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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Woman 80s, Savaged to Death by Dogs, Birmingham

999 replies

Flaxmeadow · 02/04/2021 22:53

A woman in her 80s has been savaged to death by neighbours dogs
Am I being unreasonable to want much stricter controls on keeping dogs as pets

OP posts:
Thread gallery
11
SuperCaliFragalistic · 03/04/2021 10:30

@STARmyarse

But my dog ...

But my dog ...

But my dog ...

It’s never your dog till it is.

This 100%
Brunt0n · 03/04/2021 10:30

There’s a massive difference between

Slightly risky dog breed + understanding and sensible owner

VS

Slightly risky dog breed + idiotic and irresponsible owner

Since we can’t change the dogs genetic make up, all we can tackle is the human element in the equation. It should be far harder to own a dog, and ongoing education for both dog and owner should be mandatory - simple as that. In the wrong hands, any dog can be dangerous, but some have got a better chance of seriously injuring or killing someone based on their size, power, jaws etc.

If it was more difficult to get a dog, and people had to attend training classes, as a condition of a licence, maybe it would stop so many people getting a dog without serious consideration and then dumping it in a rescue centre?

LBXXX · 03/04/2021 10:31

@Brunt0n

There’s a massive difference between

Slightly risky dog breed + understanding and sensible owner

VS

Slightly risky dog breed + idiotic and irresponsible owner

Since we can’t change the dogs genetic make up, all we can tackle is the human element in the equation. It should be far harder to own a dog, and ongoing education for both dog and owner should be mandatory - simple as that. In the wrong hands, any dog can be dangerous, but some have got a better chance of seriously injuring or killing someone based on their size, power, jaws etc.

If it was more difficult to get a dog, and people had to attend training classes, as a condition of a licence, maybe it would stop so many people getting a dog without serious consideration and then dumping it in a rescue centre?

Absolutely agreed
SuperCaliFragalistic · 03/04/2021 10:33

@NRCS

I don't need help. noone should have a pet that's capable of killing an adult woman never mind a child.
Agree with this
EvilPea · 03/04/2021 10:33

Our dangerous dog act is woeful and was brought in, in a knee jerk reaction to an incredibly sad spate of attacks we had in the U.K.
We have never really got a handle on the situation. It’s owners not dogs or even breeds.

Professor green did a brilliant program on it years ago.

Emeraldshamrock · 03/04/2021 10:35

I've come to the opinion that there just isn't space for so many animals in the tiny green patches where we live. Or in every day life.
I agree, people are considered selfish having more than 2 DC per household/family to protect the environment, yet nearly every home has a pet people who don't it will average out, many own several furry friends farting emissions/eat meat/breathing air.

CricketClub · 03/04/2021 10:38

My cousin is a police dog handler.
One of the first things to be assessed in a potential puppy is the dog’s natural instinct, intelligence, personality and temperament.
Just like humans, every dog is unique.
There is a very good reason some breeds are favoured over others. Obviously police dogs need to be capable of being highly disciplined and obedient.
The simple truth is not all dogs are. A dog’s natural instinct and personality dominates.

LST · 03/04/2021 10:40

@Emeraldshamrock

I've come to the opinion that there just isn't space for so many animals in the tiny green patches where we live. Or in every day life. I agree, people are considered selfish having more than 2 DC per household/family to protect the environment, yet nearly every home has a pet people who don't it will average out, many own several furry friends farting emissions/eat meat/breathing air.
All my cats are rescues. The product of idiots over breeding and not wanting them. Would you prefer they be put down? My dog was overspill pups from a working sheep farm. Again, required. I just took the one with the gammy leg.
MarieIVanArkleStinks · 03/04/2021 10:40

I know it's not the dog's fault blah blah blah........... It's the owner's fault, but it's ALWAYS the same type of person who owns them! ALWAYS.

And when this sort of thing inevitably happens, they always say the same thing, too. 'Oooooh she's never done that before!'

CricketClub · 03/04/2021 10:40

Since we can’t change the dogs genetic make up, all we can tackle is the human element in the equation. It should be far harder to own a dog, and ongoing education for both dog and owner should be mandatory - simple as that. In the wrong hands, any dog can be dangerous, but some have got a better chance of seriously injuring or killing someone based on their size, power, jaws etc.

This this this.

LuaDipa · 03/04/2021 10:42

@MyDogTails

The issue is that no-one thinks their dog is capable of attacking a seal or deer or sheep or human. But they're wild animals whether we like it or not and it frankly isn't down to training, it's instinct. The smaller the dog, the less likelihood that an attack will kill.
This is absolutely true. My dogs are well behaved and well trained with good recall but I learned my lesson when they were very young and spotted a pheasant and one continued to chase it even when called back. Fortunately it eventually flew away. This was 6 years ago and I still only allow them off lead in our own field.

They are good, gentle dogs who love my kids and would never attack a person unless they threatened us, but I still wouldn’t risk it as you can never be sure that their instincts wouldn’t take over, particularly with other animals.

Dugee · 03/04/2021 10:43

@Herja

They looked like bloody big dogs in the news pictures. Poor, poor woman. What an horrific, terrifying death. In her own bloody garden.

