Dogs are a hazzard.?

Question

They bite kids, mess the pavements, dogs not on leads cause road accidents, and a load of the people who own them are just plain irresponsible!

Should we have a dog licence and prosecute people who dont get a licence with heavy fines?

I just get the impression that dogs are magnets for irresponsible owners.

I have nothing against dogs! They just seem to attract owners who are less than responsible!

Some of you who post on here are in denial. Barbera B- dogs DO bite kids, not all of the kids provoke them.

Answer 1

In most every locality they are required to be licensed. And yes a heavier fine if caught running at large without one.

We have even been known to decline applications for dogs if they actually have the charge anywhere we can find it. Its called failure to confine.

Answer 2

JohnS - Dogs are not a hazard - but some owners are.

I am a responsible dog owner - my dog is walked each day and has never bitten anyone. I don't allow her to mess the pavement and she is always on the lead when near a road.

I agree with you that many people who own dogs don't know the basic rules.

Maybe before you are allowed to have a dog you should take a test to point out the rules and if you don't pass the test you don't own a dog.

Answer 3

If you only look at the negatives, (which irepresent a small percentage of the dog community as a whole), anything and everything could be labelled a hazard.

People, trees, daylight, peanut butter....(You get the drift).

The positive aspects of dogs, which you failed to recognize and mention....they enrich and fulfill our lives as companions, they lighten our work load and in some instances such as police canines - they provide service that even the best of technology can't match. They protect us and in many cases will risk their own lives to save a human.

We don't licence people who want to have babies, there are many irresponsible parents out there too. Unfortunately, there is always a percentage of the population who is irresponsible.

The majority of dog owners ARE responsible, MOST dogs don't bite kids, MOST dog owners pick up after their dogs and keep their dogs safely confined in their houses and yards.

Answer 4

Well I'm a dog owner and none of the things you have said apply to my 2 pups.
They have never bitten anyone (kid or adult!), if they mess on the pavement or the grass i always pick it up, i never let them off their leads near a road.
I am a responsible owner and there are quite a few of us around as well as the irresponsible ones.
Since when did making people have licenses or pay fines change anything???
People still speed if they want too, people still have TVs without licences!
Anyway what do you have against dogs!??

Answer 5

Well, well.

OK I suppose we all need a curmudgeon to keep us focused.

You're absolutely right. Dogs are a lot of trouble. BUT that's because irresponsible people put them in that situation.

so let's address each of your points.

biting kids: Where are the parents and why didn't they teach their kids not to bother the dog? why aren't the parents supervising their children? Hmm? Don't blame the doggie.

Messing pavements: Where are the owners and why aren't they cleaning up after their dog? Don't blame the doggie.

Road accidents: Where are the owners and why aren't they tending to their dog? Don't blame the doggie.

Licenses? There are many places with license/vaccination requirements. Many communities also have spay/neuter requirements too. Don't blame the doggie.

Magnets for irresponsible owners? Well, yes, but they also attract responsible loving owners too - by far more than the bad apples that spoil things for everyone. And irresponsible pet owners have unspayed cats, poisonous snakes, untamed horses, vicious parrots, etc. Oh, and irresponsible pet owners are also likely as not to have bratty children, and a history of domestic violence. In fact, someone who abuses pets is prone to abuse people. Don't blame the doggie.

No, don't blame the doggie. Yes, they can be nuisances, but it's people who do that to them - not the doggie.

Answer 6

You have a point. But, that is why we train our dogs. It is only a problem when the dog is not properly trained. It would be a good idea to get a license to own a dog...But, people will still have a dog "illegally" without their license. Even if it cost us like $50 to get a dog license, there will be those that are not willing to pay for it. And how would the government (or whoever would be in charge of issuing the license and seeing who has it and who doesn't) be able to keep up with everybody who does or doesn't have one? There would be sooo many that it would take days if some kind of complaint was filed. Hmm...I just caused myself to think that it would be a waste of time to issue a license to everyone who wants to own a dog.

Answer 7

uuuuuuuuummmmmmm not all dogs bite kids,not all owners are irresponsible,so what you are saying is punish the majority of dog owners who are by making them buy a license,do you honestly think that the license will make the bad owners any different,it did not work last time,good owners bought the license bad owners did not,there was still crap on the streets,still occasional dog bites,what the government should do is give dog wardens more power,so as they can give on the spot fines,remove dogs,or maybe give out a type of Asbo on them,ie: three tickets and dogs removed from your ownership,this way only the bad owners will be held responsible,its kind of like saying up the car license costs,because of bad drivers,there will still be the numptys who do not have licenses,boy racers etc,
Wendy

Answer 8

It is not dogs that are a hazzard it is the owners, mine is only off the lead in fields never on in a public place as it is illegal and irresponsible, plus I think that irresponsible drivers cause more traffic accidents than dogs

Answer 9

Its not the dogs fault. There are a lot of idiot owners who give the rest of us a bad name.I have 3 well behaved, quiet, trained,friendly and loving dogs.Heres an idea...What if everyone had to go to dog responsibility class and it was law to wear a badge with your name and a number on it everytime you walked your dog (saying you had passed the "dog owner responsibility test" ) Then if you muck up, members of the public can take your number and report you and if you're not wearing a badge you get a heavy fine and are made to take the responsibility test again!! Oh AND you could get like points on your badge if you don't clean up after your dog and if you get more than 10 points you're made to re take classes and resit the test and if you're a repeat offender you get the badge taken of you and then you can't have a dog!!

Answer 10

Nah, dogs aren't generally a hazard, Stupid people are the hazard.
They take their dogs on the pavement and don't pick up after them. They allow their dogs out on the streets and don't keep them leashed, or safely behind a fence.They don't generally watch their own dogs to make sure they don't bother people.
It's people that are the hazard, dogs.. well in many cases are far smarter than people.

Answer 11

In some respects I agree with you.......dogs should be looked after and there should be proper consequences for people who don't look after them.

Humans are responsible for their dogs, its too easy to buy one, and people get them without realising how much is involved.

However, you do seem to be anti dog. Rather than anti irresponsible dog owner