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AIBU?

In thinking something is very very VERY wrong with some dog owners? [Long, sorry, but feel kinda strongly here!]

126 replies

StoicButStressed · 30/03/2013 09:12



Dogs and irresponsible dog owners - am just so so angry at this and the 'latest' death of a child. I can't get my head round the utter horror of a young teenage girl mauled to death by a pack of dogs at her friends house. Or the sheer terror she must have felt as clearly she would not have died instantly. Apart from all the countless other serious (& disfiguring etc) injuries suffered by dog attacks - & that only make it as far as the local newspaper - 7 people, FIVE of whom were children have been killed by dogs IN homes. Clearly that figure is now 8SadAngry.

Those stats (aka people) are from a report by the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee. It also said 'the NHS spends more than £3m a year treating severe dog attack injuries and claimed current legislation had "comprehensively failed" to tackle irresponsible dog ownership. Gather there is some legislation coming in in 2016 (WTF???) but seems nowhere near enough. NHS costs of £3m hint at the number of attacks that fly below media radar - but it must be a bloody huge number???? I know (I hope) that most dog-owners are responsible people, but clearly a shedload aren't. WHY are they allowed to have dogs? There isn't even a basic bloody licence system anymore and it pisses me off that there ISN'T a more robust legislation system in place. I also think they should be on leads in public other than designated areas and I swear if I hear one more quote from someone whose dog has attacked/killed a kid saying "But he is such a LOVELY dog normally", I think I'll nut my TV screen.

I was bitten badly by a German Shepherd as a teenager when simply walking home. DS1, aged 2 at the time, was sent flying (literally) when a huge dog - obv NOT on a lead - suddenly charged at him from far corner of a park and sent him off his feet high into the air. DS1 was TERRIFIED for months any time we even stepped into a bloody park. NEITHER of those 2 dog 'owners' did a thing - literally NADA. Am steaming just recalling the (huge and L/term) impact it had on DS1. Dogs are pack animals who need training, taking care of, and exercising - if people can't do that, why the fuck should they be able to HAVE dogs? And I genuinely cannot think of any friends WITH dogs who would disagree with that - they seem as angry as me at the irresponsible owners who inflict such frickin carnage. AIBU in thinking something HAS to change here????

Other thing about the very recent death is my younger DS's would LOVE to have a dog - but I know I can't afford it (food, vet's bills, etc etc) OR have the time TO properly look after it. So (& I am NOT benefit bashing here, am solely referencing this one individual) HTFuck does a Mum of 5 on benefits afford the 5 bloody dogs that just killed this child? Or is there a link between that and the fact the dogs weren't trained etc etc? And somewhere, lying in a fucking morgue, is a dead teenage girl - said to be 'unrecognisable' from the mass mauling that killed her.Angry
OP posts:
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ChocsAwayInMyGob · 30/03/2013 09:20

YANBU. The majority of dog owners are responsible and take dog ownership seriously.

However it does seem terrible that there are no safeguards about dog ownership but I don't know how they would police it. It seems clear that a dog licence system should be in operation again. It also seems clear that the law must change and that dog attacks on property can be prosecuted.

My aunt was attacked by a dog as she walked past a front garden with a dog in it. Because the dog was on a long (too long) a lead, it was still deemed to be on private property and there was no comeback at all for the owner. There is also no deterrent for irresponsible dog owners to train up their dogs.

The law must be changed. Attacks on private property should not be exempt.
May the poor victim of this terrible mauling rest in peace. let some good come from her tragic death.

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BabyMakesTheBellyGoRound · 30/03/2013 09:27

I personally think that all dog/potential owners must pass a licencing test before being allowed to have a dog. All licencing must be recorded at a vet clinic and they must carry pet insurance. There will be a fee for that with the proceeds going to designated dog areas and clearing dog mess from paths and green areas.

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ChocsAwayInMyGob · 30/03/2013 09:30

Agree with BabyMakesThe Belly.

