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that's bs I was attacked by a cocker spaniel when I was a little girl I have a baby and have owned good well tempered pitties my whole life and have never had a problem or worried about them hurting anything or one I'm sick of people saying they should be muzzled or band you should have something keep your mouth shut if anything there should be stricter laws about who can breed and own animals... I have been attacked by other breeds and lots have people have but as soon as it's a pitty it makes media get an education learn about what your talking about before you run your mouth and realize people are the reason their animals act out every dog is able to be good or bad

- bekah, vancouver, bc, 23/01/2012 23:23
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My brother and his dog were both attacked by a pitbull in Richmond Park this morning resulting in my brother having to go to hospital for emergency treatment. The owner had absolutely no control over the dog. At the very least, these dogs should have to wear muzzles when being exercised in public places. Having witnessed the shocking attack at first hand I am truly fearful of the outcome should no immediate action be taken by Councils and the Government.

- Fiona Smith, London, 09/01/2010 20:41
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Hi, My dog and I were recently both attacked by a neighbours Pitbull in an unprovoked attack in which the Pitbull jumped over a 6 foot fence to savage us. The police took 2 weeks to get a warrant and therefore the owner has given the dog away, for now. Despite having witnesses to the event to state that they saw this man's wife try to pull their dog off mine and take him back into their house the police are saying they cant prosecute because there is no evidence.
I dont know who I hate more at the moment the owner of this dog or the police for being so inept.

I am a dog lover, an RSPCA memeber and an owner of an English Bull Terrier who has the nicest and most placid nature. I do not believe that the PitBull has any place in the UK and should be banned outright as only criminals and the insane would want to own one. I hope this lady recovers well and gets more satisfaction from the police in their attempts to track down the owner.

- Fiona S, Coventry, UK, 15/11/2008 17:29
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In 2005 my father died because two dogs were being walked along a public highway off a lead. We were driving our pony and trap along the road when one of the dogs ran up to our pony's hind legs barking, which caused our pony to bolt. The trap hit a parked car and my father was thrown from the trap onto the road. Since then I have been hassling Greenwich Council to designate all public highways that dogs should be kept on leads. The Act was passed in August 2008, but Greenwich Council seem more concerned about dogs fouling. The CPS were useless.
Something needs to be done.

- Carol Thumwood-Browning, South London, 12/10/2008 17:58
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I think all dogs when in a public area, on streets in the park should always, always be on a lead regardless of how well behaved or docile the dog is. If the owners feel that their dogs are so good they can let them loose in their own homes and gardens. Also dogs should not be allowed on public transport, except for blind dogs. On buses and trains the area is enclosed and if as they say dogs can smell fear passengers are a lot more at risk with possibly no exit when the doors are shut. There is also the added risk as some people like myself are allergic to pets in close proximity. I chose not to have a pet dog for this reason so on my way to work or out shopping I should not be subjected to this. Being in close proximity has made me anxious and on a few occasions I have had no choice but to get off the bus that I was travelling on or move to a different carriage. The dog owner who was on an 86 bus which was packed had 2 children in a buggy another 2 under school age walking, and a school age child about maybe 9 years old in charge of the dog which was not on its lead and wandered back and forth around the back of the bus and near the back doors. I am not anti responsible owners but they also need to be aware of the fear especially with the incidents that have occurred that they need to stop being so inconsiderate when they take their pets out in public and perhaps these serious incidents would not be happening as often as they are.

- Dee, Essex, 09/10/2008 22:58
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I live near to the common, and although most owners are responsible there are far too many teenagers/early twenties males with vicious dogs. It does not feel safe to let my children run around on the common.

Lots of owners think it is OK to let their dog run over and sniff us all - but how are we to know which is safe ? After being attacked by a friends Rottweiler I am not a big dog fan.

The high street is worse and I often see dogs left outside Somerfield. They are not even tied up. One got so bored waiting for it's owner it just ran down the street.

