Another child killed by a dog,

[Lonnie]

i'm not really sure what can be done, as long as people own dogs, it'll happen from time to time.
Just sad.

http://newsbox.msn.co.uk/article.aspx?as=adima rticle&f=uk_-_olgbtopnews&t=4023&id=4324173&d= 20070101&do=http://newsbox.msn.co.uk&i=http:// newsbox.msn.co.uk/mediaexportlive&ks=0&mc=5&ml =ma&lc=en&ae=windows-1252

[Booldawg]

The dog has been identified as a Pit Bull Terrier which have been illegal to breed from since 1991 - like you say, what can be done? As legislation stands that dog shouldnt have ever been in the possession of anyone, let alone in a family environment, knowingly with behaviour problems.

In this case you really can without any fear of incrimination, blame the owner.

[Eve]

It's so sad.

My friend got a pitbull when she was pregnant for company and it scares the life out of me seeing it around her baby boy.

A friend has offered to take it and look after it as he doesn't get the full attention he needs (walks etc...) as it is as she is a broke single mother but she won't give him up.

[Booldawg]

How are Pit Bulls so readily available? As per Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 all male Pit Bulls were to be registered and castrated. All this did was to force the Pit Bull underground, pushing up the price and becoming only available to 'those in the know' (eg. the dog fighting community). I'm baffled how they end up as family pets.

[kev100]

Pit bulls should be exterminated the reason they wont be is that the British are the stupidest people on planet earth

[wonder years]

to add to the long list of dog horror stories a few weeks ago a japanese akita attacked a teenager walking her pet jack russell, the police tryed to locate the dog and its owners, they also had to warn people in my hometown were it happened to look out for this dog, and after a few days it was discovered to belonged to the teenager it attacked who even after that sheiled the dog and did not want it distroying, it makes you wonder does,nt it

[beryllium]

All dogs bite.
I feel so sad that this gorgeous little girl has gone. Now then, my husbands parents have Springers, and guess what? our little nephew aged 18 mnths was near 1 of them. It growled and would have gone for him. Why? because it didn't like anyone going near it when it was eating. We have trained our Dobe that it will give up anything in it's mouth, including all chews and food willingly
As I say, ALL DOGS BITE. Not all down to breed alone.

[stokeace]

when will people learn?

[Lonnie]

It comes down, I think, to the two phrases in your replies, 'All Dogs Bite', and 'When will People Learn'.

The answer to the last, unfortunately, is probably never.

[lady_p_gold]

I am amazed to find that when I visit California and go walking on the beach to find driftwood, that Pit Bulls are wandering around without leads, and I soon beat a hasty retreat ..... they are amazed when I tell them that they are illegal in UK. I cannot understand why people want to own these sorts of dogs, but any dog can be dangerous I suppose, and things will never change.

[smudge]

My sentiments entirely Lonnie.

In 1968, our friend popped in for a cuppa, bringing along his Jack Russell. It was a very lively little thing, attempting to jump all over our furniture - but as our 6 week old daughter was asleep on the sofa, we insisted he put his dog in our kitchen diner.

When we went back in there just 15 minutes later, the whole floor was covered in white filing & fur! His dog had climbed up into our baby daughter's pram, pulled out a beautiful white fluffy teddy & had gnarled & ripped it into a thousand pieces!

God only knows what would have happened if we hadn't have had the good sense to have kept our daughter & his 'cute' little dog apart!!!!

Our friend who was a copper, thought the aftermath in our kitchen/diner was hilarious - needless to say, the next time he popped by, we told him we were just about to go out - he soon got the message!

So if you're out there Bob, keep a very watchful eye out for any pet dogs & Grandchildren you may have......!

[Lonnie]

Hi smudge, in answer to yours, As you say, You had the good sense to keep them apart, just the thought of what might, and probably would have happened sends shudders down my spine.

You know, i'm not scared of dogs, but i'm always wary, the only time i've been bitten, was a friends Jack Russell, as he opened the door, it ran out past me, turned its head, and took a chunk out of my lower leg, that was quite some years ago, but it taught me a lesson.

The other thing is my daughter, when I take her for walks, she sometimes makes noises like Jimmy Savile, and more than a couple of times i've had to fend of 'friendly' dogs who got startled, and went for her.

No dog is 100% safe.

