Owners warned over lethal dogs (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Owners warned over lethal dogs

10:02am Thursday 11th October 2007 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

Just days after a Bradford great-grandmother's pet Yorkshire Terrier was mauled to death by a fighting dog, JIM GREENHALF looks at the attraction of owning such lethal animals

Are deadly dogs bred or born?

The RSPCA's view seems to be that lethal dogs are bred not born.

This is what one anonymous spokesman told the Telegraph & Argus earlier this year: "The Dangerous Dogs Act goes against the RSPCA's belief that the focus should be on the deed, not the breed.

"Any dog has the potential to attack, but it is the training that should be questioned, not the type of dog. We urge owners to be responsible and keep their dog under control at all times."

Isn't this like saying that tigers are not inherently dangerous, it just depends on how well they are treated?

Put another way, how many people are attacked and either seriously mauled or killed by, say, golden retrievers, chows or spaniels?

The RSPCA spokesman goes on: "Dog owners should train their pets to be sociable, and by doing this potentially dangerous situations can be avoided.

"If dogs and children are sharing the same environment, everyone needs to be aware of the potential risk. Some dogs are wonderful with children, others might react if provoked."

Dr Colin Gill, a chartered psychologist in Bradford, said: "It's an interesting phenomenon because it probably goes right back to the Stone Age when Man hunted with dogs.

"The evidence suggests that these dogs are the poor man's Ferrari in many respects.

"It's a ready sign of status, an easy way of demonstrating one has some money because these dogs are quite expensive to buy and maintain. You're looking at £30 or £40 a week for food alone because these dogs don't eat salad sandwiches. They are wolves.

"The mentality of a dog is not the same as a human being. A dog is a wolf. Humans have what I call different mental blades to other animals, but we get anthropophomorphic in terms of a dog's drives.

"So when we see a dog is playing it seems childlike to us, whereas in fact the dog is honing its hunting skills."

Five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death by her uncle's pit bull terrier on New Year's Day. The same dog attacked the little girl's grandma too. In September last year two Rotweillers attacked and killed five-month-old Cadey-Lee Deacon.

Fifteen years after Rukhsana Khan was taken to hospital with more than 30 wounds after being attacked by a raging pit bull near her home in Manningham, she still has nightmares.

She was six years old at the time of the attack which also left her battered and bruised from being hurled about by the dog. A group of men had to use sticks and bricks to get the dog to release Rukhsana.

Terry Singh, Bradford Council's dog and animal services manager, takes the view that just as there are good people and bad people there are good dogs and bad dogs in all breeds.

"We should not be targeting any specific breed," he said. "The problem is not the dog but the dog owner who fails to keep their pet under proper control. Some dog owners believe that their dog or dogs would not act aggressively and often become complacent. This can create a false sense of security. Dogs can be faithful companions, but only if you are prepared to spend time with your dog.

"All dogs have the potential to be dangerous. Dog owners should be aware that any dog can be unpredictable and needs to be supervised at all times."

Bradford's Elizabeth Hellmich, founder of the Safe Areas For Everyone project, said: "Just how many innocent children and adults have to suffer or die because yet again the Government does not act?

"Bradford is becoming a place where dogs rule and people must beware. Criminal prosecutions are few and far between."