Boy 10 mauled to death at holiday park

[Witchofzog]

I can't link on this phone but it is on most news sites. The owner was found off site after a police hunt so possibly fled when she knew her dog had killed a child. It's just awful - a young boy probably just going to the loo in the middle of the night on a campsite having his life ended because of a dangerous dog and an owner who can't control and/ or keep it securely away

To be fair, Book, I think we do agree that some new law has to be put in place. We just disagree about how far it should go.

The gun analogy that someone made previously has its limitations but the core point is good. I don’t believe guns should be available generally even though some gun owners will be excellent, well trained and very careful users who get much pleasure from guns.

I don’t think one type of firearm is ok but another isn’t.

Everybody is in agreement that things need to change. What happened was beyond tragic. It was the owners and mothers fault, why this poor little boy isn't here anymore.

People saying all dogs should be banned, are absolutely idiotic.. you honestly believe that would happen?!

The problem starts at how easy it is to be able to buy a dog. It should be against the law to buy/ sell dogs on the internet.

If you do wish to have a dog then it must come from a reputable breeder (kennel club)

It should be against the law for any bitch to have more than two litters of puppies ( let's face it, the main reason people breed their dogs is for the money!)

Your puppy should of had it's first vaccinations, and then when the dog registers with your vets, it should be mandatory that every owner is to complete a course from a dog trainer or dog behavioural specialist.

Once they are satisfied, that your dog is well trained and you are a component dog owner, then you can be signed off.

It should also be mandatory that a yearly check up is carried out by your vet. Your vet would be able to tell instantly, the control you have over your dog! How well looked after the dog is I.e (has the dog been back for flea/ tick/worming treatments, is update with vaccinations etc)

If any of these are missed, then you must be made to pay for the trainer to come back out. As obviously you are not a responsible owner!

If you do not comply, then you will be fined. The monies will go to dog charities, and the dog will be taken off you. You will then not be allowed to own a dog again.

I think small steps like these, will put a lot of people off owning a dog!!

The difference between guns and dogs is that the primary purpose of guns is to kill and destroy.

Dogs, on the other hand, have their primary purpose as companionship, herding, sniffer dogs, guide dogs, therapy dogs, and pleasure givers to the humans around them. Only a tiny minority, usually in irresponsible hands, will kill or maim humans.

In much the same way, cars can and do kill and maim people. I know someone who was paralysed from the neck down as a child in a car crash, caused by another driver's negligence. She now requires 24 hour care. However, a car's primary purpose is for transport, not to kill and maim. Only a tiny minority, usually in irresponsible hands, will kill or maim humans (if we ignore the climate change issues).

Guns are designed solely to kill humans and animals, to threaten and induce fear, to give the holder power over those around them. Guns and dogs are simply not comparable.

I don't know about a hamster being chased across three counties, but I've been bitten (blood drawn, no permanent damage) by both a dog and a hamster, and the hamster hurt an awful lot more. It actually took me two hours+ to realise I'd been bitten by the dog as the blood was concealed by black jeans. I was immediately aware of the actions of the Syrian hamster....

Guns and some breeds of dogs, namely bull breeds, are definitely comparable.

Is someone seriously trying to argue that hamsters are more dangerous than dogs? A boy had died for goodness sake.

I think there needs to be a huge amount more legislation around rescue too - some kennels are clearly passing on dogs that have not been adequately assessed, to unsuitable homes.

Ban all dogs over a certain height (e.g. Dobernans, Akitas, German Shepherds, Rottwiellers, Labradors ...)

Ban all dogs with large muscular necks and jaws (e.g. Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Pit Bulls ...)

Ban all these type of dogs, unless they are working dogs.

There could be a scale of height, weight and measurement of neck and jaw. It is not complicated, would be easy to enforce and done with the money from dog licencing. A quick test done by a government department and immediate neutering and the putting down of any dog whose owner refuses to comply.
There is no reason I can see for not bringing in this legislation. 1000s of people, mostly children and the elderly, are attacked by dogs every year and many suffer life changing injuries. There was opposition when seat belt laws were brought in but without a doubt, it has since saved many people from death or injury
Does anyone have a good reason why this shouldn't be brought (apart from thier sentimentality over their own dogs) ?

