense of responsibility for children's safety.

There needs to be a working party looking at the options and a white paper. The situation as it is is not tenable.

I think you would need more than one dog Warden in an urban situation . Probably in the countryside too. One Warden would be hard put to police one housing estate never mind other areas of the average town, never mind city. I don't think the average vet would want to be expected to report people for non microchipping! Why on earth should they, checking that people are obeying the law is not their responsibility.

Good points, Luckygirl3. It would take a huge effort to properly control dog ownership as there are so many dogs and it has all been so casual for so long. But it should be done, as it should have been done many years ago. Few people are brave enough to tackle the dog brigade, who will set on them like a pack of wolves. There are many who would rather have children killed than agree to proper dog controls.

By the way, it's not always dangerous breeds who attack children. At least one of the links I posted involves a supposedly non-dangerous dog breed.

Jody1234

Good to read your point to view again Luckygirl, and again, and again

Gosh - I am not really sure that sarcasm is appropriate on a thread about children being killed.

There are several people that you can contact if you are concerned about a dangerous dog in your area. When our dog was attacked we were supported by the police and a safe neighbourhood officer at our local council. This was after getting a crime number from the police. A dog doesn’t actually have to attack anyone for a report to be made: if you are afraid in your own neighbourhood you can contact the council. He, along with the police, visited the owner of the dog. We only met him by accident and he has told us to contact him if we have any further problems. If you get a crime number the police can then notice if there’s a pattern forming with a particular dog. There are lots of ways you can air your complaints but unfortunately they aren’t very well publicised. We didn’t contact the dog warden but we could have done. My daughter didn’t report a dog that attacked her dog and it attacked another dog soon after: the same thing had happened with ours and the owner of the other dog felt awful that she hadn’t reported her dogs attack to the police. Every incident needs to be reported.

Akita were originally called Japanese Fighting Dogs I believe
There are only four banned types in U.K. I do believe there should be more banned breeds Ie the dogs with lock on jaws for a start
These are the breeds that are banned, I ve only heard of the first one

Pit Bull Terrier.
Japanese Tosa.
Dogo Argentino.
Fila Brasileiro.

The dog was an American XL Bully. This is a legal breed it looks a bit like a stuffy and has wide jaws. A neighbour of mine has recently got one along with an Akita. The have a 2year old, a 5 year old with learning diffs and a 9 year old. They only walked the dogs for a few weeks and now they are confined in the house apart from toilet times in the garden. I live in fear for those kids.
I am so sorry for the lovely little girl what a terrible way to die RIP little angel

Good to read your point to view again Luckygirl, and again, and again

There needs to be a clear line of authority and responsibility here. If tighter rules come in to control dog ownership they need to be policed by people who know it is their responsibility. The vague rules we have at present are policed by no-one and only come to light after a child has been mauled to death, when the police arrive. No preventive work.

Every town should have a dog warden who polices whether people are abiding by whatever rules are enacted: e.g. checking a dog walker for evidence of a licence and having undertaken a training course; stepping in if a dog is being a nuisance and issuing an on-the-spot fine like a traffic warden. People should have a number they can ring if they are being harassed by a dog, and a warden should arrive to deal with it. I can think of some estates where a full-time warden would be kept very busy.

First we need the laws, then we need the teeth, in the form of wardens on the spot.

Come on dog-owners - start lobbying for this with your MPs - it is in your interests as well as those of the innocent bystanders who bear the brunt of dog misbehaviour. It is not good enough to just say ..... well, I'm a great dog-owner, I am doing everything right.

It is compulsory to chip dogs I believe. It’s also against the law for a dog to not have a disc with contact details on it’s collar when it’s away from it’s home. A lot of these things aren’t well enough publicised though. We only found out about name discs at training classes.

Jaberwok No system is perfect. How many 100s of thousands drivers are driving untaxed and uninsured?

Chipping dogs should be compulsory. The chip can contain, as well as ownership details, whether the owner has taken the test and details of the dogs provenence could also be included.

