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

Bert but he wasn’t. presumably because someone was able to overpower the westie!

No, he wasn’t killed. Because there were people in the room when it completely unexpectedly jumped into the pram.

But you are saying if you are in the room with the child!!!

This child was left by himself!!

A smaller breed dog could of easily of killed him!

It shows people's lack of knowledge on dogs.
Let's get rid of the big thuggish dogs and let's all have small fluffy cute dogs instead

Small dog breeds are far more likely to attack, as they feel intimated (due to their size) more often than larger dog breeds like St Bernard's etc.

I dont disagree with you, however, I can see why dog owners would be offended at the comparison to the NRA
Given that this is such an emotive issue, what is the way forward, is it possible to find consensus/common ground?

The comparison is that both groups will not accept any limits on their hobby/ownership.

So, common ground can only be found if the dog owning community accept there is a problem and tackle it, rather than as a PP said "Big dogs don't intimidate me" So what? thats you, not the vast majority of people who would be scared shitless if a large pitbull style breed went for them.

Of course dogs can be great company but you cannot compare a Beagle or Spaniel with some of the breeds/Mongrels currently wandering the streets but of course any breed can seriously injury or kill a child but at least an adult has a fighting chance to get the dog off.

This is all a bit silly. It’s like saying that because I know someone who lost an eye to a peashooter we should allow semi-automatic weapons.

The other way of looking at it is that the ban needs to be extended to cover these smaller dogs. They’re clearly a hazard.

So we are back to banning all dogs. And people on here wonder why dog owners get defensive.

Wolfie, could I just point out that when a pp put forward the idea of neutering large dogs you accused her of wanting to kill your dog. When I pointed out that wasn’t what she’d said you changed to complaining about the future of wolf hounds.

Is it any wonder that those who are concerned by the harm done by dogs think too many dog owners are completely unwilling to accept any control of any effectiveness at all?

We are discussing a case of a little boy left ALONE!!!!!

And discussing steps on how to stop dogs of any breed being so easily available to inexperienced, idiotic dog owners.

I don't think you have anything valuable to add to this thread, if you are not wary of small dogs but are of big dogs, it's shows you have absolutely no knowledge on dogs.

A smaller breed dog could of easily of killed him
this sentence speaks volumes

So, common ground can only be found if the dog owning community accept there is a problem and tackle it, rather than as a PP said "Big dogs don't intimidate me" So what? thats you, not the vast majority of people who would be scared shitless if a large pitbull style breed went for them
I am in total agreement with you, there seems to be no reasoning with many on the subject of the status/attack dogs

No my comment was when someone said all large dogs should be banned. So PTS.
Then they said they should all be neutered. So no large breed puppies could ever be born.
Complete lack of sense or ability to discuss reasonably here.

That boy was 10 not a baby. Had he been left with a shitsuz and it had turned - he would not be dead.

That's why people think big and/or powerful dogs should be banned or at least the ownership of them controlled. Because the size of the dog (with the exception of babies) means the difference between an injury and death.

No my comment was when someone said all large dogs should be banned. So PTS.

I did not say all large dogs should be put to sleep. You have also accuse me of wanting to kill your dog.

Then they said they should all be neutered. So no large breed puppies could ever be born.

This is closer to what I said

Complete lack of sense or ability to discuss reasonably here.

There you go again, putting people down. Why? Because they don't like dogs? Is that it?

No because they don’t make sense.
Banned dogs would be destroyed. Not sure how you fail to understand that.
So you want no large dogs ever? Why on earth?
There is no sense or reason here. I’m off to cuddle my dog. She makes much more sense than some people on here.

No because they don’t make sense.

Do you understand why some people might not like certain animals, be frightened of them or be repulsed by them. Some people might not like rodents for example. Can you understand that?

Banned dogs would be destroyed. Not sure how you fail to understand that.

