Another child killed in dog attack

👏👏👏 Meryl.

fp, do you seriously believe that the sort of people who own the dangerous dogs are going to register them? The neighbours of the four year old who was killed didn’t even know there was a dog in the house, hadn’t seen it, hadn’t heard it. We are talking mainly of people with low IQs and members of the criminal fraternity who are responsible for the problem. Not the law-abiding Mrs Bloggs who will dutifully register her ownership of her little dog.

Throw money at having lots of dog wardens.
Strengthen the law on importation of dogs.
Ban adverts that show dogs round little children and babies. Ad campaign stressing the dangers of dogs.
Free distribution of dog dazers so the public can defend themselves.
Limit the number of dogs any household can own.
Ban dogs from town and city areas.
Ban the walking of dogs off lead anywhere - if you do not have a garden big enough to exercise a dog without interfering with others' safety, then you should not have a dog.
Dog owners obligatory training - to include awareness that not everyone thinks there dog is the cutest thing out and just trying to "be friendly."
Compulsory insurance so that when someone's brand new coat gets ruined by your pooch jumping up you are obliged to reimburse them the cost of cleaning/replacing.
Bring in a law of "dog nuisance" so that any dog being a nuisance of any kind (barking, jumping up etc.) can be either removed from that useless owner or the owner be fined.

I could go on! It is about changing the mindset that gives people the right to own a dog or dogs without a firm responsibility to prevent it being a nuisance.

Germanshepherdsmum

*BlueBelle*, those of us who are responsible dog owners are not defensive. We know where the problems lie. You obviously favour a licensing system and think that will cure everything. It won’t. How often do you read about a criminal caught in an unlicensed, uninsured car? How on earth you think a licensing system would be policed I don’t know - and as with cars, the ‘underground’ rogue breeders and the drug dealer types with their aggressive dogs would avoid it.

If a fee is paid per year, and enforced by local council- and on local, County and National register- then many jobs could be created to do the enforcement. It works in so many countries, why should the UK be any different?

Germanshepherdsmum

What do you propose Lucky?

This is contentious, 😉 I know, but how about stopping the idiots breeding.
Someone had to say it.

What do you propose Lucky?

feel very strongly it’s all down to irresponsible, intellectually challenged and downright stupid people

So ..... what do we do about this? Let them go on putting us all in danger? Or do we just accept that there is nothing to be done and children and adults will continue getting mauled?

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/american-bulldog-12-puppies-found-26109641

Poor dog, its ears have been cropped too.
Not just irresponsible, it's criminal.

That must have been frightening, Shelflife and you were very sensible, taking the right course of action I think.

I don't think I'd be keen on trying to re-introduce that dog to my DGS either and it's not your decision to make, as you say.

I saw a picture recently of a dog which had been left abandoned in a flat - with twelve newborn puppies! The person who did this should be severely punished.
If someone is banned from keeping animals for life or even a number of years, how strictly can this be enforced?

Thanks GSM , I understand what you are saying. At the time I didn't make a huge fuss about it for that very reason and GC has been in the presence of dogs since , I watched carefully and was relieved to notice GC seemed very relaxed around the dogs. I don't own a dog but I do like them and have never been afraid of dogs. It was a very unfortunate incident ( to say the least!) I could argue the dog should have been contained on their property - huge garden but lots of opportunities to escape, which he does on a regular basis. I have always been happy to greet him , he comes into my kitchen and enjoys my attention. He really listens to me and I have grown very fond of him . I suppose he was not expecting to see a child, but GC was simply playing quietly, the dogs reaction was instant. I will recover but
It will take time. Dog has been to visit me since and was very calm , but no child present. It is just something I am now very aware of . I usually close my gate when GC is here but we were about to go out so gate was open. Since the incident I close my gate immediately GC arrives , my garden is then more secure than my neighbours, so I do have a solution to the problem. I understand that gradual introduction sessions would be the answer, I am simply not brave enough! and wouldn't do it anyway without my daughters permission. Of course I explained to my daughter what had happened, but didn't make a big deal if it , so don't think she is fully aware of how we were a whisker away from something very nasty indeed! So dog lovers must forgive my reluctance about having ' nice to meet you sessions ' !

Germanshepherdsmum

What you describe is the very least of our problems BlueBelle.

Agreed GSM - this is not a thread about dogs or no dogs- but about very specific kind of dog, bred and trained to fight and kill.

If you have a clothes shop- it is up to you to say 'NO DOGS' - I would, for sure.

What you describe is the very least of our problems BlueBelle.

Absolutely spot on, Iam.

Totally agree with your post Iam
I think you’re right about the government but I just refuse to believe nothing can be done

I know this is totally unliked and I ll be decried by dog owners but they shouldn’t be in shops and cafes and other spaces, which has happened in the last few years
Dogs have been lifted into a different category of importance

We have a beautiful shop but we ve had a dog wee in it (I know it’s the owners fault not the dogs ) not all dogs smell good especially if they come in from the rain but they are brushing against the clothes
We have a lovely new entertainment space in town where we have free entertain and various food outlets AND dogs it just shouldnt be ….when I had my dog she stayed at home when I went shopping or lunch or a show of any kind

I just think we can’t sit back and say nothing can be done something should be done and must be done and the first thing to be done is put dogs back into the catergory they belong, they are animals as wonderful as they are

I was just wondering how many humans killed children and adults last year compared to same by dogs. I have no idea of the statistics and honestly don’t have time to look at present. I’m an animal lover and feel very strongly it’s all down to irresponsible, intellectually challenged and downright stupid people. Dogs want to please, are loyal and devoted but are terribly harmed by poor treatment at the hands of humans.