There is dog poo everywhere, and the area feels out of control. The council should act to control the situation. We are just minutes away from Greenwich, but the contrast is so big you would not believe we are in the same borough.

Do something please !!

- Susan, Plumstead, UK, 07/10/2008 22:17
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Quite simply just make sure dog training is compulsory for owners and dogs. Too many people have untrained dogs that only require a basic level of training (Kennel Club Bronze for example).
Therefore, cannot be bothered to train your dog - you do not get to own one. Simple.

Most people would not recognise a Pit-Bull and always confuse these with Staffies. Personally, I do not like Staffs but recognise that they are great family dogs - so do not criminalise the wrong breed through ignorance.

- Cb, London, 07/10/2008 14:09
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Josephine you make a good point about dog licences (if you have to pay for them) being unfair to the elderly. But you could make the elderly exempt (after all, you don't see many feral pensioners roaming the streets with status dogs, we all know the age-range this would be aimed at). The hoodies probably won't buy licences, true, but if they fail to do so it will at least give the police a reason to confiscate the dogs and fine the owners.

- Lindsay, london, 07/10/2008 13:17
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There is nothing wrong with Staffs, but plenty wrong with some of the owners. i regularly walk my Labrador with some staffs and their owners are nice balanced people, however, there are others, and you can recognise them, Shell suits, baseball caps, bling (more than 50% black or mixed race) who are out of control, let alone their dogs. Neuter the owners i say

- Kerry Trubee, purley, 07/10/2008 12:31
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I like dogs. I really do.

However, some dogs are the equivalent of a weapon.
They rate somewhere between a baton and a gun. Police dogs for example. Some dogs are known to be stronger, more agressive and violent than others, and to be much more persistent when in a fight. Pitbulls especially are examples.

If people are prohibited from carrying a knife, what's wrong with requiring people to have a license for specific types of dog? The dog usually isn't the problem. The owner is. How's a dog to know what's right or wrong? They will look to their master to tell them that. In general this works out just fine, but it can be dangerous for owners who either can't control the dog, don't pay enough attention to what it's doing, or deliberately train the dog to attack people ("self-defense", or "defense of one's home").

In competent hands dogs aren't a threat to people, but in the hands of incompetent show-off owners large and strong dogs are simply dangerous. So why not introduce mandatory licenses for certain breeds and/or sizes?

- Golodh, London, UK, 07/10/2008 11:51
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Children in America are the majority of those killed and mauled by pit bulls.

- Sue, New York City, NY, 07/10/2008 11:16
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I agree wholheartedly that these particular dogs should be destroyed and the owner procecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

However I resent the common assumption that all staffs are dangerous and agressive. This is mostly a function of how they are trained.

I own a staffy crossbreed and a more gentle dog you could never hope to meet. My 2 year old neice has literaly walked up to him and stuck her finger up his nose. His reaction was to lick her hand and wag his tail.

If you see an agressive staff it is the fault of the owner not the dog. It's just unfortunate that its the dog who ends up paying the ultimate price.

- Tobin, Andover, 07/10/2008 07:59
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This is a horrifying story and it is tragic for Mary Dullea and her son Daithi. I sincerely hope they make a good recovery. When the dogs are found, they should certainly be put down, and the owner should be jailed as for an extreme, violent attack with a weapon.

Unfortunately, this sort of terrible incident brings out the dog-haters, such as the Colin White example. If their logic was followed - ie. get rid of all dogs - then we should get rid of all humans too because of the violence and evil of some humans. In fact, dogs bring a lot of happiness and value to human society - guide dogs for the blind, dogs for the disabled, mountain rescue dogs, search and rescue dogs, drugs-sniffer dogs, explosives-sniffer dogs, sheepdogs, police dogs, guard dogs, and dogs that provide companionship for millions of people, especially lonely, elderly people.

