To wonder why people keep pitbulls when they are so often in the news attacking people

[Whitethorn]

I saw this re a little girl in Derry. The poor thing was attacked by 2 pitbulls. I am aware that the owners are responsible for the dog but why is it always pitbulls who seem to be in the news - whay not labradors, mongrels etc

www.independent.ie/national-news/girl-9-attacked-by-pitbulls-2346711.html

Fox terrier

Into shape

Ibizan Hound.

I couldn't re find the post but someone on here felt the need to defend the chow chow to me. If they re read my post i had quoted that from a website then went onto say actually i believe its the owners who make dogs dangerous and any dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

I have never even come into contact with a chow chow! no need to defend it.

Vallhalla and BaresarkBunny I live in Ireland, and while the breed is not banned, per se, it is on the Restricted Breeds list. If you live on a Council Estate, there are certain things you must do if you own a restricted breed. My neighbours already had their dog licenced, but they also had to have it both microchipped and spayed. I know a lot of people who own these breeds, and they willingly went along with the new laws. Sadly, there are still a lot of fuckwits who don't, and it's those fuckwits who give the responsible owners a bad name.

Here's the list:

www.dublincity.ie/Community/AnimalWelfare/Documents/New_Banned_Dog_Leaflet.pdf

Jarod the Chow Chow

Funny, stubby, puffball-y looking things, but I am sure they are lovely pets.

Erm ninetails, it matters not if you live on a council estate anyone with a banned/restricted breed can keep the dog, as long as you abide by these rules anywhere in the uk.

Not sure about the laws in the UK, I'm in Ireland. :)

This explains the law as it stands over here.

www.environ.ie/en/LocalGovernment/DogControl/

That's all good, but what has their residence got to do with anything?

Yeah if your dog is seized under the dangerous dogs act you can have it back as long as its neutered, tattooed, chipped and muzzled in public. I know someone who has to abide by these rules and his dog, who was assessed as a pit, actually isn't lol he doesn't even remotely look pit, he is a mastiff.

my neighbours have a pitbull which I would class as very aggressive and will not let my Dc (5 & 2) play out in the front because of this dog.

But this dog is never walked, trained, played with etc so IMO any dog they had whether a pitbull or not could turn aggressive due to lack of attention iyswim

Completely agreed Simpson.

It drives me up the wall that the police have admitted they don't have the resources to control the illegal breeds even though they know they're out there. I don't like big, untrained and sometimes illegal dogs, 'walked' by idiots without leads who don't pick up dog poo. End of.

And I love most dogs, just not the current trend for fighting dogs, they are mauling all the trees in our parks too. Dog poo back to 1980's levels .

The thing that annoys me is if I reported it and mentioned the dog as a pitbull it would be a death sentance for the dog which is just not right IMO

It wouldn't necessarily mean that, they are able to get them back if they abide certain rules. But you have to ask yourself, what quality of life has the dog got now? Its terrible but worth a think, and like you said you feel threatened by the dog, on behalf of your children. Very hard situation.

Theincrediblesulk Their residence shouldn't have anything to do with, and I wasn't insinuating that at all, so apologies if it came across that way. :)

The thing is, especially in the council estate were I live, most people would get a restricted breed for protection against burglary. And sadly, it's the owners who don't take care of their dogs(not just by neglecting them by not feeding them, etc) who give the resposible owners and their dogs a bad reputation.

I'm at risk of being flamed again here, but I'll put it as blandly as I can. One of the potential problems with all breeds of dogs is that they have been bred over a period of time to perform in a certain way. I've owned a number of hound breeds and you can't reliably let them off the lead ( one sniff and they are off) but they do tend to be very soppy and loving as bred to rest and be with families when not working. Collie types need to be kept active as they were bred to work etc. etc. and unfortunately some breeds are risky with people because they were bred to catch vermin and fight - sometimes with each other. I know from experience that even mild mannered dog can sometimes react adversely, but the risks are greater with the Bull type breeds and the strength they have in their jaws means they can cause horrible damage. If they were all neutered chipped and muzzled the existing ones would be safe and could live happily, but the risk for the future would be contained.

It is very sad that those who own the bull breeds seem to allow them to breed so much, the dogs homes are just full to bursting point at the moment with dogs that are hard to home - surely responsible owners would not be breeding anyway?