What can be done? I honestly don’t know but I know I’d start with far less breeding of dogs and humans.

X posted their BlueBelle. I’m not convinced this government would invest in the expense needed to licence etc.

BlueBelle, I’m echoing germanshepherdmum’s comment. I haven’t seen defensive posts from the many posters on this thread who share their lives with dogs.
The need for legislating to prevent ‘professional’ dog walkers with no formal training setting up lucrative businesses where the put dogs and humans at risk has been stressed. There have been numerous positive comments about legislative oversight on breeding, puppy farms etc. The major difficulty is the cost involved. We’d need an army of well trained people to implement and oversea. Retired police and military dog handlers would have the necessary skills. Seriously - it needs police teams to go into the homes of these brutes who breed xl bullies and chop puppies ears off - Lawless people.

We should not be importing street dogs from abroad. So many of them end up in our over flowing rescue centres because the can’t adjust to domestic life.

Well you’re reading my mind now GSM I m not saying at all that a licensing system would cure everything, however it could be a start. Why are you anti any kind of licensing ? I m not naive I don’t believe it’s a cure all, but at least it would be a start a national register, and yes the awful dog fighters and drug dealers etc will not be phased and will often go under the radar but you know what, it MAY just MAY have saved this little girl, whose family don’t seem to have been in any of those bully boy categories.
So far all you ve come up with is ‘nothing can be done’ and I believe we ALL need to be thinking of what can be done not what can’t.

BlueBelle, those of us who are responsible dog owners are not defensive. We know where the problems lie. You obviously favour a licensing system and think that will cure everything. It won’t. How often do you read about a criminal caught in an unlicensed, uninsured car? How on earth you think a licensing system would be policed I don’t know - and as with cars, the ‘underground’ rogue breeders and the drug dealer types with their aggressive dogs would avoid it.

Exactly, another thing taught by The Dogs Trust - leave a dog well alone while it is eating and don't eat your own food, like a snack or crisps, in its face.

I did notice in one of the pictures from the garden area of the house concerned that there was a dog bowl. In the close up it was clear there had been food in the bowl. I wonder if the dog was eating and the little girl was hugging the dog or something. A little 4 yr old wouldn’t know and I don’t wish to be judgemental but, yet again, there does appear to be a lack of care by responsible adults.

I think what dog lovers have to remember is that it’s ok not to be a dog lover (as long as you’re not harmful to them) you can grow up without having a lesser life because there’s not a dog in it My grandson was knocked over by a boxer as a little one it didn’t hurt him at all just stood over him after knocking him down but as a child my grandson would grab your hand or go behind your back if he saw a dog coming along as he got older he would cross the road if he saw a dog coming (and yes GSM we did try the introductions to small kind dogs with no success) Now as an adult he is not a dog lover but tolerates them and is not afraid of them but he doesn’t have any less a life for not being interested in dogs
I know all the dog lovers on here are very defensive but this isn’t about you, it’s about the stupid people who treat dogs as human beings, the idiots who are causing all the inbreeding by paying huge sums of money for a more wrinkled, more snubnosed more bow legged, bigger, stronger, caricature of the original breed, for the people who dress their dogs up put them in handbags pushchairs and use a an accessory, it’s very much about the gangs promoting dog fighting and it’s about illegal breeding puppy farms etc

I don’t agree nothing can be done we have done it with cars we can do it with dogs
Are their any petitions going round I haven’t seen any perhaps there’s just too many defensive dog lovers which seems to be 8/10 people

Sorry to bark (!!) on about the brilliant Dogs Trust workshops in school, but one of the things they stress to the children is that - you always ask your parents first if you can stroke a dog that isn't yours, then you ask the owner if it is OK to do so. Basically teaching manners and respect for the dog.
They also stress to the children it is important not to cuddle even your own dog because dogs don't like the feeling of being trapped or smothered.
All these workshops are conducted with toy dogs, not the real thing, but they are invaluable. The children never forget the lessons.

You need to manage this situation carefully Shelflife or your grandchildren will pick up on your fear and may develop a lifelong fear of dogs as we have seen in some posters here. I agree that a properly supervised introduction would be sensible and of course properly supervised meetings after that. The dog needs to understand that small people are not a threat and the children need to learn how to behave around dogs.

Fleurpepper
Was it bad timing on your part that your going Skiing in a couple weeks and the rescue dog is coming in a couple of weeks.

Dinamo, I appreciate and understand what you say . It is true that this dog knows me well - I am fond of him!! He lives with an older couple ( my age !) So you are correct he does not live with children. However , I do know that even if he were to be introduced to my GC I would always be on very high alert. With this in mind I would not entertain the idea of trying to get the dog to recognize and become relaxed with my GC - apart from the fact this is my daughter's child not mine I would never have the dog anywhere near my GC ever again - the risk is one I am most certainly not prepared to take. It was a truly terrifying experience, I couldn't believe he would turn like that , for no reason whatsoever!! It was definitely the presence of my GC that alarmed him, immediately the child was in my utility room the dog settled down and became the dog I have always known - but I have learnt my lesson and there will most definitely never be any dog / child introductions. I was very shaken and still find it difficult to erase the memory. If the dog had bitten my GC or the situation resulted in something much worse I would be unable to recover from that - it's a risk far too great to take. As you can probably tell I am still in shock. I am also very disappointed in him as this dog has always been such a happy creature and he is always delighted to see me. I am just so glad I was in the room and able to immediately remove my GC to a safe place . I was shaking with fear!