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With attacks increasing at a worrying rate I call for a rapid and effective change in the law.

But first why are the attacks increasing? Hotter weather? Poorer owner control? could be a number of reasons...

I feel we need to stop looking for a 'cure' as such, and start working on prevention. Look at how many innocent babies/children have lost their lives in the past few years, it sickens me to think all of these could have been prevented.

Did you know that 1 in 5 A&E Visits by children are dog bite injurys?

The average person will get bitten by a dog once every 50 years. Now it doesnt take a genious to figure out that ages 0-16 of those 50 are vunerable...And its Rising!!! its frightening.
In London there has been a 119% rise in A&E Dog-Bite's in the last 4 years alone!

But can we blame the dogs? No, absolutely not, Dogs are not to blame for this as they are animals, as are we. No-one species is perfect BUT we MUST learn from our mistakes.

We must ban all dangerous dogs completely, and when ANY dog is in public it MUST be made to wear a Muzzle. This will hopefully stop all (at least in theory) serious attacks.

If you think this is excessive, try watching a toddler being mauled by a dog and then try to imagine that toddler is your own child, just try, and think about it. If it takes all this so save even 1 life, its worth it.

- Harry, Bristol, UK, 31/05/2010 20:44
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once again the pitbull has become the scapegoat for all dog attacks. the 4000 dog attacks were caused by ALL breeds, not just the 'dangerous' breeds.

the american temperment test society found that pitbulls have higher pass rate thean golden retrievers or collies. america's top drug sniffer is a pitbull, their also used for search & rescue, explosive detection and as therapy dogs. the pitbulls from vicks fighting ring, after being rescued only 1 of the 49 dogs was found too dangerous to rehome and was put down. all of the others were rehomed or put in rebilitation centres. 4 of them are now fully trained, fully qualified therpay dogs.

Italy and the Nertherlands have lifted their bsl because ot doesn't wrok. in the uk dog attacks are increasing and will continue to increase untill we face the fact that the dangerous dogs act has failed. then we can repeal it with another act that targets the owner responsible for the dog. micro chipping used be a legal requirment. all dog owners shoulde be licenced and all dogs that show aggression should legally have to wear a muzzle and be kept on a lead in public, before they attack someone. if someone uses a dog as a weapon or for intimidation should be banned from owning dogs for life and get the same punishment as they would get for using a gun or a knife! ALL Breed Specfic Legislation should be banned.

- Felicity Lynch, Bognor Regis, 27/02/2010 20:01
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In the last 2 years one of my dogs has been attacked by 3 King Charles Spaniels.
I fond these dogs to be very energetic and a bit toutch and go.
If you see them at a begging of a walk they can be like a coiled spring.
This I find is when they are very dangerous.
For they are giving off the wrong energy.
They jump all over the place and go into a frenzy like state.
I avoid these dogs more then Staffs or Rockys.
Smaller dogs I feel are muh more of a threat the bigger dogs.
Sometimes bigger dogs are just very clumbsy and hurt people by mistake. Like jumping up or hitting you with their paw.

- James, Milton Keynes, 19/10/2009 18:49
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My vet said the most common dog he has to put down due to biting children was the Labrador. Not all of it is the dogs fault... a dog cannot tell you it has a headache, a stomach ache... so if someone keeps pestering them ...they snap.

- Nikki, London, 19/10/2009 17:49
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I think it's time we brought back the dog license, I am a dog owner and would gladly pay up to 150.00 for one, it would then mean young silly children and gangs couldn't afford to keep the dog, the system would fund itself and eventually we'd get rid of irresponsible owners. It's a step in the right direction and we should all do our best to make this happen. Its the owners fault yet the dogs gets punished. it makes me so angry. Their is a petition going to the MP in march sign it and hopefully we'll get enough people on it to make a difference.