I said they would be banned and so 'phased out'. Those were my exact words. This means those already kept as pets would not be 'killed'

So you want no large dogs ever? Why on earth?

Because it is not worth the risk of 1000's of people every year being admitted to hospital, most of them children, and many of them with life changing injuries. Some fatally injured. I have other reasons too but that's the main one ...

There is no sense or reason here. I’m off to cuddle my dog. She makes much more sense than some people on here.

This isn't about your dog, it isn't personal, hope you have a pleasant evening

@Wolfie, at some point in the future could you be happy with a smaller breed of dog?
Also would you be prepared to share some of what it is that makes you feel an affinity with large dogs?

It’s not large dogs in general. It’s not even dogs in general. It’s wolfhounds. Far too many years ago to care to remember the number, I looked after one for a weekend. It was so calm and majestic and almost reassuring. But also goofy. I have still the photo I took of her with her bum on the sofa but her head had slid off onto the floor. There’s something about the way they look at you and press their head into you for affection.
I get that she’s a bloody big beast. I get that some people find her scary. I’ve worked really sodding hard to ensure she behaves herself and bothers no one.
I’ve had depression and pain issues and so much to deal with. She makes me happy. The idea of not being allowed to have that in my life? I don’t have words.

What's wrong with large dogs? My friend has had Bernese mountain dogs, they are incredibly friendly. They are nothing like bull breeds.

Banned dogs would be destroyed. Not sure how you fail to understand that
So you want no large dogs ever? Why on earth?

Whats wrong with that? 3 or 4 people being torn apart each year & 7000 serious hospitalisations (1000 of those are under 9 years old!) just so you can have a large dog?

Can you come up with another suggestion? unfortunately banning certain breeds doesn't solve the issue but even muzzling in public places isn't acceptable either... you don't accept any limits on your hobby.

I had a much smaller Border Terrier, she gave love and affection and was a real soulmate, you don't need a dog that weighs as much as a small person and large dogs don't live long, so why can't your next dog be smaller?

Yes the satistics are shocking and it's probably closer to 10,000 hospital admissions now. Why are we all putting up with this?

Guardian article dated 2015. Note this is just the numbers for England.

Hospital admissions for injuries caused by dogs up 76% in 10 years
Official figures for England show 7,227 admissions for dog attacks in past year, compared with 4,110 a decade ago, with under-10s most likely to be admitted

...it's only April, one child is dead and a baby is fighting for its life and while we have been debating this topic, dozens of people in the UK, mostly children, have been admitted into hospital with serious injuries due to a dog attack. Many of those injuries will be life changing.

If we're actually looking for a consensus, rather than 'all dogs are lovely' on the one hand (sadly, they're not) and 'ban than all!!!!' on the other (seriously?) then maybe we could look at gun licencing for ideas. Currently, the restrictions on rifles are far more stringent than those on shotguns. Rifles have a longer effective range and are much more deadly. Maybe there should be a graded system for dogs, since some breeds are known to be more prone to dog and human aggression than others (there are scientific studies on this).

I own largish dogs and I have scoured Google and never been able to find a single example of their breed killing an adult, a child or even another dog.

People here don’t want a reasoned discussion. I’ve tried suggested licensing and registering and a need for training and proving you are capable of providing for a big dog and that it will be raised to behave in a socially acceptable way.
That’s not good enough. They want to froth about banning all the dogs.

1. Nobody is allowed to keep a dog until they have passed a “dog driving test” and bought a licence. All dogs to be chipped and registered. Any unchipped dog to be removed immediately and not returned until the owner can produce the licence.

1. There should be a further, more stringent and more expensive test to keep an un-neutered dog.

If we're actually looking for a consensus, rather than 'all dogs are lovely' on the one hand (sadly, they're not) and 'ban than all!!!!' on the other (seriously?)...

They want to froth about banning all the dogs..

For goodness sake. No one has suggested 'banning all dogs' and then you say we cant have a reasonable discussion.