Another child killed in dog attack

SusieB50 When I was working I visited families at home and so many had large dogs in small flats with lots of children.I always asked for the dog to be put in another room when visiting
Me too, but I visited a house with 2 Rottweilers and they put them in an adjoining dining room with GLASS doors. The mother popped into the kitchen for something and I was left alone with her small baby and two slathering hounds glaring and pawing at the glass. 😱

I lived to tell the tale (obviously) but I think there should always be adults present with young children and dogs. However much we love our pets and anthropomorphise them they are animals. Responsible owners know this of course.

It’s all very well to suggest these things BlueBelle but how is it to be policed? And by whom?

People cannot go to the shops, cafe, or various other set ups without their dogs they are treated like humans from sitting in handbags, to being dressed up in clothes, drinking from humans saucers and generally not looked on as an animal.
Not all dog owners treat their pets in such a way - I wouldn't dream of doing any of that with our dog. I do agree that some treat them like some kind of fashion accessory though.

The government obviously has no intention of doing anything

NO ONE is knocking bone fide dog owners who know the right way to treat all dogs and how careful to be and I m sure that’s everyone on here but beside the awful usually young drop out dog owners who use bullies to look big and tough and treat them dreadfully to make them angry, fearful animals we now have a whole (huge now) group in the middle of people who adore dogs but know little about them and have little common sense about how to look after them I ve heard people say oh but he loves the baby he s ever so gentle with the little one you see photos of babies curled up in between a big dogs legs or pulling its ears to prove how gentle their dog is
People cannot go to the shops, cafe, or various other set ups without their dogs they are treated like humans from sitting in handbags, to being dressed up in clothes, drinking from humans saucers and generally not looked on as an animal

I think there not only has to be much much stronger legislation but perhaps every new dog owner along with a license should HAVE to attend training I believe the new owners need training as much as the dogs

undines, you most certainly can have a dog and not let it off the lead in a public place. My dog is never off lead in a public place but I have a large garden where she gets a lot of exercise. She’s a big, very strong dog with a high prey drive. I don’t think you’d like to see her off lead in public and I certainly wouldn’t like the potential consequences. If someone doesn’t have access to a secure private area where they can exercise their dog off the lead, I would suggest they shouldn’t have a dog which requires much exercise. Such breeds exist.

Unfortunately you can’t legislate for everything 99% of family dogs do not want to hurt young members of their family in fact just the opposite.
The dogs are not at fault here it’s us humans who have ultimate control

To go back to the Panorama programme agencies said their hands were tied because of the feebleness of the laws. Perhaps then we should be writing to our M>P>s about this,
I well remember a young man not able to control an large dog and the talk of part ownership, all done for money which put dogs in the hands of those who had no idea , Please watch it on catch up and perhaps the programme may give other answers that I missed.

Oh you're not upsetting me in the slightest, but how is a post on GN going to change anything? If you want to change the system, you need to be directing your anger to the right people. And how many children are killed by their own parents? How many by drunk drivers? How many die in accidents in the home? Let's get a little perspective, please.

Blondiescot

Katie59

10 deaths from dog attack last year, 2 already this year and nobody wants to change anything.

Oh do stop it! No-one has said that for one moment. You're twisting things to suit yourself here.

I want to change the system if I have to upset people I will.

Katie59

10 deaths from dog attack last year, 2 already this year and nobody wants to change anything.

Oh do stop it! No-one has said that for one moment. You're twisting things to suit yourself here.

You can't have a dog and not let it off the lead - it's not fair on the dog. Dog-owners must be made more accountable. Certain dogs should be illegal, breeders closely monitored, puppy farms closed down - there's plenty more we can do. It seems to me that most attacks occur in people's own homes, and if you have 6 dogs on leads you cannot control them. My friend was badly bitten by a dog but was too goody-goody to report it - that's the sort of foolishness that does not help. But you can't legislate against human stupidity, can you!

A pattern is emerging here of blame attached the dogs, the breeders, the rescue centres. Surely in this last case the parents bear a lot of responsibility for not ensuring the safety of their child. It is a tragedy indeed and I can't imagine how they must be feeling but a tragedy which could have been avoided.

I am very sorry for the parents of the little girl. They will remember this for the rest of their lives. But that little girl should not have been left alone with the dog. Small children do not always understand how to behave towards a dog. usually it's the small dogs that they want to pick up and cuddle but the dogs don't necessarily like it. Small children are often jerky in their movements which can scare a dog.