Honestly I've heard of cafes being closed down after just one bout of food poisoning. Think how many dog attacks there have been a year, There have been enough to surely justify a change in legislation, surely.

I am sure that good dog owners will welcome extra safety measures. It's a minority of bad dog owners giving them a bad name.

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MardyBra · 30/03/2013 09:33

I'm not particularly a fan of dogs but YABU and overgeneralising.

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MardyBra · 30/03/2013 09:37

The licensing idea has some merit, but how costly would it be? Would it stop less affluent families from having dogs?

If you outlawed dog keeping, what would happen to the current dog population?

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ruledbyheart · 30/03/2013 09:38

I am a dog owner and until recently was benefits, I was lucky really that they are small dogs and didn't cost too much to feed/insure etc had they have been big dogs I wouldn't have been able to keep them so how people on benefits can afford 5 large dogs is beyond me.

I also agree that there should me dog licencing brought in and mandatory insurance, its a security thats needed not just for people but to protect their dogs too incase of accidents.

Oh and my dogs are only off lead at one park where there is designated off lead areas, at the end of the day not all parks are secured and safe anything could spook a dog and it's gone let alone scared enough to bite someone (admittedly not everywhere has the local idiots that throw beer cans at dogs or try and call them across a road)

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MardyBra · 30/03/2013 09:38

Actually have reread the OP and see you say "some" dog owners. Please ignore earlier comments. YANBU.

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ruledbyheart · 30/03/2013 09:39

Oh YANBU

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dimsum123 · 30/03/2013 09:40

YANBU. My DCs have been licked and knocked over whilst we have been walking or in parks. The dog owners just think its funny. We have a right to go for a walk without being knocked over by a strange and clearly badly or untrained dog.

There should be a licence system and ANY attack should be a criminal offence for the owner whether on private property or not.

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Catchingmockingbirds · 30/03/2013 09:41

According to new figures from the NHS, more than 6000 adults and children were admitted to hospitals over the year to March 2011, after being ?bitten or struck by a dog?. I found figures easily in the Telegraph. Very worrying.

Wrt HTFuck does a Mum of 5 on benefits afford the 5 bloody dogs, if she's on housing benefit she'll be entitled to free vet care from the PDSA. Dog food is really expensive though unless you use cheap dry food.

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quoteunquote · 30/03/2013 09:44

Just have a simple law change where owners are held responsible for everything their dogs do, as if they have done it themselves. so if your dog kills someone you get done for manslaughter, if it bites, prosecute the owner for assault or GBH.

I say this as a life long dog owner, who is sick of being tarred by other people failings,

and as a dog trainer, people are very very lazy when it comes to training, they also choose to ignore the reality of responsibility they have towards the animal.

Anyone who has a problem with been held accountable for their animal, needs to ask themselves why.

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Branleuse · 30/03/2013 09:44

YANBU. I have a dog, but i think most people are WAY too quick to get dogs when theyre shit with them and dont train them at all adequately.

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ruledbyheart · 30/03/2013 09:45

PDSA will only cover 3 pets per household as well so I speculate the dogs probably weren't regularly seen/vaccinated and possibly had an illness that made them aggressive :GAVAL:

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Catchingmockingbirds · 30/03/2013 09:45

Posted too early by mistake.

Yanbu, I think more should be done to ensure responsible dog ownership, maybe force owners to go to dog/puppy training for so many hours or a cap on how many dogs can be owned at the one time or something. My neighbour has 5 dogs, she takes them out without leads and they just run riot, they're out of control. Another dog was attacked recently by them and the neighbour shouted at the owner of the dog that was attacked (which was on a lead!) Confused.

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bigkidsdidit · 30/03/2013 09:50

It's not only the bites etc. My local streets and play parks are covered in dog shit. It's bloody awful. It makes me so depressed to go out with DS and return home with pram wheels covered.

If licencing money was used to clean up it would be wonderful.

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ChocsAwayInMyGob · 30/03/2013 09:52

Cathing- I would report your neighbour to pest control and the RSPCA. other dogs and children are at risk because of your neighbour.

