why don't dog lovers take their reponsibility seriously?

Question

yet another incident, this time in Ireland of a child mauled by rottweilers. All I ever see on Y/A are people going on about how great pets are, yet we continually see "pets" attacking our children and animal lovers say nothing. Do you guys think this is acceptable?

I take Tizzy's point, but I just think too many dogs are still let run free around kids and many owners ignore the muzzle law for certain breeds (in Ireland anyway)

Answer 1

Well, to start off I will return to what Remy said.. "WHY do people assume that dogs are feral beasts who will happily maul anyone?"... That seems a bit like jumping to conclusions.. nobody said that dogs will happily maul anyone.. not one person in this thread, nor is there any link to make me think it is what the owners thought..

And back to someone who said that big dogs should basically have owners screened.. (vetted I think is the term used, but that is the only thing I can think they'd mean).. It's not just the "big" dogs, or the "bully breeds" though.. ANY dog has the capability of killing someone or thing.. I remember a story about a pomeranian killing a newborn.. grandfather was on the bed with the baby, dog was at the end of the bed.. got up to get a new diaper, seconds later the baby is torn apart.. (quite literally).. and I know of a few labs that were perfectly friendly, well behaved, trained.. who turned around and bit kids.. (not doing any real damage, but enough that animal control kept an eye on them for other signs of aggression.. finding none) .. Screening who gets a dog gets tricky.. as I found out trying to get a dog from a shelter.. I did not qualify because I didn't own a house.. I've had plenty of pets, I am responsible, I had a good enough job, there was always someone at the house so the dog wasn't left alone.. but I was renting.. the dog I was going to try for was still there 5 months later.. now starting to show signs of shelter induced aggression.. So, who gets to decide who qualifies?.. Tricky..

The problem with the "mauling" cases is this.. PUBLICITY.. It's the SAME percent from EVERY dog breed attacking.. The only difference is how much damage is done.. A pit bull for example, considered more dangerous ONLY because it's bite has more strength in it.. and they don't let go. ,but as seen in the pomeranian case.. just because it is least likely to do damage, the pomeranian still CAN do it.. The only cases you see are the one's with significant damage.. you don't hear about the cocker spaniel biting a kids hand.. (hand remaining intact).. it's the same attack.. but nobody bats an eyelash... , you don't hear about the golden lab that snarls and snaps at you.. but that is also a dog attack.. Nor do you hear the stories of the dogs that were thought to be vicious, who with new owners never bit anyone again.. (I have one we got when he was 2.. 3 previous owners, he attacked kids each time.. he is now 11, and not a bite.. my nephew grew up around him, many people in the house with no problem.. all it took was understanding him)

If you only hear the extreme cases it's hard to really determine how prevalent it really is..

Answer 2

First of all, don't blame the breed, blame the upbringing. Rottweilers are no more likely to attack- being properly socialized- than any other dog. Same goes with pit bulls.

Are you that dense as to think that anybody would think children (or anybody) being attacked is acceptable?Do you know WHY dogs attack sometimes?

1. They haven't been properly socialized. They don't trust humans so they see some motion you do as a threat to them, so they attack "back."

2. They have been abused. This time they have past experiences that say human will hurt them.

3. They were provoked. Yes, it does matter that little Billy poked Fido in the eye with a stick. No, Billy didn't deserve to be mauled, but he should've been watched more closely and taught that if you pike an animal in the eye, no matter how well-tempered, he might bite. You cannot possibly blame the dog in this situation, in my opinion.

4. They're protecting _____. Whether it's you your house, his bone, whatever. This is a natural instinct. Remember- not long ago dogs were wild animals. They still have instincts.

5. They were trained by horrible owners to attack/fight.

I stand by this: Nearly every time it is not the dog's fault but some human's.

Answer 3

Most bad dogs are made by bad owners who train them to be mean. Also genetics figure into it. Breed 2 aggressive rotties(or any breed for that matter) and more than likely the pups will be aggressive. I have had 3 rotties in my life. One we bought and raised from a puppy. 2 were dumped on us and we kept them until proper homes could be found for them. They were all very sweet, loving dogs. The last one we had did show aggression toward men that he thought might harm me. He never bit anyone, but he would growl and snarl at them to warn them to stay away. People should never leave a small child and a large dog alone. Supervision needs to be provided at all times. Locally there was a small child mauled by its grandfather's pitbull. Half his face was torn away. Nothing was even done to the dog because our state has few laws to protect us against dog attacks. The grandfather obviously cared more about the dog than the child or he would have put the dog down himself. A dog that attacks a child or a human should be put down.

