thinking its now time to get super tough on dog ownership?

[adam7485]

after what has happened in wales to that poor little boy i can't help thinking its time to not jus bring back dog licences but before you buy a dog you should have to take an exam to prove that you can look after it properly. not only that but if your dog attacks someone not only should it be taken away from you but from that moment on your banned from ever owning dogs. anyone agree with me?

It's never the dog, it's the owner and the environment that a dog is brought up in.

It'll never change, because it's a certain section of society who have these dogs as status symbols, completely neglect their health and wellbeing, largely mistreat them, and the end result is a dog that is bouncing off the walls with energy, fear and frustration. A licence system will just mean that they are bred underground, and it shows that the dangerous dog act has had literally no impact and isn't worth the paper it's written on.

[quote Trixiefirecracker]@Nyxly wondered how long it would take until someone tried to deflect in to cats! Cats do not attack snd kill kids. They are not comparable, a bit of cat shit in someone’s garden is not comparable to having your throat ripped out by a dog! Yes, attacks happen off private property, all the time. My child was bitten in the street by a random dog. Lots of countries only allow dogs to be off lead in dog only spaces, it’s totally doable.[/quote]
Whose deflecting? Simply pointing out I can't see the UK changing rules that impact pets to this degree.

Cat shit is very dangerous.

Again, cases like the op is talking about rarely, if ever happen off private property. So, explain how forcing dogs to be on leads stops it?

Your child was bitten by dog, and that is absolutely awful. But we don't ban other things that hurt our children on a small chance this happens.

So comparing like for like, we don't ban cats going out because a toddler has got sick after finding cat poo in their garden. Or donr ban all cars, because some people are irresponsible. Or ban chest of drawers because some people don't secure them to the wall.

I get why you don't like dogs, genuinely do. I just can't see a point the UK would introduce laws like this. At no point did I say I want outdoor cats to be banned.

But you seem quite upset at the prospect
Many responsible dogs owners feel the same about banning off lead walks.

Such a sad case , poor little boy.
I don’t think licences will make any difference- we all have to have a driving license but it doesn’t stop people driving like maniacs or drink driving.

There will always be bad dog owners, I don’t know what the answer is tbh.

Surely the answer to the enforcement question is that dog owners pay for it? If you own a car you must register your car, have insurance, pay road tax and have an up to date MOT. There could be compulsory registration, insurance, vet checks and an annual fee for enforcement for dog owners.

I think the RSPCA needs more funding, they need to have more power to remove dogs from owners.

I would like breeding regulated and those puppies registered.

I would like lead laws with leads being a must when you step outside of the house with set aside areas for off lead play.

If a dog bites and it is reported to A&E the dog is taken while its behaviour is assessed.

All rescue dogs to come with 1 year free government advice and support.

If you are found with a dog that is badly behaved and it doesnt have a excuse (new rescue etc) then you have an automatic on the spot fine of £200 plus 6 weeks of mandatory dog behaviour classes

I myself have a rescue that is dog reactive. Im running out of places to take him due to selfish owners who think that their dog is friendly so its ok that their dog gets up in my dogs face. I had one owner tell me my dog should be put down while their dog was off lead disturbing all sorts of nesting birds in a nature reserve and had zero recall when he came pelting over to my dog (the place says dogs must be on leads) ... no mate i dont think mine is the problem in this scenario.

Needs to come with a DNA database too. Then when they fail to clean up, swabs can be taken and a stiff fine issued.

@violetanemone

I think it's a nice idea to bring back dog licenses, but unfortunately the police/ government do not currenlty have the resources or aptitude to actually enforce anything like that. They won't do it because if they do it means they will have to follow through and enforce it.

It'll end up like everything else - the responsible owners will get licences, the irresponsible will not. As you say, the police just can't police the things they're supposed to at present - think of how many people are found not to have car tax, insurance and even valid licences.

There are estimated to be over 12 million dogs in the UK at the moment.

