Comments

I'm not sure why putting a dog on a chain is a bad thing--IF the chain is long enough and the dog can get in shelter/shade and has water, etc. I definitely get behind the car idea, though. (PS: My doggies are 'free range' in a very large kennel when not in the house. Never chained.)

BTW--Kansas has had the chaining ban for some time, I've read.

Posted by Mike at January 2, 2007 2:59 PM

Talking of dogs let's get some realism about dog owners who own killer beasts they call 'pets' - see news of this child death tragedy over the New Year here in England - we really have to ban dangerous dogs of this type. End of story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/6226565.stm

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 2, 2007 5:36 PM

Right on Trevor! MUST ban the dogs that talk to me in the morning when I run through the neigborhood - they talk and mock me something fierce.

Posted by sean_dog_talk at January 2, 2007 6:09 PM

Trevor - yes, but... I get heartily sick of people saying that, "legislation was supposed to ban this type of dog" and "legislation must be tightened up" etc. RUBBISH. What we need is a) proper enforcement of existing legislation; and more importantly b) people to take proper responsibility for their pets.

Regarding point a): the owner of this dog had already been cautioned about it. More legislation won't make a penny's worth of difference if Officialdom doesn't use it wisely or decisively. I also think there are some odd things about the case you mention that will become apparent when the facts emerge.

Regarding point b): we need to ask why our society is producing people who breed and train dogs to be aggressive and redress that because it's the cause of the problem. Blaming the breed is about as useful or valid as saying everyone from New York or London is agressive. By all means control some of the larger, more powerful breeds but don't forget: that lovable old family labrador could, be it through neglect, ignorance or downright maliciousness, be dangerous. Train it and treat it properly - which, as most breeders will tell you, begins with training the owners.

Posted by Mark JF at January 3, 2007 3:53 AM

Regarding specific breeds, the problem with "pit bull" attacks is unfortunately quite common where I live. However, these dogs have become the legal offensive weapon of choice among some groups.
Why have a gun when you can use a dog more affectively?
The answer is to penalize the animal owners in the same way we would if they used any other deadly weapon.

Posted by Jack at January 3, 2007 12:00 PM

Hi Mark- I agree it is totally down to irresponsible owners. I love dogs and was brought up as a kid with a dog always in the house so I am on the dogs side here. The dog was part of the family but there just has to some realism. You are right that the good old Labrador will eventually respond aggressively if ill treated. But in the case of the dangerous breeds we all know the odds are greatly increased.

Hi Jack – we do have dog licensing in the UK but it is not forcibly implemented and I suspect that is down to it being seen as a low priority in the great scheme of things. When I see pictures of the ravaged faces of children who have been mauled by viscous dogs then I get upset and we have to make owners more responsible.

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 3, 2007 5:31 PM

Trevor - where is the evidence that says one breed is inherently more dangerous than another? I can show you nasty Yorkies or Jack Russels but they're not regarded as dangerous because in the vast majority of cases they won't kill you. One of the problems with this debate is that people miss the point: all breeds contain good and bad examples but a dangerous dog is usually one that has been un- or mis-trained. Citing statistics that say it's usually breed x that's involved in this sort of case often self-justifying: if the yobs choose a certain breed and mis-train the animals, then inevitably the whole breed gets a bad reputation. The dangerous element is the owner and if we ban a certain breed, they're the sort of person who will then move onto another breed.

Posted by Mark JF at January 4, 2007 3:17 AM

Hi Mark - I am not a dog expert.

I just know that if my 18 month old grandson was left alone with a dog (not that I think he ever would be) I just feel he would be safer with a Poodle, Yorkie or Jack Russell than being left alone with a Rotweiller, Alsatian or Pit Bull. But you are quite right – it is about the owner not the dog.

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 4, 2007 6:55 AM