Answer 4

Hi, I can see your point definately but im a responsible dog owner, i have 2 staffordshire bull terriers and 4 children, 9,7,2 and 10 months. If I thought that my dogs would be a risk towards my children or other children then without a doubt, I would have to rehome them. Alot of it is how you bring the dog up. If your raise a dog as a 'baby', then thats when you get problems because the dog then sees itself higher up in the family than the children.
My dogs are both very friendly, they are walked every day, due to the stigma of staffs though, i can no longer let them off the lead.
Some (the very few) dog owners do need help!

Answer 5

A dog shouldn't bite even if it is teased... and children shouldn't be allowed to tease dogs... but there are a lot of shoulds and shouldn'ts going around... we get an enormous amount of pleasure from most of our pet dogs and some parents and owners are irresponsible.. when the parents are the same people as the owners and they are irresponsible then the danger is increased.... but then alcohol kills more people ( and probably some of the owners and parents also drink alcohol) if we start banning things it is hard to know where to stop.. but if we want to change the world the best place to start is not with others but with ourselves... can we improve ourselves and make the world a better place?

Answer 6

First I want to say that I had being around all kind of dogs my hole life (from german shepards to pekinesse dogs) and I think everyone who owns a dog along with his family, should take mandatory trained courses first. .
I know this is a generalization, and most dog owners would said that they are very responsible and their dogs are sweet angels that wouldn't attack anyone. But in my experience, the dangerous dogs aren't wild dogs, that most likely will be afraid of humans and run away from people, but those ones that have been abandoned, scape from, or neglected by their owners.
Some of these dogs will attack for no reason.
I had been bitten by a young pitt bull, in my way to adult school. Luckily it didn't hurt me for real , but it did bitte 3 other people at the school yard and the police had to came to put it down.
I didn't called or provoqued the dog, neither hurt him, at the contrary it approached me moving his tail while I was walking, and I pet it.
Then the dog started to play with my hand, bitten it softly at the begining, and then harder and harder. InstedI found a stick and try to play it along petting the dog, throwing the stick and keep walking and running at the opposited direcction.
But the dog lost it interest on the stick and started bitten me again. trying to get to my neck, then I offered it my arm to bitte and I keep running until I finally got into the school building and closed the door at the dog's face.
I feel bad for the dog, wasn't its fault.
In any case, put it to sleep didn't solved the problem because the morron that owned the dog will probably get another one and educate it just the same. Should we put owners like that to sleep too? (LOL) sorry bad joke... and sorry for my bad English too.

Answer 7

I would say most dog dog owners. any dog will attack if provoked, even a cockerspaniel - I have had rotts, shepherds and now pitbulls - and guess what, they are kind, well behaved and friendly - even taken to nursing homes for pet therapy visits - (and these are the mean viscious dogs no one wants to hear about - ha)

people just want to have things easy and do not realize how much work and training goes into having an animal.

it is not acceptable at all to have an animal that bites or is aggressive.

Answer 8

because pets are great, if they are handled correctly. As for "animal lovers" who say nothing ? No animal lover wants to see a child maimed or killed, and many dog owners are willing to see measures taken to stop this ever happening, but until the ownership of these large breed of dogs is vetted, these morons will contine to own them. I think I speak for the majority of dog owners/lovers who are appalled by these incidents. But yet again the minority spoil if for the majority - a dog can be like a loaded gun in the wrong hands

Answer 9

I have 2 boxers and its in their nature to jump and bounce!! i hate people who teach their children to hate big dogs because they are nasty!! just because they are not toy poodles! (which may i add is prob more lightly to bite than my 2!!) doesn't mean they are nasty or will jump/bite!! People need to get a grip and stop taking things out on big dogs!!
My grandfather has a Rottie and she is the most loving dog ever!!! wouldn't harm a fly or a cat!! its they way they are brought up!! These people who make their dogs nasty and make them fight are a minority!! they use big dogs as they look scarier and more powerful! it wouldn't have the same effect - a killer Shitzu! as apposed to a Killer Rottie!! you do the math!
There are lots of good dog owners who look after their dogs and make sure they are trained! If anything the people who's children have been mauled need a kick up the backside for not watching their children!! id NEVER leave my child on its own with a dog NEVER not even if it was a shitzu!! you never know!!!

Answer 10

It is not acceptable but it is the owners that it to blame not the dogs. As a owner of 2 border collies if i had any dough ts about my dogs they would not be allowed near children, you have a responsibility as a dog owner to teach your dog right from wrong. Maybe if the government brought back dog licences it would put the irresponsible people off getting one in the first place as they wouldn't want to put their hand in their pocket every year