- Jerilee, West London, 19/10/2009 17:49
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Surely 4000 would be the total number of dog attacks?
Please lets be specific, this:
"attacked by savage dogs"
Really tells us nothing, what is a savage dog? How many of the 4000 incidents that the article mentioned involve 'dangerous dogs'? How about a breakdown of attacks per breed?

- Ben, Oxford, 19/10/2009 17:49
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Charlie and Rob from Kent: you are so stupit. I have an 11 years old amstaff, he is cute. The owners are vicious. Pit's are cute, see The American Temperament Test Society.

- K, London, 19/10/2009 17:49
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Maybe we should start to treat dogs as dogs and not as humans?-maybe to be more realistic and treat all dogs with the thought that they can all bite, all attack and all ignore the recall command, wake up they are DOGS !!
I have 2 terriers and I will openly acknowledge that I dont speak "dog",Im not able to speak on behalf of my dogs, therefore I accept the fact that I will keep them on a lead when with others especially children and strange dogs, what annoys me is the stupidity of owners who shout out " oh he/shes fine-a little bundle of soppy soft love " then the dog bounds over and gives an aggresive stance and a fight breaks out, or I feel terrorised !so owners are at fault and not doing enough background search on the breed type and picking a good breeder/pup.

- Alison, Colchester UK, 19/10/2009 17:49
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yes people train dogs to be aggressive.
and they are usually staffys.
i have a staffy and she is not agressive.
because she hasnt been trained to be.
when people say they should be muzzled at all times it affends me yes if your dog is aggressive and you know it bites then it should wear a muzzle but i no missy wont bite. so she does not need a muzzle. i would refuse to put one on her until someone proves to me she is dangerous.
missy has staffy friends.
and they love each other she even has doggy friends outside her breed.
This seems to be a big thing at the moment.
its not the dog its the owner. no dog is born aggressive or dangerous
i am 17 and i am not a yob with a dog
there are some girls who use there dogs for the wrong reasons too
but i am not a yob with a dog and my dog is not a form of protection to me i can protect myself i wouldnt expect my DOG to protect me if i was trouble i wouldnt want her too who knows what it leads to these yobs who need a animal to protect there selves cannot love there dogs and care about them if there willing for them to even get taking away or destroyd just because they cant stick up after there selves why should a dog have to do it there dogs not humans and after seeing that programme them people from it should have there dogs taken away its a crime what there doing bet nothing has been done a tv show needs to be made showing that not all staffys are dangerous innocent people could lose there staffys for bcos of these yobs!!

- Hollie, hitchin, 19/10/2009 17:49
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Labelling certain breeds 'dangerous dogs' is just asking for trouble! Last statistics I saw most dog bites were from Labradors!

Staffies are one of the most popular breeds with families for a reason, they are usually loving and loyal, and renowned for being good with children. They may LOOK like pit bulls - but they are not! I've lost count of the number of pictures of 'Pit Bulls' I've seen published that were Staffies.

Bad Owners make Bad Dogs. Whatever Breed it is.

- Kate, London, 19/10/2009 17:49
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I have known this for the last couple of years.
Its really out of control along with all street crime as there's no police presence (they're too busy pulling motorists). Go to any London park and you see gangs of youths with pit-bulls, rottweilers, staffies etc off the lead, no muzzle and if they are not biting anyone, just generally being used to intimidate.
I phoned my local anti-social hotline to be told "the dogs have rights"!
Are the authorities going to wait until there's at least 10 deaths or will they do something?
I shan't hold my breath.

- Billybob, London, 19/10/2009 17:49
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Dogs in public should be muzzled at all times. The local yobs let their dangerous designer dogs off the lead in my local park and they could attack a small child at any time. Really quite frightening.

- Charlie, London, 19/10/2009 17:49
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Dogs are unpredictable, some (like pitbulls) are known to be more aggressive although others can be trained to be more aggressive.

Dogs should be kept on a leash in public at all times and never left alone with children.

Never ever trust any dog.

- Rob, Kent, 19/10/2009 17:49
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