I've had several dogs, most of which came from rescue centres or breed rescue societies. The only one I had a problem with was a fox terrier. I got him as a young puppy from a rescue centre. He was only there for a few days before I got him. Unfortunately I had him p.t.s when he was about 6 because he bit me badly and I needed stitches in my hand. He would regularly attack me, but only me. He was very towards friends who came to the house and not aggressive towards them.

In France if you want a dog p.t.s (unless they're ill) you are supposed to wait for 15 days with a vet visiting twice during that time. It's to check whether they have rabies. Our vet didn't visit because he knew me and the dog and I had discussed the aggression with him. When we took him I was still having second thoughts but he told me that I had to do it. It was the first I had not stayed with an animal being p.t,s but my DH did. He was a lovely looking dog and I still think about him.

Often rescue dogs come from homes where maybe the owners realise that they don't have time to look after the dog. Sometimes they come from homes where the elderly owner has become ill or died and the dog loses its home. Such dogs are usually well loved but they take longer to find a new home.

I am afraid it just makes me so mad. And today photo of a puppy "looking after" a tiny new baby on facebook ... so cute ... NOT.

10 deaths from dog attack last year, 2 already this year and nobody wants to change anything.

I’m not a dog lover, although we had a dog when I was a child and I loved him dearly. I tolerate my DD’s dog ( a mix of various breeds but mainly lab I would think) and he is very affectionate. However he was a rescue from Cyprus and DD and SiL got him when their children were 4 and 8 . They had had a beautiful lab , also a rescue who died a year or two before. This dog is quite nervy and doesn’t like noise, and I do worry he may react out of character at lively play . My GD (11) and the dog adore each other but he is wary of my lively very noisy GS aged 6. .But they live in the country with a large garden and the dog disappears under the bushes when the going gets tough. Personally I don’t feel completely comfortable with any dog and small children.
When I was working I visited families at home and so many had large dogs in small flats with lots of children . I always asked for the dog to be put in another room when visiting .

Of course we care.

I think it's clear everyone cares - especially responsible dog owners like the ones on here, including me! Unfortunately, the responsible owners will comply with any measures which may be brought in - the irresponsible ones will just carry on regardless! Our dog is well trained, well mannered and just as much a member of the family as any other. If only all dogs were as lucky. Nothing on this planet makes me more angry than cruelty to animals.

Our granddaughter who is in her 20s loves dogs. However, when she was small, she was afraid of them. I took her for a walk one day and a dog not on a lead bounded up to her. She froze and I picked her up. The owner's response was 'You've got a phobic there'. I said 'Please don't call my granddaughter a phobic. Control your dog'.

Poor little girl and the parents that are going to have to live with this.
The breed is hearsay from the neighbours some say they didn't even know there was a dog in the home which is strange you can't keep a big dog and not walk it regularly.
There is no easy answer if you adopt a breed you really have to have an idea what you are dealing with as well as the dogs history even then you can't be sure

How much is a child life worth, £50 a dog or £100 or £ 500. Even £ 500 is far less than owners pay for pet dogs, that licence fee would pay for owner training and very good dog control.
But if nobody cares deaths will continue and on this forum it is clear nobody cares.

Kate1949

Thank you Blossoming. I'm glad I'm not a minority of one! I've had a few bad experiences with dogs. I'm terrified of them. I'm a bit tired of 'there are no bad dogs, it wasn't trained, it's the owners' mantra. I wish dogs no harm. I just make sure I'm never near one if possible.

Which is why, as a dog owner, it infuriates me when fellow dog owners just let their dogs run up to other dogs and people. My grandson and SIL, even though they now have a dog of their own, are still scared of other dogs. Just saying ‘it’s ok, he’s friendly’ doesn’t cut it. And, after our dog was attacked by another dog, we panic if a dog runs towards us.

Interesting article from The Independent about the huge increase in dog attacks in the last 20 years.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dog-attack-rotherham-incidents-uk-danger-b2261700.html

Thank you Blossoming. I'm glad I'm not a minority of one! I've had a few bad experiences with dogs. I'm terrified of them. I'm a bit tired of 'there are no bad dogs, it wasn't trained, it's the owners' mantra. I wish dogs no harm. I just make sure I'm never near one if possible.

Kate1949 you are not on your own, and I am an animal lover. I have seen an increasing number of badly behaved dogs and thoughtless owners. I do think a lot of people got a dog during lockdown and have no clue about responsible dog ownership. I have had a Rottweiler jump up at me and the owners made no attempt to call the dog back. Telling me it’s just being friendly when I’ve been knocked over doesn’t help much. I’m afraid of serious injury, it wouldn’t take much to break a bone these days.