to be surprised so few have signed?

[Flojobunny]

Just signed the 'Justice for Jade' e-petition.
If it reaches 100,000 signature, they can discuss it in parliament.
Surprised to find only 2,000 or so votes.
It is to change the law so people can be prosecuted if their dog attacks on private property.
Is this not important?

i would not sign this .

If someone broke into my house I would WANT my dog to attack them. (He wouldnt, he would either hide or roll over and want a tickle on his belly).

I know that wasnt the case with Jade, but where do you differentiate. This was a rare incident. It is not something that happens regularly which is why it made such headline news. It was very tragic, no denying that.

I would not have allowed my child to be in that house.

If you annoy a dog in it's own house and it attacks you then it is your fault. Dogs don't just attack for no reason with no warning. I hope this doesn't become law.

Certain premises have guard dogs. By removing that right you give carte blanche to burglars and the like on industrial sites and factories.

The problem is with the owners, not the dogs.

Its a hard one, if the dog was on private property it makes the whole situation tricker. Apparently the owners weren't in the house at the time? (according to one report I had heard?)

I do think their needs to be more regulation of dog owners but when things happens on private property then it makes things harder.

If you annoy a dog in it's own house and it attacks you then it is your fault.

Seriously?

If you want to encourage more people to sign a petition you'd do well to:
1 - tell us what it is actually about
2 - link to it
3 - make some reference to it in the title of your thread

According to this article the majority of fatal dog attacks occur when the dog's owner is not present.

I think people especially children need to be made aware of how to act around dogs that aren't their own, are in their (the dog) own home, and who are away from their owner.

I'll sign!
But I am nor sure that it is true about the owners not being able to be prosecuted.I read that the police involved had categorically denied that any decision had been made about whether or not to prosecute.

..and a link to the petition would be useful!!

I would not sign this petition for reasons already given by others on the thread, and I hope it does not become law.

I think people should train their dogs properly. There are too many careless owners.

I will not sign. Others have said why and I agree.

Dogs don't just attack for no reason with no warning.

Being in the vicinity of their territory is enough reason for some dogs, and the fact they may "warn" you by barking or chasing you before they bite doesn't necessarily mean you can get away.

As a child I was quite good at dog psychology, the only time I can remember being bitten was when an Alsatian chased my bike as I was riding past his house and I couldn't stop fast enough to deal with him.

Dealing with dogs means using dog psychology gained by experience. Look into his eyes briefly and admonish firmly but unagressively, then look away and walk slowly on, turn and repeat a few times until they stop following you. This is in the street: you shouldn't be in a home/garden that contains an aggressive dog in the first place, if the owner isn't there.

The looking away I learned from something I read as a child: if you stare to long you will come across as challenging/aggressive, which will provoke them.

The non-aggressive tone and the turning away (while keeping watch out of the corner of your eye) helps to convey that you regard him as an irritation rather than a threat. If he thinks you're not afraid him of he is discouraged from attacking.

Wouldn't want to try my dog psychology on todays pit bulls though - that sort of dog and the type of person who keeps them were not around when I was growing up.

I remember once when I was a child, getting nipped on the ankle by my mother's black labrador. I was tickling his belly, he growled, I didn't listen, he bit.

I understand the love you can have for a dog, I loved my childhood dog, he was my best friend - but I knew that he could potentially at any time, bite me if I pissed him off. You have to remember that they're animals and stay alert, no matter how much love there is.

The owners left the girl alone with their four dogs. It was a mistake, but one I doubt they knew they were making. Who would consider something like that could happen? It can be avoided by owners reminding themselves that dogs aren't harmless just because they love them, and they've never bitten before.

Not signing; ditto the reasons given above.

When will people finally realise that you can not legislate for morons?

Those that don't care, won't do as they're told because they don't care. Regardless of what you threaten them with legally.

The majority of dog owners are responsible, train properly, do not treat their dogs cruelly and are always aware of the potential of any animal to be unpredictable.

I have a fantastic, family dog who is marvellous with both my children, friends children, children who come over and random people outside the home who usually ask to pet him, other dogs and even next-door's cat. He is a well looked after, well trained dog who is a member of our family.

If someone is in my home with my permission they have no reason to fear my dog. However, if they are in my home without permission then I should not fear prosecution.

I do not think people should be prosecuted for dog attacks on private property, so I will not sign the petition. I am very concerned that this would give a lot of power to trespassers.

There are 3,500 signatures on the petition, not 2,000.
I am happy to sign it, although the petition is poorly worded, because I believe this subject warrants further debate.

The petition is worded by Jades dad, the fact he can form words in the first place humbles me.
For those who believe guard dogs should attack burglars, surely the law can account for that too? Surely the 'reasonable force' should come in to it as it would if it was the owner with a knife in their hand?
I would be devastated if my home got broke in to but I still don't think that warrants getting violently attacked. I believe dogs should be treated as part of your family not weapons to be used against burglars.

epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/47845

Hope this works, never done it before. There are now 4,000 votes.
I'm surprised every postman, milkman and window cleaner hasnt signed it!

I sympathise with her family, of course I do, as I think everyone else does.

But with the greatest respect to them, I hope that petition goes nowhere near parliament and will not be encouraging anyone to sign it.

I wouldn't sign it, because I don't agree that dog owners should be prosecuted if their dog attacks on private property.

However, I do support licensing, especially with regard to breeding, and I think more could be done to make owners responsible for training their dogs properly. I think a campaign targeting unscrupulous dog breeders would be a lot more successful.

People who are worried about this leading to trespassers gaining power needn't worry as provision could be made in the law to account for this.