@Whitney168 in complete agreement!!

When I was a child, my parents adopted a bull mastiff. The shelter telling my parents it was fantastic with children, no issues blah blah blah..two weeks later, the dog dragged my father through a field, got hold of a sheep and killed it.

My father managed to get hold of the previous owners who said, that the mastiff had brought down a horse.

Animal shelters need to have much stricter regulations on the adoption process.

It's just all too easy!!

You can’t drive a car without a licence and insurance. Should be the same for dogs. And there should be an additional stringent test to have an an unneutered/spayed dog. That would lead to a massive upturn in animal welfare as well.

Flax you’re being completely illogical. My wolfhound is an ancient breed. We have the space to exercise her and she is very well trained. But you want to kill her because she’s a big dog?
I am more than happy to do training, get a licence or some kind of certification from my vet. But a blanket ban is stupid. How many people have been killed by wolfhounds? Yet they’re one of the largest breeds.
It’s the people who are the problem.

To be fair we tried to get a rescue dog and we couldn’t (for years) due to children in the house and lack of experience with dogs.
You get so much criticism on here for not getting a rescue dog however now I think they were right with their strict criteria.

I am pleased we have a puppy we can actually train and know its history rather that an unknown history.

Doesn’t mean I won’t be cautious.

Oh dear the nutter is back with their wild hatred of dogs 🙄🙄
@flax you need to step away from this thread; you are completely irrational.

But you want to kill her because she’s a big dog?

Who’s suggested that?

Flax.
Banning dogs means PTS any that are accused of being that breed.
Some complete loopers on here today.

People shouldn’t keep dogs they can’t physically restrain.

You can’t drive a car without a licence and insurance. Should be the same for dogs. And there should be an additional stringent test to have an an unneutered/spayed dog. That would lead to a massive upturn in animal welfare as well
Completely agree, I also agree with @Flax

What Flax said was A quick test done by a government department and immediate neutering and the putting down of any dog whose owner refuses to comply.

If you fail to comply you condemn your own dog.

Powerful predatory animals such as these should not be kept as pets, we should not have to be subjected to the risk that they pose

@Flax the current legislation bans pit bulls and three other breeds. The way those breeds are identified is via a tape measure. That legislation has done fuck all to reduce dog attacks, and the tests are a very blunt tool.

@LittleMiss If the previous owner didn't tell the rescue about that incident, the rescue cannot possibly have known. I'll also note that there are many, many dogs out there that are fantastic family dogs that are safe with kids, but are exceedingly aggressive towards one particular trigger (commonly other dogs, though some have more esoteric triggers - mine has problems with motorbikes but has simply walked off when strange toddlers have thrown themselves at him). It could be easily be simultaneously true that that bull mastiff was safe with kids and absolutely not safe with livestock.

@Bow don't be silly. A lighthearted comment about the ability of a hamster to inflict pain shouldn't be taken as a comment on the danger presented.

So no more wolfhounds ever since they all have to be neutered.
Flax completely fails to talk any sense.

@Flaxmeadow you have changed your tune!

I thought you wanted every breed banned? They are vile, unhygienic animals, spreading diseases..us stupid dog owners believing our dogs 'love us' but the vicious vile creatures are only here because we feed them?!

What's happened?!

@wolfhifan

I did say 'give a good reason without sentimentality ...'

@bookworm

I don't 'hate' any animal, though I do admit I have felt some hatred when I read about these attacks.
I don't like animal cruelty and as I explained earlier, I think it is unkind to keep 'pets' as it is a 'wholly unnatural environment' for them. This is particularly true for dogs, especially when you see the amount of 'training' they have to be subjected to

There is no need for personal abuse. Everyone has a right to an opinion on this especially as dogs are all around us, often dogs capable of killing humans and off the leash and unmuzzled in public places

it's a good thing that organisations in the UK have such strict criteria when it comes to rescue dogs however we know that if you are refused by UK organisation you can import a feral dog from overseas