The Savage Truth... (Dangerous Pet Legislation Urgently Needed)

One day after Mother's day a young mother was mauled to death by dangerous dogs improperly restrained and her children left to mourn an avoidable and tragic loss all because of an irresponsible owner, the lack of any legislative controls and because we excel at playing politics with everything. Following the public outcry over the savage and brutal attack on a four year old little boy going about his business in the company of his grandmother again due to improper restraint and controls from the owners of the animals we get nothing from those with the authority to do anything to prevent these brutal attacks.

What is the message that the government is sending here?

How is it that we do not have legislation with such a substantial penalty in place as to discourage all but the most disciplined from bringing danger so close to the public and to prevent the foolhardy from taking stupid chances with ferocious animals that can maim and kill?

We have been told that a Bill was passed almost eleven years ago that needs only proclamation, but we have also been told that this same Bill is so dysfunctional in law as to make it null and of no effect on challenge. In exchange for protection and service we stand idly by as a river of innocent blood is created in the name of incompetence.

 Where is the leadership?

Dogs that can kill need to be classified and determined so as to put restrictive measures in place for ownership.

Mandatory electronic tagging so as to identify the owner should the dog escape and do damage would go a long way to ensuring that the irresponsible pay a heavy price should the worst occur.

Annual license fees paid to the TSPCA or some other body created for these purposes for all dogs deemed dangerous by size or class or both so as to fund property inspector visits that would ensure that dogs are properly cared for and the gates, fences and other systems required to prevent accidents like those above are in place. 

 Much like a loaded gun, these animals are capable of effectively killing their target, but unlike a gun they do not need to be wielded or directed to cause destruction.

All dogs can bite, but that does not mean that all dogs bite. The legislation we need is for when dogs DO bite, the owners are made to pay a fine as well as compensation so as to encourage safe handling of all dogs and other dangerous pets for that matter, and when someone is bitten on public property the victim's rights must trump the owner's rights to have dogs in the first place.

I would go so far as to suggest a degree of manslaughter be created for owners of dogs who kill so as to send a very clear message that to own any dangerous animal comes with considerable responsibilities on the part of the owner where the protection of the public is concerned, and that punitive and significant consequences exist for failure to do so. 

The time for playing politics with this issue is long gone, and this government would be seen as having failed its people in their time of need if they do not bring effective legislation to put an end to the bloodshed to the Parliament now.