"It's OK, He won't bite"

[Stolly]

Brilliant . "Terrierists"

[DrPatrickBarry]

Generally I would be on the side of "having a rant about dogs" but I have to say it was great on the PFR run tonight with GlossopDale's Tom Skelton's collie tonight - lovely dog.

[TheHeathens]

I think the 200,000 figure is very much an estimate. For sure 6,000 or so hospital visits occur each year down to dog bites, at say a cost of £3 million to the NHS. I suspect that dogs though are a massive save to the NHS over all due to added health and well being of their owners and not forgetting companionship benefits for the elderly

And.... More likely to attack children than adults. But as long as Aunt Doris is alright, what's a few mauled kids?

I'm actually not against responsible people owning dogs but if a dog is acting towards you in a threatening way, its owner needs to sort it out and make sure it doesn't happen again. Sadly, the number of responsible owners seems to be diminishing.

edit: when I say responsible, I mean people who are able to control their dogs, not people who are otherwise 'responsible' people.

[Stolly]

Dogs are more likely to attack children largely because children are more likely to hurt or frighten dogs, whether wittingly or unwittingly. I suspect a relatively low proportion of dog biting incidents are down to aggressive uncontrolled dogs and, even then, police dogs probably do their bit to add to the statistics. Like everything now a small incidence of something (say low lifes owning pit bulls and training them to be vicious) is jumped on and blown out of all proportion. You'll be worrying about the chances of contracting ebola while running on the fells next

I blame the Daily Mail

[Fudge the Elf]

To put a degree of perspective on your completely mental view of dogs and their dangerousness, the dog population in the UK is something like 7 million whilst the human population is 64 million. So there are 9 times as many humans as dogs. Remember that figure.

The average number of human deaths each year attributable to dogs is 4 (thats just below cows with 5 and just above bees with 3) whilst humans kill give or take 800 UK residents each year (murder and manslaughter). So you are 200 times more likely to be killed by a human than a dog!

Given that there are 9 times more humans than dogs in the UK, humans though as individuals are only 22 times more dangerous than dogs!

Perhaps humans should be better controlled. eh?

And I'm not in anyway condoning dog attacks on livestock by the way. That said here again us humans win easily, slaughtering 3 million cows, 14 million sheep and lambs and 10 million pigs each year!

Stolly - you have no idea what my views on dogs are, it might be wise to objectively examine your own views before assuming what mine are.
Apart from that - enjoy your running - free from being pestered by dogs and their irresponsible owners.

[shaunaneto]

I blame the Daily Mail

I blame the dogs owners I've encountered whose dogs have been aggressive. Especially the bitey one.

[Derby Tup]

I blame the dogs owners I've encountered whose dogs have been aggressive. Especially the bitey one.

Don't blame the dogs. It's not their fault they bite people

[TheHeathens]

Dogs are more likely to attack children largely because children are more likely to hurt or frighten dogs, whether wittingly or unwittingly. I suspect a relatively low proportion of dog biting incidents are down to aggressive uncontrolled dogs and, even then, police dogs probably do their bit to add to the statistics. Like everything now a small incidence of something (say low lifes owning pit bulls and training them to be vicious) is jumped on and blown out of all proportion. You'll be worrying about the chances of contracting ebola while running on the fells next

I blame the Daily Mail

You blame who you want. I blame dog owners who bury their heads in the sand denying there is a problem because their pet is fun to run with.

Is 4 deaths a year acceptable? 200,000 attacks a year? Not in my book.

Dog owners should be licensed and held criminally responsible for assault if their dog attacks someone. Not going to stop all attacks but it will at least make people think twice about owning one when they can't really handle one.


******WARNING******* GRAPHIC IMAGE! EXAMPLE OF WHAT A CUDDLY LABRADOR CAN DO TO A CHILD.........

[Stolly]

Okay on the back of that 'rabid' posting I thinki I'll leave all you dog haters/dislikers to stew in The Heathens juices as far as this thread is concerned. Or maybe I should post a picture of a maltreated dog or something.

Anyway f*ck this

[TheHeathens]

Okay on the back of that 'rabid' posting I thinki I'll leave all you dog haters/dislikers to stew in The Heathens juices as far as this thread is concerned. Or maybe I should post a picture of a maltreated dog or something.

Irrelevant point, two completely unlinked things. Equally distressing.

Dog owners like you just need to start accepting that dogs can be dangerous before we can start doing something about it - you're part of the problem.