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

[StoicButStressed]

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 8.

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.

[Moominsarehippos]

We have a 'doggy daycare' nearby. Its like a nursery for dogs. They are, in the main, small, yappy furballs that wear people clothes (odd in my book). When they are walked in the park its easy to see that they have no discipline or socialisation skills (yappin and snappin at everything/one). That's if they are not in their doggy buggy (not sick or elderly dogs either).

They were probably bought because they were cute, fashionable or as a surrogate 'baby' for couples not quite at having a baby stage. The owner says that they are spoiled (bought loads of toys and clothes, fed very expensive food) because the owners feel guilt at leaving them when they are at work.

I do wonder about people who elevate a dog to 'people'. Dogs are great companions, give you a lot of affection... But I think that some people get them on a whim or without and real thought.

I really would love a dog - but they are a commitment and have needs if they are to be healthy and happy. I can't give a dog that, so why would I be cruel to an animal?

[PacificDogwood]

There is a difference between 'needing' a dog, 'wanting' one at all cost and 'wanting' one knowing full well what dog ownership entails and therefor desisting or deferring.

I think 'wanting' a dog is a reason for having one if the circumstances are right. NOT at all cost.

I grew up with 3 (consecutive) dogs, the most aggressive one was the pure bred pekinese (insane thing ), the rescue mutts were placid. Same owners, same exercise, same food. I think like with people some of what/who we are is nature, some is nurture. By nature I mean personality, not breed.

I don't think that owning a dog is a right; it's a priviledge and a responsibility. Just like having children (in fact my mum used to say 'I might as well have had a 3rd child').

Which is why, like Moomin, I am currently NOT owning a dog, but may do in the future when my kids are older and my work circumstances change.

I do think that irresponsible owners should be help accountable for their pets, be that rotthweiler or chihuaha (sp?).

[Moominsarehippos]

Of course! But we can't all just have/do what we want. I want a dog but live in a flat and work - it wouldn't work out and the dog would be mooching around all day by itself, cooped up.

[SoupDreggon]

few people need one

Wouldn't the world be a miserable place if everyone was only allowed what they needed.

[Moominsarehippos]

Sadly you can't ban the idiots, the greedy and the feckless. Its like giving a loaded gun to a drunk.

I love dogs, but few people need one, and far too mamy owners don't take responsibility for them - from shitting all over the place (and not picking up) to not keepimg them on a lead where they should be, to assuming that everyone ought to love their dog, to not training the bloody thing.

It drives me bananas to see badly behaved animals in public, and feckless owners saying 'its his nature...'. No, train the damn thing.

As Barbara Woodhouse used to say, a dog should be 'a nuisance to no-one'. Sadly, too many people have the prevelant 'fuck you, I'll do what I like' attitude of today. Today I watched as two seperate dogs chased ducks/geese/swans on the nearly pond. There are signs all over saying that they must be kept on a lead as birds have been mauled by dogs. One owner was throwing a ball into the water for the dog to chase, the other dog was just running madly around, ignoring the shouts of the owner to come to him. Where are the parks police when you need them?

[theodorakisses]

I have worked with the US Army and those dogs have saved lives (although I am opposed to the Iraq war) and they are brave and noble creatures, not because they have killed or mauled people but because they have followed instructions. Is that different to some vile chav training them by hanging them in a tree and teaching them to to attack?

Obviously the owner is liable, surely?

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

Be made.

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

And the shit. Oh my God the shit. They should evade to wear nappies if off the owner's property.

[ddubsgirl]

BSL needs to stop and the owners held more accountable for the dog I am a dog owner stop blaming the breed!!! The lady who's dogs this happened with was a breeder and was known for making them aggressive she should have been arrested and banned from owning any pets for life!!! And shouldn't have that many dogs in such a small place :( and the mother if knew the dogs were aggressive shouldnt have allowed her child in the place.

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

Yanbu. I find dogs pointless and annoying though I accept they perform a useful function for the blind, epileptics, police etc. It is absolutely tragic and vile that the poor teenage girl was tortured to death in the manner reported.

[jellybeans]

YANBU. I am fed up of bad dog owners. There are several near where we live who have scared us by charging up at us in pairs. Big vicious guard type dogs. I shouldn't be scared to walk up my road. . Any complaints taken seriously etc.

[PacificDogwood]

I never really understood why the Dangerous Dogs Act covered certain breeds, when the problem really lies with the Dangerous Owners IYKWIM.

Of course a larger/heavier dog has more muscle to throw around, but a small breed of dog can be just as aggressive if poorly bred, socialised and trained.
And, as quoted above, plenty of breeds perceived to be good 'family dogs' ie labs and retrievers and similar, can cause a lot of damage.

There is not Good or Bad breed, there just isn't.

I strongly feel there should be licencing and an obligation to insure your dog appropriately: an accident and liability insurance that coveres personal injury etc.