Lindsay, London, has answered Colin White's extreme comment, and I agree with all she says, except about dog licences. If licences were reintroduced at a high cost they would hit many of the elderly who love and care for their dogs, but who are already struggling to pay their way with increasing food and energy bills. Also, those owners who do not care about the danger or illegality of owning vicious dogs would not bother to buy a licence, just like maniac drivers who do not have road tax or insurance.

- Josephine, Derbyshire, UK, 07/10/2008 02:21
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When the Met police wanted to show a good arrest rate and reduced crime figures prior to the Notting Hill Carnival they stopped several gangs at South London tube stations and seized about 7 or 8 dogs that were suspected Pitbull type breeds. Funny how they can use the Dangerous Dogs Act when it suits them! Why can't this be done more routinely? it wouldn't take long for word to get around that there is no point in paying over £500 for one of these dogs as it will be seized immediately.

You have to feel sorry for the dogs though - most of them are only agressive due to bad ownership, and many are subjected to fighting and mistreatment at the hands of these young idiots. So much for "mans best friend" many teenagers seem to have about as much regard for their pets as they have for each other.

- Emma, London, 07/10/2008 00:53
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For as long as the dogfighters and breeders manipulate leaders and dog wardens, the mauling and deaths will continue.

- Connie, k, 06/10/2008 22:54
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I totally agree with Lindsay. Homes with animals in them tend to foster more effective immune systems for the people which are lucky enough to share their homes with animals (dogs included). There are only a tiny minority who want to own these dangerous dogs - target them, Colin, not the vast majority of dog owners who are decent, respectable people with lovely dogs.

- Shirley, London, 06/10/2008 22:16
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But I though pit bulls were banned due the Dangerous Dog Act, which would mean this victim would not have to prove anything -- pit bulls have already been deemed dangerous and outlawed.

- Bluemoon, Atlanta, GE, 06/10/2008 22:09
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The Government fails to address such an important issue and the police fails to acknowledge the problem. It is a no win situation for an ordinary law abiding citizen!
People who are against the idea of dangerous dog ownership should protest against it at Downing Street!
People are not allowed to keep lions, tigers or guns for a reason and same should go for dangerous dogs like pitbulls.

- Marie, London, UK, 06/10/2008 22:00
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Solution - arm park rangers and police with shotguns and the remit to destroy any dogs like these behaving dangerously. As for the owner of these particular animals, I hope the police track him down and he gets put in prison.

- C. Nichol, London, 06/10/2008 21:01
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The selfish dog owner would also have no idea of the consequences of his dog's horrendous attack - the number of concerts Mary Dullea and her husband will be forced to cancel in the short term as a result of their lives being turned upside down, and the potential long term damage to her career. Hopefully Mary will make a full recovery very soon and continue her brilliant career (yes, Nick, she is a brilliant pianist), not that the dog owner would care. Get well soon Mary.

- Sarah, London, 06/10/2008 19:25
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Around here now youths with pitbulls are in charge.
You regularly see them stroll out of shops without paying.
The shop keeper and the police and too afraid to intervene.

- Clive, London, 06/10/2008 19:05
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We do not allow people to own guns in this country even though they may be 'nice people' who would not abuse them, it's time the same law was applied to dogs.

- Paulo Uccello, London UK, 06/10/2008 17:47
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Ban pitbulls or legalize Hyenas, if a Hyena encounters a pit bull its all over for the stupid little dogs, pitbull owners need to be put behind bars for GBH when things like this happen.

- Hugh, Birmingham, UK, 06/10/2008 17:21
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Having recently started running through parklands I'm disappointed in the number of owners who think it's okay to not have their dogs on a lead. Even though we have dogs and I'm a dog lover, they're very intimidating if you don't know them. And someone saying not to worry when they're running at you is being naive at best.
My thoughts are with this poor lady and thank goodness her baby wasn't attacked. The owner should be jailed and the dogs destroyed.
Colin White's comment is neither helpful or correct.

- Marie, London, 06/10/2008 16:49
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shes my piano teacher! hope shes ok.

