To be shocked by the young woman killed by her own pit bull dogs in the USA?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I have just seen this, and find it really shocking. Is it not extremely unusual for well-loved dogs to turn on their owner?

It seems different from the awful stories where a dog savages a child in a family. The reports are that this woman had her dogs since puppyhood, and friends said they were very affectionate - surely that's not a sign of an insecure or fearful dog who snaps and mauls somebody?

There are lots of very knowledgeable folks when it comes to dogs on Mumsnet, what do you think - is this just a very rare incident? Or what is the most likely reason?

I love dogs, I found this pretty shocking and very sad.

I cannot stand it when people have their dogs off lead in public areas. There’s no excuse for it.

My dog is well exercised, well socialized, well trained, and we manage it quite well with a lead (usually a short lead) and spaces reserved for dogs.

the dog walkers that take group walks
I see this all the time, they all spill out of the back of a van and go running off willy nilly

I think there should be a limit to the number of dogs you can walk at once
yes today I saw tiny lady with 6 huskies

also couple approaching me with large dog, off lead running ahead of them the dog stops and stares at me then runs fast towards me, I froze the dog runs past me, they just ignore me.
Clearly in their view if I am unnerved by a large dog running full pelt toward me then I should just stay indoors?

Many councils are putting in place limits on the amounts of dogs that can be in the charge of one person, and I actually entirely support this - again though, we are back to the fact that most owners are responsible, but this behaviour is clearly not.

My borough has Dog Control Orders, which are enforced with an £80 fine. These orders include no dogs offlead on roads, streets, or pathways; no more than 4 dogs per person in public areas; no dogs in enclosed play areas; no dogs in garden areas of parks; no dogs at all in some parks. There are other things included too, such as owners must put dogs on leads when asked by a council officer
sounds great but I dont think they have that round my way :(

My borough has Dog Control Orders, which are enforced with an £80 fine. These orders include no dogs offlead on roads, streets, or pathways; no more than 4 dogs per person in public areas; no dogs in enclosed play areas; no dogs in garden areas of parks; no dogs at all in some parks. There are other things included too, such as owners must put dogs on leads when asked by a council officer

All of that sounds entirely reasonable to me. Have no issue at all that there are places you shouldn't take dogs, particularly obviously in play parks, but that is very different to not letting dogs off-lead anywhere.

There is room for all sections of society. I live near lots of Crown land, and one particular area is a mecca for children, cyclists, horse-riders, ramblers, the young and the old, and it fair gladdens my heart to say all existing considerately alongside each other.

In my area, and on the public walkways that I use dogs only need to be on a lead from May to Sept, so most of the time the majority are on the loose

Oh is that inline with the bird breeding season? I've seen that a few times.

I know our council don't really give a stuff about irresponsible dog ownership - until something major happens. Surely prevention is better than trying to fix something broken?

I had presumed that it was because this is a seaside town and those areas are busiest during the holiday season
I suppose it might be to do with Birds but I don't think so🤔

Give it a bloody rest Ohfortuna You are a neurotic!

Fuck off

There is discussion and at the very least an understandable unease about Pitbull type breeds, including various international variants and then there are unhinged folk with a neurotic and OTT agenda against dogs in general, dripping with hysteria and ignorance. I would never get any type of bull type dog, so massive and powerful because I would not have the strength to control it. I don’t care how soppy it might be but personally, I would not feel comfortable with the idea that I would not physically be able to even hold it on a lead or pull it off someone. But I have no interest or sympathy for nasty-minded and petty people who have an irrational loathing against dogs overall.

Everybody's entitled to their views, many people have good reason to be petrified of dogs tbh. If you've been attacked/bitten by a dog or had an unnerving encounter for example.

I personally have no issues with people who don't like dogs. I have no issues with people who would prefer dogs to be on lead in public. I just wish people would appreciate that not all of us big dog people are thugs 😃