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zwischenzug · 30/03/2013 09:59

Licensing would be good, with an annual fee of at least £500 per dog. Can't seem to go anywhere these days without having to dodge some dog shit some twat has left on the pavement/in the park, or having my little girl scared by some big dog that isn't on a leash etc etc.

Owners should be legally responsible for anything their dog does. Shit on the pavement = outraging public decency. Fines should be v heavy due to the difficulty of pinning any crime to a particular dog/owner.

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Birdsgottafly · 30/03/2013 10:04

If you hold every owner responsible. For the actions of their dog, then we would have to end the re-homing scheme and PTS every stray dog. I always have rescue GS, I had a male that needed very careful handling, I was known by my dog warden and my local RSPCA officer (in a good way). Some of the proposals would completely change the whole nature of dog rescuing, when it is a minority of owners who should not have dogs. If we are to bring in tougher measures then I would like parents to be fully responsible for their children, as I have had my tied up dog kicked by a young child, so therefore their parent needs to be able to be charged with animal cruelty. The same with littering. The majority of the problems with dogs are with ?status? dogs, in regards to attacks. In terms of nutrition, expensive dog food, isn't any better than some brands of cheaper dried food that can be delivered in bulk.

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Forgetfulmog · 30/03/2013 10:08

YANBU. I was almost attacked by a big dog (not very up on my breeds, but it was either a Rottweiler or Doberman). Thankfully it was muzzled as I don't really want to think about the consequences if it hasn't been (its mouth was by my neck). The owners pulled it off, & then just carried on walking, no apology or anything. I was in so much shock I could barely speak.

I see it all the time, people walking massive dogs (even children walking them sometimes) & clearly have no control over them at all.

It scares me sometimes how little some people don't think or care about how the lack of training will have severe consequences. That said, why some people chose to have such dangerous breeds is beyond me.

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theodorakisses · 30/03/2013 10:08

Why does everything in the UK come down to cost? I can't remember the last time anything on MN was discussed and someone didn't say "it's a good idea but costly" well Iraq was a bloody shit idea and I expect it cost more than bringing in dog licences. Since I left the UK, I have never experienced a country where the citizens accept shitness in every aspect (medical, education, justice) and think it's ok because there isn't enough money. Something needs to be done but seeing there isn't even investment in animal welfare (and the RSPCA is corrupt and shit) presumably money will continue to be diverted away from these matters and the normal person on the street will continue to believe that their terrible government know how to spend their taxes.

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zwischenzug · 30/03/2013 10:09

I have always thought it funny that many people are happy to talk about dog licensing but 'child licensing' is a taboo subject, as if not everybody is suitable to own a dog but everybody is fine to have children. So your point about children has some merit and I agree to an extent although my personal view is that society needs children, it doesn't need humans to own dogs (guide/police dogs etc excepted). We'd all get along fine if nobody had a dog, so if you want one you should have strict rules to adhere to.

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zwischenzug · 30/03/2013 10:10

Bringing in dog licensing doesn't need to cost the taxpayer anything, the price of a license should cover the cost.

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pigletmania · 30/03/2013 10:11

Well something needs to be done. I personal think you need a licence to have a dog, there should b stringent measures to get one, to prevent unsuitable individuals from owning a dog

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pigletmania · 30/03/2013 10:12

Exactly the fee des not have to be sky high, most people have a car which costs far more it would separate th wheate from the chaff

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Birdsgottafly · 30/03/2013 10:12

I do agree with any measures to stop backyard breeding and these stupid cross/mixes that have come into fashion, but not expensive dog licencing. The private property laws have to take into account guard dogs and dogs who naturally will guard their owners, though. Before anyone sites the cost of dogs to LA's, well there are lots of things that cost, that I won't ever use or need and daily accidents from sporting events that costs the NHS a lot of money, perhaps even start to legislate DIY? Or generally stupid people's behaviour, but good dog owners should not have to pick up the bill for the mistakes of others.

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