Yet another person killed by a dog

[MeouwCat]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80x7l511w9o
Not a banned breed even. So what next?

@ViscountDreams there is nothing wrong with keeping dogs in flats, even large breeds. The only problem could be if the dog has to walk up and down flights of stairs regularly.

Dogs don't need acres of land or massive houses. What they need is a secure bond with its owners plus preferably another dog for company.

A dog will just want to be with its owner whether that's in a small flat or a mansion, ideally with some sort of space or sleeping area but this does not have be a massive area. As long it gets adequate exercise both physically and mentally it will be fine.

MouseofCommons · 22/07/2024 22:40
"any moron can buy any dog, no matter how unsuitable..."
I've seen this in my street. One couple in a flat, who both walked with sticks, owned a German shepherd they couldn't control. I reported them to the dog warden sharpish.

Years ago, I had to hold our 6 month old PR terrier high above my head as a fully grown adult Rottweiler and a youngster leapt up snapping their jaws on either side of me. They were off lead and the owner’s arm in plaster. F**king idiot actually said she couldn’t control them atm! The stupidity of some people knows no bounds.

I’m always sad to read yet another report but slightly less so if it’s the owner of a dangerous dog rather than a bystander or child.

The dog wasn’t aggressive, it was spooked when she had a seizure. Was mostly trying to help at first. She was a good person with a big heart who took the dog in when it needed to be re homed. She was caring for kittens she had rescued at her partners. You can judge all her decisions but there is a family who have had the most horrible few years who have lost a family member. They are also suffering. I hope they don’t come across these posts! They are hurting enough already!

Of course there's something wrong with keeping dogs in flats, just like you don't look children in cages. How absurd to even suggest this is ok

Your dog (or other pet) injures someone, or kills them. The law should be as if it were you inflicting the injury directly. Animals are recognised in law as sentient beings, law of joint enterprise applied.

Your dog causes damage to someone's property, same principle, call it criminal damage.

If you have low socioeconomic status then acquiring a large powerful dog can help to offset that. Others will admire you for it or be nervous of you, both of these responses make you feel as if you have some kudos.
The areas that you describe may be peopled by those who are operating criminal enterprises. Such types are attracted to these dogs because of the protection that they afford.

While feeling terrible for the victims and the families, I'm always faintly relieved in these cases to find that it is the owner of the dog who has been the victim/seriously injured. When it is children/neighbours/innocent bystanders who are just collateral damage caused by the owner's stupidity and hubris in thinking their dog wouldn't hurt anyone/they could control it, it seems much worse to me. Whereas if you own a large dog of a certain breed, you take your chance.

Galoop
**
Of course there's something wrong with keeping dogs in flats, just like you don't look children in cages. How absurd to even suggest this is ok”

Depends on the flat and the owner, surely? We no longer have a dog but a retired neighbour at our new home does. Beagle, been with her for several years. She’s walked every morning along the River Tay for at least an hour, out and about several times during the day then back to the river in the evening before bed (with mum). Spends lots of time on the terrace, too. A very well cared for, happy dog.

The charity was very happy to home her there 🤷‍♀️

What is it that you think is so wrong?

I live in a flat and had a dog until last year when I had to have the old boy put to sleep. We went out about six times a day and probably spent about three hours pottering around outside. He was better off than a lot of dogs who get a quick walk round the block a couple of times a day then poked out into the garden for a quick wee in between.

That would be most dogs then.

She was a good person with a big heart who took the dog in when it needed to be re homed

Yes, yes, the big heart, only trying to help, I must save these poor fur-babies.

It was an extremely unwise decision to take on the dog, given her circumstances and the breed.

I'm not saying she was evil. But she was irresponsible and made a dangerous decision. I'm sorry for her family and for her - but I'm still glad that it was her that paid the price for her own poor decisions and not some poor five year old that just happened to be wandering past.

What’s her being unemployed got to do with anything. Would it have been more or less of a tragedy if she were a middle class barrister

Worryingly they seem to be increasing in popularity. On a Facebook page I am involved in there have been 8 malinois/Mal crosses advertised as looking for new homes in just the last 24 hours. All under 2 years old. Incredible dogs but for the most part completely unsuitable as domestic pets

Thank you, yes that all makes sense. Sad as it is!

The neighbours across from me have 2 beautiful staffies. They were lovely pups and you never ever see them. They have crates in the garage and they are in there 24/7. Because they have shelter and food there is nothing anyone will do about it.

They would have been lovely dogs in the right hands, as ours was, but they haven't been socialised, at all. So they would be, I assume, a danger if they ever got out.

This is definitely the case with my friend's BIL.

He got a Malinois in 2019 because he thinks he's some sort of shit hot dog whisperer.He can't control it and it's hardly been walked for the last eighteen months because he keeps falling out with other dog walkers.

I agree entirely.

@WickedSerious That makes him a total wanker.

What’s her being unemployed got to do with anything. Would it have been more or less of a tragedy if she were a middle class barrister

My post was about how irresponsible it was of this woman to home this dog, given her circumstances.

Her being unemployed is just one part of the picture and not relevant to how much of a tragedy this was.

Comprehensive pet insurance, vet fees and good quality food for a dog this size are very expensive. It's not a thirty quid a month job, not even close. Do you think an unemployed person or a 'middle class barrister' would be better placed to meet these costs?

Love isn't all you need when homing a pet, even if the dog isn't a beast capable of mauling you. I'm bloody sick of seeing people getting pets they don't have the ability to look after adequately, from a financial perspective.

Does he intend to keep the dog? It sounds quite dangerous if it's cooped up indoors all day.
Could he not be persuaded that it would be better off with someone who is experienced with these kinds of dogs?

It's been suggested to him,but he's not the type to listen to people who know what they're talking about.

That's so sad. Poor dogs.

It does and he's full of useless advice about how the rest of us should treat our dogs.

I love dogs, love animals, but there are certain breeds which need to be gathered wholesale from the UK and sent to live a beautiful king happy life somewhere on a special farm/facility in remote countryside and left to die out.

All of these deaths are tragic and I loathe seeing XL bullies and other such dogs the more these deaths happen.