Dogs have the capacity to be incredibly dangerous. It blows my mind that any old fucker can just buy one. People always talk about the scary looking breeds, but (I think) it's actually Labradors that have the highest number of attacks in the UK. All dogs can be dangerous, even the family ones. My first teenage boyfriend had heavy facial scaring from a terrier attack as a toddler.

I love dogs. Always had them growing up. I don't have one, because I don't have appropriate time to devote to one. I like dogs that are perfectly trained (working dogs, or trained to that degree) and I can't facilitate that, so I have a cat instead. I completely agree that there should be more regulation.

Labradors are one of the most popular breeds. There are more of them than other dogs, so the volume of bites is going to be higher just because of how many of them there are.

That said, Labrador attacks are mostly nips, not fatal. They are usually defending, not attacking.

Certain types of dogs like pit bulls, English bull terriers are attack dogs, they are vicious and get lockjaw so attacks from them are deadly.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I've never heard of a fatal Labrador attack. That said, they still need to be supervised around children, on the lead in public and not loose in the garden if you want anything delivered.

There is a man who walks two unmuzzled pit bulls in my local park. I've reported this to the police several times and he's still there, walking two unmuzzled, potentially killer dogs, around children and other dogs.

randomer · 03/04/2021 10:43

What is a pit bull for? Are they companions or what?

How can a tiny dog kill somebody....its ridiculous.

Some are more dangerous than others.

FireUnderpants · 03/04/2021 10:46

It needs to be made much more difficult to buy a puppy. It's far too easy to browse Preloved or Pets4homes and buy any sort of massively overpriced dog with no vetting by the 'breeder' and no guarantee of health and temperament being sound.

Lots of the bull breeds are advertised as being strong/muscular/large as their main quality.

I was interrogated by a breeder before she allowed me to be added for her 12 month waiting list. She turned lots away this year (she was inundated with 100s of enquiries) as unsuitable and many didn't want the wait as they had to have a pup instantly.

It's the irresponsible people who are impatient and most likely haven't researched that will rush to get any available dog, and is fairly unlikely that the 'breeder' will take the dog back when issues start happening. I fear dog attacks will be more common this summer.

The poor lady, absolutely horrendous.

LBXXX · 03/04/2021 10:46

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Lbnc2021 · 03/04/2021 10:46

These threads are always the same.

‘My dog is never left unsupervised around my child for a minute’

Anything that can’t be left unattended around my child for a minute whether it’s man woman or beast wouldn’t get in my house in the first place.

CricketClub · 03/04/2021 10:47

@randomer

What is a pit bull for? Are they companions or what?

How can a tiny dog kill somebody....its ridiculous.

Some are more dangerous than others.

They were bred to be fighting dogs originally. Just wiki search ‘Pit bull’
LBXXX · 03/04/2021 10:49

@randomer

What is a pit bull for? Are they companions or what?

How can a tiny dog kill somebody....its ridiculous.

Some are more dangerous than others.

She’s my companion and a very good one

They used to be bred fighting. Nobody disputes that. However time has moved on a lot since then but I have no doubt in my mind a lot are still bred for that but not ALL and most likely not the majority

LizBennet · 03/04/2021 10:50

I can only picture Mr T now when I'm reading LBXXX's comments.

Griselda1 · 03/04/2021 10:50

Interesting to see how this poor ladies age has almost been used against her. She was old so it may not have been the dogs that killed her etc.Ageism is a real issue in the UK.

Arbadacarba · 03/04/2021 10:52

I agree, people are considered selfish having more than 2 DC per household/family to protect the environment, yet nearly every home has a pet people who don't it will average out, many own several furry friends farting emissions/eat meat/breathing air.

But many of these will be rescue animals, whose carbon footprint would exist whether adopted or not (assuming you wouldn't want to see healthy animals euthanised because they were unwanted).

I doubt that many people with 2+ DC have adopted them all.

LBXXX · 03/04/2021 10:52

This reply has been deleted

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LBXXX · 03/04/2021 10:53

@Griselda1

Interesting to see how this poor ladies age has almost been used against her. She was old so it may not have been the dogs that killed her etc.Ageism is a real issue in the UK.
Yes it’s not this woman’s fault at all how can anyone blame her for being in her garden. Honestly she must of been petrified I know I would of been
Handsoffstrikesagain · 03/04/2021 10:54

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

LBXXX · 03/04/2021 10:55

@Handsoffstrikesagain

There tends to be a link between those that are hard of thinking and those that own ‘dangerous’ breeds. Certain breeds do not belong in family homes. They are too dangerous. Dogs need to be trained correctly, whether you have a chihuahua or a staffordshire bull terrier. I am a huge animal lover and own working cocker spaniels and labs. I trust them but would I leave them alone with my children? No, because that would be stupid. Too many people are far too trusting, and too many people just do not care.

As an aside, if you ever find yourself in a situation where a dog is attacking you or someone else (and I pray that you wouldn’t), you need to choke the dog to release it’s grip. Hitting it with sticks or throwing things does nothing. If you can get close enough, you need to virtually strangle the dog. This causes two things - obviously, 1. the dog can’t be breathe, and 2. The dog loses focus on what is holding it’s concentration (the attack).

It’s frightening to even think of and I hope myself and anyone else never finds them self in this situation but thank you for this advice