- Euan O'Byrne Mulligan, l, 06/10/2008 16:34
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Poor woman. The best way of getting these dogs ' to let go' is either light a cigarette ligher or match in its nose or put something ,like a stick of if needed a finger(if you are brave enough) up its backside.

- Adrian, London UK, 06/10/2008 16:29
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Reintroduce dog licences - okay it's another tax, but it would be worth having. Most bull-terriers are owned by chavs and dealers anyway - good chance for the police to do a "spot-check" on them while they are "walking" their mutts.

- David, North London, 06/10/2008 16:27
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Dog owners always insist their dogs are harmless, or "just being friendly", then they don't know quite what to say when the dog eats a baby.

- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 06/10/2008 15:48
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Eddie, 'the dogs should be put down'? What is the appropriate punishment for the wholly irresponsible owner, is surely a more effective route to deterrence of such a crime of negligence. We read far too often of these shocking attacks on innocent people by 'family pets', well, they have owners and the ultimate responsibility lies solely with them. Or do we just continue destroying dogs belonging to these people? That is achieving nothing on either side of the equation: cause is still there with the next irresponsible moron who buys two pit bulls and has them running free in a public place; and the effect on the poor victim remains incalculable. Wasn't ownership of these dogs outlawed?

- Susan Galea, zebbug, malta, 06/10/2008 15:30
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My best wishes go out to Mary. She has suffered terribly.

As a dog owner myself, I am constantly amazed at the complete lack of regulation when it comes to dogs. Owning a dog is a huge responsibility and there was a time that you actually needed a license to own a dog.

There is the technology available to make each dog & owner fully accountable. It's called a microchip. It's costs £30 to have one fitted commercially, so the actual cost must be far, far less.

In my opinion it should be mandatory for all dogs to be chipped and owners details kept on registration. I know that a chip can be cut out, therefore unchipped dogs, if scanned by police or wardens, should be taken from their owners without hesitation.

Why this is not already in place is just another example of the UK government's complete lack of common sense. New laws must be introduced to combat these dangerous dogs, now.

- Terry H, London SE15, 06/10/2008 15:28
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Colin White, scientific evidence has shown that children who grow up with dogs are less prone to asthma and allergies, and have stronger immunity. We own a lovely, gentle Golden Retriever and I challenge you to come to my home with your charge of 'unhygienic'. My children are never ill, and our pet is part of the family. Not all dog owners are hoodie psychopaths, and not all dogs are pitbulls or staffs. Any dog trained to be a killer, rather than properly trained and socialised, is as dangerous as a weapon. I believe that dog licences should be reintroduced, at a sufficiently high cost to deter all but the most committed dog owners, and that it should be illegal for anyone under the age of 25 to both own a dog, or to be out in public with a dog. Those found in breach should face hefty fines and have their dogs rehomed or, if they are of the aggressive, pseudo weapon variety, destroyed. Sorry if it sounds Draconian, but people who use their dogs to intimidate and posture need to be dealt with much more effectively, as they give the rest of us a bad name.

- Lindsay, London, 06/10/2008 14:32
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the dogs should be put down!

- Eddie, London UK, 06/10/2008 14:31
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The Dangerous Dogs Act is not worth the paper it's written on. You have to prove that the dog had a propensity to attack i.e. it has attacked before, or the owner knew, somehow, that it was going to attack. This is nigh on impossible to prove. How can you know what an animal is going to do before it does it? I was attacked by a dog in the street and the owner was found not guilty in court due to the restrictions of the Dangerous Dogs Act.

- Anon, Kent, UK, 06/10/2008 14:03
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The attacked woman's name is actually "Mary Dullea" and she is a brilliant concert pianist.
One must ask what contribution the Greenwich Council Dog Warden and the Council Enforcement Department are making to monitor, control, advise, investigate and enforce, given the large number of dangerous, threatening and uncontrollable dogs which pull their young owners around this area on stretched leads and when they run fee are regularly attacking more vulnerable pets.
Greenwich Council's response to this attack? "The Dog Warden does not have any powers to deal with this type of situation"!!

