Dog Days and Puppy Love...

So once again we are confronted with the horror of an innocent civilian being viciously mauled by a pitbull, and once again there is precious little that can be done to prosecute the dog owner or compensate the victim. Mainly because the past, present and future versions of the Dangerous Dog legislation are woefully inadequate because, in trying to please all who have a dog in this fight (pun intended) it usually ends up toothless (again) and neutered to effect what it was created for.  Before the ink could dry on the letter i was writing to the Attorney General urging swift action in memory of the deaf mute child Jesse who was mauled to death at his brother's home by his brother's mixed pitbull terrier, another child, an innocent little girl walking in the public street was attacked and bitten about the body, and she too would probably be dead were it not for the heroics of a passing stranger.

Haven't we had enough as yet?

The fact that these dogs are dangerous should no longer be open for debate, and the 'if' of the conversation should give way to the 'what' and the 'where,' as in what do we do now and where do we go from here. Make no mistake, something HAS to be done before the people, fed up with a lack of protection from the authorities, start taking matters into their own hands as a sort of pre-emptive strike to protect their loved ones from these savage beasts.

The time for playing footsie with this issue is long behind us now. Dangerous dogs (and pitbulls in particular), because they present such a clear and present danger to civil society ought to be regarded in the vein of other dangerous wild animals and regulated strenuously for control. It is no good to throw the blame on recalcitrant owners when even the best of owners are one oops away from presiding over an accidental kill and this argument has to be seen for what it is, a flagrant attempt at misdirection. This is also far more than an issue of domestic pets (as some are saying) in as much as hyenas, lions and tigers would not be considered as such; any attempt to make it so should be rejected as these animals have a predisposition and ability to kill. This, more than any other reason, is why society must be protected from them at all costs.

The argument that irresponsible owners are the real cause and the blame for the maulings and deaths that have so far occurred is the reason for the demand for regulation as irresponsible owners seem to vastly outnumber those who consider themselves responsible; now the true responsibility is on the State to step in and decide if these animals are to be allowed among the citizens, in whose care and under what conditions. Too many have died needless, tragic and avoidable deaths now for this to be treated as a simple property rights issue and responsible citizens need to step up and make their voices heard on the matter.

For our guidance, Australia has just passed landmark legislation that is head and shoulders above anything that has ever been proposed here, and as they are a Commonwealth member state it offers ease of translation and wholesale adoption for our use locally.

The Australian legislation deals with (in serious detail) and contains the following:

- What Breeds are Classed as Dangerous Dogs?

- What Breeds are Classed as Restricted?

- How can I purchase a Restricted Breed?

- What exactly are RESTRICTED BREEDS

- What happens if a dog is declared to be a restricted breed?

- Desexing

- Microchip identification

- Warning signs displayed on property that houses dangerous or restricted breeds

- Housing on premises

- Restraint off premises

- Notification and Ownership Requirements

If adopted, this legislation should be amended to also include the following:

- That all dogs MUST be on leashes and be muzzled when in public. 

- Restriction and regulation of all dogs over forty pounds.

- Complete owner liability for actions of dog including murder and manslaughter charges where applicable

- Onerous and stiff fines and penalties for attacks including jail time for serious breeches.

There must be swift and decisive action on this now as we cannot afford one more innocent person to die. Our inability to deal with and treat with such a pressing matter in a sensible and mature if not timely fashion is a sign of gross negligence on our part, and until then the State must be seen as derelict in its duty and failing in its prime responsibility, that of protecting all the people of the country.