Is it, dog owners or dogs that are to blame?

Depending what case that you are referring to, but it seems that the dog always gets it in the neck every time. Education is a wonderful thing they say, well why not have a “Dog Owning Licence” where potential owners learn about what ALL dogs are about, such as they bark, growl and bite quite naturally as well as hunt, fish and shoot!
When you have mastered/ passed your theory and practical you are then allowed to own a certain breed of dog. Those people that require a Guarding type breed should progress onto further education that allows the potential owner to fully grasp the responsibility for such types of breed. Then and only then can it be said that we have responsible dog ownership. I believe that prevention is better than cure and if people were made to take responsibility for the dogs’ actions then perhaps they would think twice about buying a powerful large breed dog?

I also wonder if there will be some “knee-jerk” reaction from the Government about the Dangerous Dogs Act? The Home Secretary can add any of the breeds to the existing 1991 Dangerous Dog Act without further recourse to parliament.

Existing legislation does require the owners to take responsibility, and are such that the penalties imposed if found guilty are not heavy enough (except for the dog of course!) and in the case of the two pub dogs the DDA would not apply as the act only covers “a public place”. The roof of the pub could not be considered as a place where the public may be allowed. The old 1871 act would have to be applied of which I suspect would carry a low maximum penalty. Of course you could argue that a punishment that is delivered months after the event will not have the desired deterrent?

On a personnel note, I believe that doing away with the old dog licence has had the effect of demeaning the responsibility of dog ownership and therefore need to return to some form of “dog ownership licence”; like a driving licence, and charge a proper fee for it and of course all the education that needs to go with it!
For a balanced perspective go to: Guardian

Stephen G King © 2006