Btw, in Germany this type of insurance is widely used to cover children: not just to cover the occasional football being kicked in to neighbour's window, but to cover the cost of a ball rolling in to a road, child runs after, car sverves to avoid child, runs over another pedestrian who gets gravely injured and remains physically disabled for the rest of their life with reduced earnings . It is that kind of nightmare scenario that needs to be covered for dogs, who, let's face it, can be even more unpredictable than darling offspring.

I don't think any of us would be cross with our dog who growled/barked at an intruder, of course many dogs feel very protective of 'their' family and their territory. But, yes, they need to be trained to accept invited guests as non-enemies and leave them alone.

As part of my job I visit people at home. I have no issue with a dog being present, sniffing my hand and generally saying 'hello', then settling down while I do my thing with its ownder. However the number of times I have knocked at a door/rang a door bell to hear a dog go absolutely berserk behind the door, for the owner than openeing the door, holding the dog back by their collar, still straining to get at me, saying 'It's ok, he's just nosy'. Ehm, no, it's not ok. Train him, frigging exercise him and lock him in another room before you let somebody in your house.

[BlessedDespair]

but why should your visitor face weeks of work with reduction of income and possibly losing job just because you chose to have a dog?
of course you should be liable. at the very least have an insurance in place that pays for everything (=medical treatment, hospital costs, loss of income...)
my mind boggles how you (and other dog owners) don't take enough responsibility.

Someone who is invited in is a visitor and is unlikely to pin me against a wall and act like a violent thug. Someone who forces their way into your house after you have opened the door is not a visitor... And their time off work due to their aggressive stupidity is not and should not be of my concern... Since their actions caused their problems.

I take full responsibility for my dog thank you very much - He's been through the full kennel club good citizens training, is only let off the lead where it is suitable, is insured, neutered, vaccinated, very well socialised, has been a pat dog ect. Really not sure how I'm not being responsible :-/

[theodorakisses]

In fairness, I have a rescue snuffalupaguss who is so hideously overbred she couldn't open her jaws wide enough to bite smeone if she wanted to.

[tabulahrasa]

FairiesDoExist - it's not always those breeds at all...

lab cross and a dachshund


golden retriever

jack russell


Any breed of dog has the potential to attack - and kill, with some types of breeds it does seem to happen more often, but they are things like pitbulls, mastiffs, Rottweilers, German shepherds, huskies... These are all really different breeds, bred for different things with different breed traits, what they do have in common is that they've all had a turn at being the fashionable status dog of the moment attracting exactly the sort of owners that shouldn't own any dog.

[SoupDreggon]

Well, unless someone can prove a dog has the congnition to stand trial, that's the way it should be.

Nonsense. The owner is the one at fault and thus the one who stands trial.

[snowballschanceineaster]

I have a dog and wouldn't object to a license. But then, I have my dog insured, she has all the shots she needs for disease prevention, she poos and it gets picked up and she's kept on a lead the majority of times.

She has jumped up a couple of people when we've been out and I've been mortified. Both times I got caught out whilst trying to train her, when I thought she was getting better at the recall.

Now, she stays on the lead, unless we're in the middle of a field, I've got tons of treats on me, and there's no-one to be seen.

OP is not being unreasonable at all. Dogs should be kept responsibly. (wanders off to find some more training tips!)

[MurderOfGoths]

Fairies - it's not the dog breed at fault, it's the owner's who don't train them, who neglect, who mistreat, and who (in some cases) teach them to be violent. The reason you see the same breeds is because some idiots see them as status dogs and buy them because they think they look tough. And then encourage that behaviour.

Take Staffies for instance, once nicknamed nanny dogs because of how good and gentle they were with children, now seen as aggressive. Still the same breed, but the stereotyped owner has changed.

Making a breed illegal not only means that the bad owners will move on to a new breed, but it means a lot of innocent and healthy animals being put to sleep.

[FariesDoExist]

Why don't they make these awful bullmastiffs illegal? Sorry if it's a stupid question and Im sure there are some sensible owners blah blah blah but it always seems to be these same horrible dogs involved. Wouldn't it make it easier all round? I can't for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to own a potentially lethal animal. Same way I wouldn't want to own a gun.

[moonabove]

"why are people not frothing at the mouth over the approx 2500 deaths or serious injuries to under 16,s annually in the UK caused by cars?"

Because there are laws in place to prosecute people who cause those deaths/injuries. The laws are imperfect and often give imperfect justice but at least they exist to be used.

[MousyMouse]

Well, unless someone can prove a dog has the congnition to stand trial, that's the way it should be.

but the owner can and should!

[theodorakisses]

Whatever the argument for the Uk and there is clearly one, on the other side chasingdogs reminded me that we would very likely be dead now if it weren't for our dogs in Africa warning us on the several daily occasions people tried to rob or kidnap us. The little one also killed a snake once.

[crashdoll]

I can't believe that there is no "crime" when a dog attacks on private property. That is clearly ridiculous.

Well, unless someone can prove a dog has the congnition to stand trial, that's the way it should be.

[SoupDreggon]

Eight children and six adults have been killed in dog attacks since 2005


Health and Safety Executive figures show that 18 people were killed by cows in the past eight years Statistics as at 2012.