Can we muzzle all dogs in public yet (warning, graphic image of mauled hand)

[lfYouLikePinaCoIadas]

“Whilst out walking a route that Tom has been on numerous times, he was the victim of an unprovoked attack by an unleashed dog. The dog attacked Tom multiple times as he tried to protect his puppy from being mauled by the dog and was left with horrific injuries. What is more horrifying, however, is that the owners of the dog didn’t try to help and fled the scene leaving Tom bleeding from his artery on his wrist.

Wife Katy recalls the moment that she opened the door to find her husband standing there after the attack: ‘‘Tom managed to get home where I had to tourniquet, to try to stem the bleeding, while waiting for 999. He lost several litres of blood in the short time until the ambulance arrived. Our two children were at home at the time and were woken up by the commotion. My 7-year-old was terrified and thought that her dad was doing to die from the blood loss.’’

https://www.familiesonline.co.uk/news/dad-of-2-viciously-mauled-by-dog-trying-to-protect-family-puppy

Imagine it had been a child’s face, or neck, or little body, instead of an adult’s hand.

Absolutely sick of nothing being done to protect the public.

YABU - dogs are man’s best friend
YANBU - something needs to be done

I agree op, something needs to be done.

Putting all dogs on leads in public places would be a good start.

I don't agree with muzzling dogs unless they have shown previous signs of aggression towards people or other dogs.

But leads in public places? Absolutely. This dog should have been on one.

I see these petrifying big dogs so often now. I really worry for my children walking to school. They’d have no chance fending off a big bully breed.

Leads and muzzles.

I think there needs to be more serious prosecution of those owning dogs that do such things to act as a bigger deterrent.

My dogs are 100% my responsibility and I would never put them in a situation where I couldn't trust them implicitly (not unlike with my toddler tbh).

Well I don’t think forcing my tiny harmless dogs to be muzzled is going to solve the problem.
It’s a certain type of type and size of dog issue let’s be real about it.

Agree. Leads should be the law.

A lead wouldn’t stop a strong dog though.

Type of owner was the first bit I meant to say. The sort of person who leaves a man bleeding out in the street after being attacked by their dog is not the sort of person to abide by muzzle laws anyway.

Even small dogs can damage kids' fingers and faces

Very true.

Leads really should be mandatory

So can cats. Should we muzzle and declaw them…
Muzzling is not the answer. It’s a certain type of owner drawn to a certain type of dog causing these incidents 99% of the time. Let’s be real about that.

Not just kids. My colleagues JRT bit a postman’s finger really really badly, obviously nothing like the above, but postie was apparently off work for weeks.

I don’t think cats are randomly running up to people and attacking them though.

@lfYouLikePinaCoIadas

A lead wouldn’t stop a strong dog though

A proper lead held correctly by a person paying attention to their dog would.

A dog should be under control at all times either by a lead or strong recall.

Well.my beagle,is always walked
an a lead anyway but she's not really the issue here is she ?
it's the it the irresponsible owners you need to tackle .

I think we should have £500 dog licences for all owners with the money going to police bad owners.

Parks should have fenced off areas for dogs like they do in Europe.

Posts like this make me really cross. Yes they can, of course they can. But a smaller dog isn’t as likely to kill you or do as extensive damage as a larger dog, especially ones of certain breeds. Let’s be real about this. Refusing to acknowledge this just makes everyone look ridiculous.

You don't say if his puppy is okay, is it?

No, I don't think all dogs should be muzzled but there are some seriously dumb dog owners out there who really don't have a clue.

You are being unreasonable because your choices are biased and loaded. Of course some dogs are dangerous because of irresponsible owners. Some humans are dangerous too. But we don't lock up all humans because of what some of them might do. And punishing all dogs because of some owners is not reasonable or practicable. As in all things, those who are irresponsible won't do it anyway.

Surely there are more assaults by men than dogs? Can we muzzle them too? Put trackers on them? 🤦🏼‍♀️

lisences are a better way forward but there is no funding to police that

All that will happen is responsible owners with well-trained dogs would muzzle/lead their dogs and the idiots who’s dogs do the damage would carry on as they are.
I don’t know what the answer is but punishing the many won’t solve the issue.

I was clearly being facetious.
Neither are small, gentle natured, well trained companion pet dogs.
Your demonisation of all dogs is missing the very serious issue that some types of people are buying and breeding a certain type of dog and using them intentionally or accidentally as weapons. That is the real issue here.

Those of us with well trained, socialised and affectionate dogs would do this to be responsible. It wouldn't stop such dog attacks. I agree with pp that the dogs you want muzzled wouldn't be just like they are not kept on leads where they should be.