Vets could check the chip is present and report if an unchipped dog is brought in.

seacliff

The truth is that some people aren't fit to look after animals properly. They are unlikely to listen if forced to attend a course on dog behaviour. Unfortunately they seem drawn to the tough fierce looking dogs. Perhaps we should licence owners and remove dogs from unlicensed owners. But could that be instigated properly, doubtful.

We need to look at why some people feel the need to be seen with an aggressive dog because that’s a social problem. I agree that something needs to be done. We walk our dog down to the beach and there’s dog poo everywhere. Some of the dog walkers we see have several dogs running free and they definitely don’t clear up after them. It infuriates me.

Sadly I can't see it happening either - and clearly enforcement is a problem. But can we simply leave things as they are and watch the tragedies and dangers continue? Should there not be some attempt to try and regulate all this? Do we just turn way because the solution is challenging?

A child being mauled to death is almost too shocking to contemplate. We cannot do nothing.

Again how would you enforce it? Getting a driving licence entails a ministerial department devoted to just that, with a minister having overall responsibility. I really can't see any government creating the equivalent of the DVLA to cover the ownership of dogs, all the work involved would be a full time job, time consuming and expensive. Also dog wardens , like a traffic warden would have to be employed both in public and house to house to spot check that insurance and licences were in place. What would the punishment be for non compliance? The removal of the dog, a fine, prison? Would it be a civil offence, a criminal one? I really can't see it happening!

A car is a potential killing machine in the wrong hands and so is a dog. We need a driving licence, road tax and insurance to be allowed the use of a car. Maybe there should be the same for ownership of a dog, especially as it is a living creature which requires care (unlike a car). That makes it even more important to ensure the dog is licenced and the owner has passed a doggy driving test.

I do think some of these problems can arise from people who think dogs are human.

Lots of excuses why dogs attack children. Obviously a child should not be allowed to tease or torment any animal but a child, especially, a toddler, should be able to run round in a park, older children play games and jump around without having to be trained to known from the moment they take their first step that if they see a dog they should freeze and creep back to their parent for protection until it goes away.

In every other situation, if something could be dangerous, it is the danger that is controlled, not the user. I have been climbing ladders most of my life and never fallen off one. Nevertheless I know that people do and for that reason there are lots of rules governing the use of ladders and how they can be made safe to use. The same should apply to dogs.

I meant implemented.

The truth is that some people aren't fit to look after animals properly. They are unlikely to listen if forced to attend a course on dog behaviour. Unfortunately they seem drawn to the tough fierce looking dogs. Perhaps we should licence owners and remove dogs from unlicensed owners. But could that be instigated properly, doubtful.

Dogs can be very unpredictable and territorial as well as protective and jealous, there are many reason why a dog may cause injury. The “postman” or any delivery person is a regular target for a territorial dog, my terrier was awful, no amount of training would change it, given the chance she would have bitten someone.
With family visiting no problem, just over affectionate but never trusted her with small children

These posts all confirm what I already said. There are too many people and therefore too many dogs in a small crowded country. Legislation is required and strict controls on dog keeping. Children and dogs should not be bumping into each other every time they go out.

Sorry but dogs shouldn’t be in cafes I do not want to sit at a table next to a dog eating off their owners plate (a totally true happening )

Yes I've seen that too and, although I have had dogs I find that totally unacceptable.

There was a thread a while ago about this and, as far as I remember, those who disagreed with dogs being around people eating in cafés are not true dog lovers.

I like most dogs, not all, but think they should know their place and it's not on an owner's lap licking a plate in a café, pub or restaurant.

Sorry but dogs shouldn’t be in cafes I do not want to sit at a table next to a dog eating off their owners plate (a totally true happening ) and another sitting on the seat at the table being given tea in the saucer Lick lick slurp dribble dribble shake my head so the dribble can fly round a bit
It is unhygienic and a few years ago it would not be allowed nor would dogs be allowed in any shops but people want to take their pooches everywhere now including shopping (why can’t they leave them at home I never took my dog shopping she had two good walks a day not a mooch round shops)