I would like to draw your attention to a social menace that has been gathering momentum unchecked in our society. I have watched, with growing unease, an increasing trend in keeping large, ferocious dogs in residential areas. Recently, an attack on a friend by a pair of Rottweilers brought the issue into sharp focus. The attack was on public land, entirely unprovoked and the victim was savaged to within an inch of his life. What followed, however, was nothing short of farcical. The dog owner was very reluctant to relinquish his dogs let alone put them down. The local authority, DHA in this case, was least interested in coming to the resident’s rescue. It ultimately came down to social pressure and the impending threat of a law suit that convinced the owner to relocate his prized dogs. The incident highlights several issues.
Dog breeds have been developed after decades and centuries of careful breeding to produce an animal fit for a particular task or purpose. Rottweilers, for instance, evolved in Germany as herding and guard dogs. They are known to be extremely intelligent but assertive dogs who require very careful handling. When these conditions are not met, the result can be similar to the one described above. Rottweilers are not the only breed becoming commonplace and may not be the worst offenders. One only has to search on the internet or speak to dog breeders to discover that several breeds which have been banned in various European and Asian countries are easily available here. One can obtain Pit Bulls, Cane Corso, Dogo Argentino, to name but a few of the breeds considered too dangerous to be kept as pets overseas. In the face of this trend, it’s important that appropriate checks are placed on the import of such animals and the prospective owners are carefully wetted beforehand.
As a dog owner myself, I am of the firm opinion that ultimately, it’s the owner and not the dog who is at fault when things go wrong. Whilst there are responsible breeders and owners, unfortunately, many of these dog breeds are falling into wrong hands. Either those of puppy farmers who are only in it for the money or novice and deluded owners who see these dogs as macho symbols that somehow enhance their masculinity.
The most sobering lesson of the tale is that had there been a child instead of my adult friend, the consequences would have been far more tragic. Surely it’s time for our authorities to either enact new legislation or begin enforcing old ones in order to protect the general public from this menace and also perhaps protect these animals by preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.
IRFAN CHEEMA
Lahore
This is very unfortunate. I live in the US, and this is happening increasingly as certain breeds gain popularity. As much as I love Pitbulls, and especially Cane Corsos (I own one) I think that there should be some legislation in place ensuring that you are qualified to train and care for one.
. Although they can be great dogs, their power and size can be a huge liability if the owner is negligent or inexperienced. Its a danger to the public, and to the dog- alot of these dogs end up harming a person or another dog and are euthanized or sent to a shelter.
. In the US, there are a lot of people who own firearms (about 88 out of every 100 Americans). A gun used by a police officer can save lives, make people feel safe and protected, and do a lot of good in a bad situation. However, that same gun in the hands of a criminal can destroy a lot of lives. Its the same with dogs.
. Having never owned a gun or fired one in my life, if I were to purchase one I would not want my first one to be a huge, powerful machine gun. It would be way too much for an inexperienced gun owner to take on. Even if I were that stupid or macho, I wouldn’t be able to legally purchase a gun of any kind without a criminal background check, and usually a waiting period.
In todays society and when it comes to dogs, people don’t seem to know or care about the responsibility that comes with ownership. People want a big tough pet and the protection that comes along with it, but don’t take the steps necessary to control all of that power.
As a Corso owner, and an advocate for the Pitbull breed, I do NOT think most of the people that own them should have ever been allowed to acquire them. And in order to own certain breeds like the Corso and Pitbulls, Dogos (In other words, dogs that are extremely powerful and dangerous if not taken care of) I think you should have to achieve a certification of some kind.
. I have a lot of experience training/owning German Shepards, Corsos, and Bully breeds. Even with all my years of reading books on techniques, attending classes, and countless hours of very intense training…these dogs can be tenacious even for me. And there is nothing stopping some 18 year old gangbanger who wants his next killing machine from going out and getting one.
. Most reputable breeders wont sell their dogs to people like this, but that doesn’t stop them from finding less scrupulous breeders. That is not ok, its not safe and it should not be allowed without proof or certification verifying that you are qualified. As much as I love these breeds, I would gladly sacrifice my time and energy acquiring whatever I needed to in order to continue raising them…and ensuring that they were not being hated, feared and put to sleep because people refuse to acknowledge their limitations or they need a fashionable accessory to accentuate their hip hop lifestyle. I could go on…but I will spare you. Great article.
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