Licences need to be brought back immediately, and at a high cost, minimum £200 per year because let's face it, if you can't afford that, you can't afford a dog.

The licence should be issued only on the completion of a comprehensive questionnaire /form, with details of where the dog was obtained, health and medical, vaccination and neutering details, and proof of identity and residence of the owner.

All dogs should be chipped.

The money raised by this exercise could fund police/council teams to deal with dog fouling, dog attacks, illegal breeders etc.

It might make some ignorant bastards think twice about buying a cute puppy with no idea how to care for a dog.

People who buy dogs and don't care for them properly are the absolute scum of the earth.

@MrsGeralt

Also, adopting animals from abroad should be banned. There are enough animals here that need homes. Yes some rescues are too strict, but better to be too strict than too lax.

Do you feel like that about humans who come here for a better life too?

Hahah what a joke, humans and dogs are not the same at all 😂 😂

We've enough of a dog trade issue in the UK without importing mangey animals from abroad.

People are always the problem however revving up a spaniel or even a vicious little terrier will not cause the same devastation as a bull breed.

I agree but a German shepherd, malamut, husky, doberman, Akita etc absolutely could and whilst a smaller dog may be less able to kill they could certainly inflict life changing injuries. I did read a case about a small terrier dog killing a baby.

There is already a requirement to have your dog chipped so it can be traced, so with this and the prices that some people pay for their dogs I don't think that a simple licencing requirement will make much difference unless there is some sort of educational requirement too.

I think there should be a requirement to undertake some training before you can own a dog, and that this should have to be renewed every few years. As well as dog welfare etc I think it should cover your responsibilities as a dog owner including making sure everyone is aware of the current legal responsibility to have their dog under control at all times. I encounter lots of very well meaning people walking their dogs who allow them to run off beyond where they can even see, despite them having very poor recall and poor training (eg. jumping all over anyone in their path). This should include a reminder that dogs are animals, and so can never be fully trusted not to bite whatever the breed or usual temperament. Any dog can feel unwell or be scared etc and may bite, especially someone that they do not know well and who does not recognise signs that they are unhappy with being petted etc.

I also think we as a society should work on removing the stigma of dogs wearing muzzles. If properly trained and fitted, dogs can wear muzzles very comfortably (and can eat/drink/yawn etc in them) when in public or around small children etc. My dog is a nervous rescue, and although he has never bitten anyone I am very aware that I can't guarantee how he would react if, for example, a stranger's child tried to hug him. So he wears a muzzle when we are out and we have things in place at home to ensure that strangers are kept at a distance. Yet I am frequently stopped in the street and lecture on why he I should not be forcing him to wear it and how sad/scary it makes him look (the reality is he associates his muzzle with treats and walks, so loves it, he looks sad and scared because a stranger is staring at him and pointing a finger at me!).

I wonder if anyone on here who owns a bull breed or any large breed capable of badly hurting someone keeps the dog away from visiting children. I know owners think their dog is a softie but if visitors aren’t used to dogs they may not behave appropriately around them.

The police should be allowed to force their way into people’s homes when they suspect they’ve ignored the ban and gotten more animals.

In at least some parts of the US the RSPCA officer equivalents are law enforcement officers and they can do this.

Frankly we need to get less dog friendly as a society. More restrictions on where and when dogs are allowed in particular locations such as parks and beaches, enforcement of existing rules around e.g. fouling and FFS no to dogs in restaurants. If it becomes more difficult to have a dog then only really committed owners will want one. Would be a bit shit for some existing dogs in the short term but something has to be done to reduce levels of ownership longer term because it’s got out of control.

I totally agree, I can't stand dogs and am allergic, recently I swear they are everywhere. You can't go for a walk without some dog bounding up to you, or sit in a restaurant without one yapping the entire time. Recently some idiot in our company Town Halls is suggesting the office should allow people to bring dogs - hard NO.

