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

Whilst I was out today I saw an old man in a mobility scooter with a dog, I was surprised to see that it was a Japanese Akita, I can understandstand why he might feel the need for a canine protector but that seems an unwise choice?

And how did you form that assumption, may I ask?

What assumption have I formed?

It was phrased as a question in case you didn't spot that, I'm asking people on the thread, does that seem like a good choice for an elderly disabled man

That Akita may be perfectly well behaved and gentle. He probably didn't choose it as a canine protector.

There's a good chance that dog is a more suitable companion for that man than my little dog would be.

I was out yesterday in a place where there are clear signs saying dogs must be on leads. No more than about half were on leads.

Whilst I was out today, I seen a young man running with a teacup chihuahua..seems a unwise choice?

A tiny dog would find it hard to keep up with a man who's running, one would think?

I was out today in a place where there are clear signs saying cars must travel at no more than 20mph. No more than about half were travelling under 20mph.

What's your point Kissing?

Well, as an extra point, a comparison between cars and dogs is absurd.

But my point was that, as an unscientific and anecdotal observation, many dog owners do not care about controlling their dogs. But as that observation is in line with plenty of other evidence, I’ll treat it as representative.

the dog owners and the car drivers were all out of order imo
however, I accept responsibility for derailing the thread with my musings about the man and his dog

But banning certain breeds of dog or makes of cars won’t stop some people being irresponsible idiots who put others in danger will it?

are you arguing that the two (cars and dogs) are analogous and should therefore be treated in similar ways?
If so your argument is specious

Cars kill many times more people than dogs do, and speed increases the risk of a fatal accident. A death is a death; the comparison is not absurd.

Being on lead is not synonymous with being under control. Many dogs can be kept well under control while off lead, using nothing more than the owner's voice and some dog treats. Other dogs could make you fear for your own safety while on lead and muzzled.

I know that my dog could be let off lead in a botanic garden without causing damage (he walks around flower beds and only digs on command) even if it was a dogs on lead only location (not saying I would, but...). On the other hand, if I was walking in the countryside and there was livestock there's no way he'd be off lead as I couldn't guarantee his behaviour.

I really don’t think a dog-car discussion is of any value. But if it helps to knock this nonsense on the head I will point out that, while we should do much more to combat bad driving, road accidents, pollution and other harms, cars and other transport and freight carriage are essential. Pets are not. There is no good argument for keeping a potentially dangerous pet.

Exactly, whilst it is true that both dogs and vehicles have aspects that are problematic they occupy entirely different niches in society.
Whilst both traffic and pets belong in the category of 'things that require legislation and regulation' further than that there are no grounds for treating them in the same way,

'A dog is considered as dangerous if it is out of control, if it injures someone or makes someone worried that it may injure them.'

The above is from a police website.

This is current law but how many people are aware of it? How many people use it? We not only need tougher laws but we also need more awareness of our rights

For example, if a dog appears to be out of control (ie off the leash) and growling at 'someone' as if to attack, then that 'someone' is perfectly entitled to call the police and report the dog/dog owner because as the law states... 'or makes someone worried that it may injure them'.

It's your right, and civic duty, to report a dog that you think may attack and It is also your right to defend yourself against an imminent attack. You can actually use a weapon to defend yourself, if you fear for your life or that you might be injured

The trouble is, Flax, that what leads someone to believe they might be injured by a dog is entirely subjective.

For instance, I recently walked around the corner with DDog, who was behaving impeccably and was on lead, to find a grown woman hiding behind her friend and whimpering.

On the other hand, today he was off lead and unexpectedly took a dislike to another dog, likely a husky cross that was five times a big as him and stood 2m away barking in a rather unfriendly way. The other dog looked bemused, the other owner was unconcerned, and I heard sniggering from nearby picnickers.

My dog behaved far worse in the second situation, but people felt far less threatened. By the letter of the law, I could be prosecuted for the first situation (where ddog merely existed) but not be second. It's a poorly drafted law the was a kneejerk reaction to current affairs

What type of breed is your dog?

...and why is your dog off the lead in a public place?

You formed the assumption that I owned a Staffy or a dog a like..don't you remember the last few posts you have made?

It's perfectly legal to walk your dog without a lead, unless the place or area states that your dog must be on one.

LittleMissHappy19

No. You must have your dog on a lead in public places, such as roads, parks, beaches, football pitches and children's play areas... etc.
You have it the wrong round re states that.... A sign would be for a place where you can take your dog. Anywhere else and your dog must be leashed

Road Traffic Act 1988, section 27; Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Also see
Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, section 3

...It isnt just public place either where your dog must be under control. Your dog must not be dangerously out of control on your own property as well. That means in your garden and inside your house

Cars are not essential to everyone. From June 2016 to June 2017 there were 2 child deaths by dogs. In that same period of time there were 2180 child deaths by vehicles. That works out at 41.9 a week!!

I believe now that you are just trolls..to not give a crap that a child got killed by a Jack Russell for one (because the parent, could of got it off if they wanted to), to not giving a crap about other countries owning these dangerous dogs that such a massive issue to us (who couldn't care about other people, in other counties) and now not being interested about a much much bigger problem, the amount of innocent children dying EVERY SINGLE DAY by vehicles.

There is no way any half decent human would invest this much time into arguing a point, when the chances are 0.00004% you will be killed by a dog.

There is no doubt that you are trolls.

I'm done.

To the 'Fur baby lovers' as we are called, I would just leave these 3 trolls, to chat between themselves..it's laughable and give your dogs a lovely cuddle from me..I'm going to bed now to give my lovely, perfect, beautiful, angelic fur babies loads of kisses, hugs and snuggles