we don't believe in the death penalty for murderers, so why is it ok to kill a dog for biting

[nodeathfordogs]

why

Wasn't just responding to you MIF - whole tone of thread really.

But then I am a rabid, foaming dog-lover.

lol at this thread

One view... They don't have souls. They don't go to heaven.

Another view we don't always put them down. There's a fairly complex and very amusing, rushed through and badly worded Dangerous Dogs Act.

Xenia - 'All Dogs Go To Heaven'!
I know, I've seen the film.

(And that's 90 minutes of my life I'll never get back!)

If a dog can learn a new trick maybe they can learn not to do it again!!!! (joke)!!!

I do think that murderers get off lightly so yeh kill them too!

In the old days, (mediaeval times I'm talking) they used to put animals on trial for various crimes. And they used to give them proper lawyers and defence cases as well. And some of them got off.

Perhaps the OP is nostalgic?

lol Caligula.

Didn't they use animals in witch trials as well? I'm sure I remember reading something about a pig in the witness box.

I'm off to Google...

my dp is always going on about dogs having no souls, but you get ghost dogs don't you

this backs up Caligula's point .

I actually think the question posed by op is a very interesting one.My own ,very personal response is that dogs have no ability to reason or act other than through instinct.Humans have a soul and will be judged not by other humans ultimately,but by God.An eye for an eye doesn't actually achieve anything really does it?
I hope that doesn't cause offense,it's only my garbled [catholic!] attempt to give an opinion.

I understand where you're coming from tirnanog and - while I have no wish to slate someone else's religious beliefs - I don't believe in God or souls, so for me it carries no weight.

Also, dogs are capable of learning consequences for their actions, or 'reasoning', and choosing not to repeat those actions if the consequences are unpleasant. A lot of it is Pavlovian, but they will try and push it every now and then to test boundaries - like a toddler.

I do think that some dogs are just more prone to aggression than others - just like humans.

And some dogs are mad.