Sort of cross post @number87inthequeue

Here's the link, again the child was attacked at home.

metro.co.uk/2015/06/20/small-terrier-dog-kills-three-week-old-baby-after-biting-him-at-home-5255084/

@RobinPenguins

Frankly we need to get less dog friendly as a society. More restrictions on where and when dogs are allowed in particular locations such as parks and beaches, enforcement of existing rules around e.g. fouling and FFS no to dogs in restaurants. If it becomes more difficult to have a dog then only really committed owners will want one. Would be a bit shit for some existing dogs in the short term but something has to be done to reduce levels of ownership longer term because it’s got out of control.

I agree with this 100%

@Babdoc

A and E deal with a quarter of a million dog bites a year in the UK. I would have a law banning the owners of each of those dogs from ever owning a dog again. Automatically, and with no appeal. That would quickly reduce the numbers of dogs in the country, and concentrate the minds of owners on training their feral carnivores properly. I’d also reinstate dog licenses - expensive ones, renewable annually - and use the revenue to fund a proper system of dog wardens.

And this.

If dogs are always on leads (as parks aren't private property), then they won't get the exercise they need or learn social skills which would make them far more likely to attack other people/dogs because they are guarding their human and frustrated due to the lack of exercise.

If you can't walk far enough to exercise your dog every day, several times a day I'm some cases, then don't get a dog or get a breed that doesn't require as many walks. It's just stupid to get a spaniel if you're not willing to walk it far enough to exercise it. They don't have to be off lead all the time, and there are certain places where you can let a dog off a lead safely without encountering other people.

They also don't need to be off lead to learn how to socialise, that's actually just dangerous if you're trying to teach dogs how to socialise off lead, what if they don't like each other and attack? You have no way of getting them away from each other.

@OverweightPidgeon

I wonder if anyone on here who owns a bull breed or any large breed capable of badly hurting someone keeps the dog away from visiting children. I know owners think their dog is a softie but if visitors aren’t used to dogs they may not behave appropriately around them.

I have a Staffy (he's not big, mind) and we don't have any children visiting; however, sometimes when we're out walking him - and he is never allowed off the lead unless in a fully enclosed space - children will approach him. He's extremely docile and friendly but we get him to sit and the children approach him quietly and sensibly, simply as a bit of training for the children.

We always tell them they must ask any dog owner if they can say hello to any dog, because hardly any do ask. There is a major piece of work for parents to do with their children, which must involve not approaching dogs without asking permission and not teasing or tormenting any dog, especially with its toys or food.

In my world it would be illegal for one person to be in charge of more than one dog when out walking. That would put a stop to the dog-walking services that have grown up over the last 20 years or so.

Once upon a time, if there was nobody in the house during the day who could care for a dog and take it out for walks, then you didn't have a dog. Nowadays, a dog is some sort of accessory, it seems, farmed out to "daycare" and dog-walkers on a daily basis. The rise of dog-walking and dog daycare businesses has inevitably led to a huge rise in "weekend dog owners" who don't have the time to train the animals properly and take them out at the weekends, let them off the lead and become a menace to everybody else.

@VickyEadieofThigh yes I agree, I don’t understand parents not educating their children about not touching strange dogs .

I voted YABU because yes it’s not right that dogs/horses/animals are treated like this.

But I haven’t seen the same outcry about the number children who are killed by parents/step parents. And I haven’t seen yet someone asking for a permit to be allowed to have children so that there is a layer of protection for said children.

Until we are happy to go as far to protect children that we are to protect animals, I will have an issue with that.

@Strawbales Battersea Dogs Home used to be overrun with unwanted dogs. Not any more. They have only 29 dogs available and hundreds of potential owners on their waiting list. If you don’t believe me, take a look yourself:

www.battersea.org.uk/dogs/dog-rehoming-gallery

Every rottie I've ever known has been a gentle giant. Why should they be banned?