I'm sick of dogs being blamed for attacks.

[Black_Apalachi]

This isn't a reaction to that other thread, I intended to make this when I heard about that baby on the news the other day.

Right. ANY animal (without being pedantic) can become dangerous in the wrong hands. It's nothing to do with what breed of dog it is, it's to do with the ****** who is supposed to be looking after it. It just so happens that certain breeds are favoured by that type of people which is why the majority of attacks involve said types of dogs. I can understand that at this stage, there may be no choice but to ban some breeds because it has been bred into them through organised fights etc. But in general, if you treat a dog or any animal with respect, it will do the same for you. These people don't know the first thing about dogs, what your body language means to them, how to communicate with them, how to recognise their needs, etc etc.

The government needs to somehow crack down on this sort of thing so that it doesn't punish the innocent majority. Why do you need to take a test to drive a car? Because it is a potentially fatal weapon. So is a dog. I say something like that needs to be done to monitor who is keeping what animals because there's far too much animal cruelty in this country.

As for attacks on babies, anyone who leaves a young child alone with anything that has the physical capability to harm or kill it, doesn't deserve the right to have children. End of story.

/rant.

[Tintinnabulate]

There needs to be a ban on dogs being allowed on roads without a lead.

[Jorc]

Very well said props to you.

[Tash.]

Very well said, it always angers me when things like this happen because the dog is always destroyed and really there's no saying if it had been taunted, I mean a one year old won't know any different will it..

Not to mention that all dogs get looked down on around children, and the majority are absolutely fine, but of course must be watched. It's common sense to me, so why any parent would do it is puzzling.

[danzooo]

This subject is a bit of a gray area because the same can be said for humans - if you raise a child to be a wee bugger, chances are he's gonna be an idiot when he's older, and dogs are no different.

[Misawa]

Indeed. The owners have full responsibility, not the animals

[Richie]

You really won't understand that dogs can become vicious even if they are trained properly until you experience it, its very unfair to say "That dogs vicious, that guy shouldn't be aloud a dog". Yes there is dogs that are treated badly and I understand how people can just point the finger. As I said you won't understand were I'm coming from until you've experience what I'm talking about.

[bo$$]

i was thinking about this the other day because a dog had to be put down because it mauled some boy or something and although i'm sure the dog must've been dangerous, the kids parents shouldnt've let him anywhere near a dog.. lol. not to say the child deserved it or anything, but as a parent it's your responsibility to ensure the safety of your kids. it's just like kids who get kidnapped at the mall or somewhere public, the parents say "i just left them for a second" but when it comes down to it, you shouldnt've left your kid alone at all.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Very well said, it always angers me when things like this happen because the dog is always destroyed and really there's no saying if it had been taunted, I mean a one year old won't know any different will it..

Not to mention that all dogs get looked down on around children, and the majority are absolutely fine, but of course must be watched. It's common sense to me, so why any parent would do it is puzzling.

It is quite remarkable that you are so concerned about the dog when a child has been mauled by it, remarkable indeed. On the topic itself in more detail, the dog is put down afterwards because that attack sets it into their mind that they can attack humans and in short, its a taste of blood/violence which means you cannot rely on it not to do it again.

[Blinger$]

its how they are brought up too, if they are brought up around violence surely they will be violent