[kwicky]

The practice of owning multiple number of dogs seems to be the flavour at the moment. Just think of it, the upkeep of just one dog would be enough to feed 5 African orphans.

[flip-flop]

Not so - not ALL dogs bite.

I've had numerous Labs over the years none of whom have ever bitten anybody or for that matter growled at anybody, and that includes when kids have been clambouring over them.

So the statement that all dogs bite is just simply not true.

All dogs have the potential to bite - there is a whole world of difference between the two: it comes down to the intrinsic temperament of the dog and the way the owner of the dog has raised it and trained it.

[smudge]

Flip Flop - just interested to know whether you would leave a tiny baby alone in a room with a dog, or in your case a Labrador?

Nothing personal - just interested in your reply.....

[flip-flop]

Absolutely not - because all dogs have the potential to bite: leaving a baby in the same room as a dog, any dog (including my current lab who is the daftest softest one yet) is utterly irresponsible.

My lab is extremely well trained and, as previously mentioned, just about as daft and soft as a dog can get, and I'm 99.9% recurring sure he wouldn't show his teeth in anger, but........................................................

Even so, the claim that all dogs bite is wrong - I've had labs from puppies to the grave that have never bitten.

[robotics]

Again another tragic story regarding the death of a young innocent child, I am so upset not only with the owner for allowing a banned breed to be near his niece, but also to the council for not doing something sooner, Had they not warned him twice already, WHY? Had the dog not been removed sooner? With regards to changing the laws I personally don't think any laws will help, changing a piece of legislation is all good and well but how are they going to manage it 100%. I personally think that the laws should be changed that it is compulsory to attend obedience classes and to ban the use of dogs in places where it can be dangerous to the public. We live in the 20th century man has created other means to protect there property/yourself. In some European countries, it is compulsory that anyone who wants a dog over a certain size has to take an assessment regarding their canine knowledge and also attends classes. In Germany, that's any dog over 40cm high and 20 kg body weight , so that's any dog bigger than, say, a Border Collie. If you own a large dog your handling capabilities are reassessed on a regular basis. I also think that the seller/breeder of the dog should also be responsible for making sure that the dogs they sell are going to suitable families and to make sure that home visits prior to the dog being sold to be made compulsory. Given the hysterical nature of the press and public opinion we are currently experiencing, I am extremely concerned that within ten years many different breeds will be permanently banned. It is our job as owners and trainers to educate the general public regarding dogs and not the job of the press, MP's or any other band wagon jumper regarding so called dangerous dogs. It's the owner not the dog!! I could go on and on but I'd better stop


(I know I have already posted this in animals & nature)

[robotics]

How many times have you said yes it's ok to stroke my dog he'll not bite or my dogs a big softy he's been socialised properly. How many children when your out come up to your dog and just start patting it or flapping there arms in front of its face. however if my dog was to bite in this situation whose to blame?me for having a dangerous and out of control dog or the person who doesn't know how to behave around dogs.

I agree that all dogs have the potential to bite, just like us humans who hit out in temper.....................ie.if you were stuggled up nice and warm and in a deep sleep and someone came and jumped on you ask yourself what would you do?

Never ever think that your dog will not bite or it could be your dog shot dead next.

[smudge]

Thank you robotics - voice of reason!

I rest my case - just as I did in my earlier story of when we saw our baby daughter's beautiful fluffy teddy, snatched from her 'high' pram, gnarled, torn to pieces & strewn all over our kitchen/diner floor by our friend's 'pet' Jack Russell.

God forbid - that could have been our six week old baby daughter!

[robotics]

This is my personal approach.... I don't let strangers (human or other dogs) touch my GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG or enter his critical space. I don't allow children near him. Not because my dog is not socialised but because I know absolutely nothing about these people/children/other dogs but I do know my dog. I am his pack leader and it is my job to protect him If the (human/dog) want to touch, talk to, approach my dog, I physically place myself in between my dog and the 'threat' (approaching presence) and let my dog tell me if he is happy to be in contact with whatever it is. If he is relaxed, I permit it and if not, then I don't. This is my dog who I live with and I am responsibile for his wellbeing, both physical and mental. I will not take the risk that this 'thing' will traumatise my dog and I will have to do repair work, to my dog that is not the latter.

[beryllium]

*All dogs have the potential to bite* then if your going to split hairs Flip Flop. and wasn't the french girls face ripped off by a lab? like I said, it doesn't matter what the breed is.......