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

Err no that won't be happening for my dog. But me and my dog are bit the issue, leads I can agree with but muzzles no.

I have a 4month old beagle. We use a long line at all times because even the best trained beagles will only recall if they want to and no chance if they catch a sent they like.

The amount of dog owners who allow dogs off lead that have poor or no recall is frustrating. Packs of dogs running over on mass to say hello overwhelming my puppy. Dog walkers with 6 or more dogs.

There was one woman with a tiny puppy and an older dog both off lead, puppy had no collar or tag and no recall. She was really abusive when I gently stepped between her dogs and mine to walk away.
Dog shit that isn't picked up or bagged and thrown in a tree!

The WFH culture has enabled more people to get dogs(us included). But not many do the breed research and training required etc.

I actually agree with all dogs on leads and muzzled.
Having a muzzle on isn't going to hurt your dog but it might save another from harm.

The issue is enforcement. It's a findable offence to allow your dog to foul public areas and to not have a dog chipped with a collar and tag but people don't do either and none enforces it now!

To be fair a lot of parents think everyone should be delighted with the presence of their kids. I have no interest in interacting with them and feel they should also be controlled!

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Yeah that's the same thing. Kids can bite you to death can't they? Stop being such an ignorant ass

What people also need to do is learn to control their child or themselves when I say that my dog isn't in the mood for strokes. I say this as the owner of both a dog and child!

Forget leads and muzzles, I think we need to ban more breeds. They're just too dangerous especially in the wrong hands. I can't understand why XL bullies are legal.

That’s funny because I see a lot of complacency and denial.

As a dog owner I’d be happy to keep dogs on lead and have set off lead spaces

a lot of people might not get a dog if they had to bother to train it and I wouldn’t be hassled by out of control dogs on every walk

Last summer, my nieces 1st birthday. About 20 of us all on a beach where no dogs allowed on this section of beach - they're allowed on the prom, but on leads only. We'd got fish and chips and sorting the meals for the kids on a large picnic blanket - basically all the meals on there while we sorted them out. Out of nowhere, a (very bouncy happy!) Labrador bounded through them, covering everything in sand and sending sausages, fish and chips everywhere. There are no tables on the beach. Cue crying kids, fish and chips for 20 ruined, drinks knocked over the blanket and a nice birthday lunch ruined.

I love dogs. Very much a dog person. But dog owners claiming their domesticated for hundreds, even thousands, of years pets would be sad if on a lead is ridiculous.

I was at the beach with my toddler yesterday. A collie type dog came bounding up to her I had to grab her up in my arms. She was screaming. Owner thought the best course of action was to put the dog on a lead and come over to ask my toddler if she could “start the introductions again “. I was livid, couldn’t really trust myself to talk. Leads and muzzles definitely, I’m sick of people treating dogs like children

'People plan a nice picnic. Arrange to meet up for food and drink. And then an uncontrolled dog bounds through, touching open food, spilling food and drink and it’s ruined.'

what sitcoms this from again? Oh yeah, ALL of them. It's such a cliche that Dom Joly did a version with giant squirrels doing the raiding...

'I was at the beach with my toddler yesterday. A collie type dog came bounding up to her I had to grab her up in my arms. She was screaming. Owner thought the best course of action was to put the dog on a lead and come over to ask my toddler if she could “start the introductions again “. I was livid, couldn’t really trust myself to talk. Leads and muzzles definitely, I’m sick of people treating dogs like children'

Brave owner. But if you want your child to be terrified of all dogs sounds like you're going the right way about it.

@Softoprider

Do get your head out of your arse and have your picnic on a table not on the grass where dogs shite and pee. Come on - it is not rocket science.

Hmm. OK. So, apart from four tables in a big park, we're not allowed to have picnics, nor on any of the miles of beach we have. Or any of the green spaces locally, they're reserved for dogs. I see.

And yes, I've got a dog.

What a silly comment. Dogs have ruined my picnics twice. Not every time. It happens.

I am embarrassed for all you ignorant dog-owners in denial. It seem that you cannot handle the reality that you are the problem. I am sorry you are unable to see that.

Well, we know we aren't ignorant or in denial, just possibly a bit more relaxed about dogs 🤷‍♀️

Some thick people are denying it happens. Not sure what that is, if not ignorance.

@Ersorrywhatnow can you explain? I don’t understand how someone else’s dog scaring my child makes it my fault they’re scared of dogs

You need spec savers.then. Pretty much everyone who has said the Op is BU has suggested an alternative including licensing, leads, banning breeds or wardens. So not complacency.
And no one has denied dogs bite.
So ..

Typical histrionic Mumsnet response!

Yes absolutely. You missed the perfect opportunity to teach your dc something there.

Absolutely agree - they come across as hostile zealots.

@Marchintospring nope. No Specsavers needed here thanks.

I see a lot of “my dog is alright so there’s no need to tackle the problem”, “we just need to licence dogs and this will miraculously go away” and, even worse “if you don’t like dogs, don’t go to the park / beach / out”. It’s the same on every dog thread.

No dog owners want their dog muzzled so they think no dog should be muzzled because people who don’t like dogs or are scared or allergic just need to get over themselves because, well, my dog is lovely.

it’s like people who are all for taxes to be put up to pay for services, as long as it’s not them that has to pay.

It is exactly this attitude from dog owners that seriously pisses me off. Most dogs are bigger than or the same size as a toddler. It is perfectly normal for a toddler to be scared of them. You need to keep your dogs away from small children. The problem is with your attitude, not the child's.

‘Yeah, the people who don't like dogs on mumsnet sound aggressive and horrible. Luckily I never meet anyone like that in RL’

same, and that includes adults who are scared of dogs. They seem to realise that their phobia is exactly that and not something the whole world should change to accommodate.