- Nick Day, London UK, 06/10/2008 13:15
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I walk my two daughters to school and nursery via a park every morning. We often see pitbulls and other scary dogs running around. My eldest daughter has become terrified of them. If one runs near us I have to pick up the older one and hold her. After reading a story like this I will find it very hard to reasure her that all they want to do is play and all they want to do is say hello.

- Withheld, South London, 06/10/2008 13:11
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We are praying for Mary and wishing her a speedy recovery!

We also very much look forward to the Plumstead/Greenwich Police finding the suspect and the dogs, and prosecuting the owner not only for failing to control his vicious and aggressive dogs, but for leaving the scene. This kind of crime is equivalent to a hit and run.

Such dogs and their owners quite simply should not be allowed. Pit bulls, pit bull crosses, staffies and other bull terrier type dogs behave this way because irresponsible owners encourage the dogs’ aggressive tendencies.

Pit bulls and any kind of dog crossed with a pit pull are ILLEGAL in the UK. Greenwich Council have failed to carry out any enforcement of the Dangerous Dog Act (1991), let alone Dog Control Orders, in the Plumstead Common area (I don’t know about the rest of the borough).

These kinds of dogs and their owners are a real threat to ordinary members of local communities, who wish to go about their lives without fear of random and brutal attacks such as this one.

There are too many young people (mostly men in their late teens/early twenties) going around with illegal, aggressive and out-of-control dogs.

What happened to Mary was absolutely appalling, and can easily happen to someone else if the Council and Police do not take this issue seriously and act immediately to curb the presence, ownership and breeding/selling of these dogs.

- Gmvp, Plumstead, 06/10/2008 12:53
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I believe legislation does exist however it is very hard to prove that a dog is of a specific breed. A dog may look like a Pit Bull, but may in fact be some kind of cross breed largely consisting of Pit Bull but mixed with other breeds and therefore falls outside exitsing legislation. For all intents and purposes dogs such as these are Pit Bulls and are bred for aggression and violence, however without absolute DNA proof, or such like of it's breed, the authorities are powerless to act.

- Mcw, London, 06/10/2008 11:42
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Not just drug dealers, dog fighter too own these dogs who lead terrible lives. Of course, the owners will not be prosecuted as it is un-pc to 'deny them their culture' and although they make money from the dogs by fighting and breeding them and using them to protect their drugs, the tax man will not pursue them either.

- Helen, norwich, 06/10/2008 11:20
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I think it is time for all dogs to be banned not only the so called dangerous dogs but all dogs in homes and flats are unhygienic

- Colin White, london, 06/10/2008 11:03
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One has to ask, why isn't there tougher policing of dangerous dogs. I see many of them here in South London, always being followed by 'young' owners with attitude...
Something the community officers can deal with surely?

- Simon Caleb, London, 06/10/2008 10:06
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I believe that a dangerous dog Act esists, but is not properly enforced.

Who needs und owns these dogs ? Mainly drug pushers ! The latter see theses "dogs" as weapons and sick "status symbols".

I feel sorry for the police (or any one else for that matter), who have to tackle these dogs and would suggest that such animals should be shot at first sight.

Their owners should then be charged under the dangerous weapons Act and acoordingly dealt with in the courts.

In the sad and sickening case above, the "owner managed to pull the dogs off Ms Duella before putting them on a leash and calmly walking away from the scene as neighbours, who heard Ms Duella's screams, came out to help her."
The owner should also be charged for the refusal to offer help and leaving the scene of this horrific incident, which is a criminal offence (similar to motorists, who leave the site of an accident).

- Weddigen, London SW, 06/10/2008 09:54
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this is real bad, i cant believe the owner just put the leash on and walked away, and the lady had a baby in a pram. how heartless !!!! i hope they find the dos owner.

- Miss P, Middlesex, 06/10/2008 09:44
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