Writing for life

Published in the WOW! supplement of the Evening Echo 07/02/2007

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On the radio the other morning a panel of “experts” were debating the issue of dangerous dogs, and the merits of banning particular breeds here in Ireland. The panellists were specifically focusing on the notorious American pit bull terrier. They also mentioned several other breeds, like the popular Staffordshire bull terrier, rottweiler and German shepherd – all of which are listed in current dangerous dog legislation, which demands that they be muzzled and kept on a short leash when out in public.

As a parent the thought of any dog attacking a child, regardless of breed, sends a shiver down my spine. I worry about the safety of my children… for all of a nanosecond, and then common sense kicks in. I realise that the chances of my children being savaged by a dog here in Ireland are minuscule.

It’s easy to understand why parents are concerned. With all of the publicity this issue’s been getting recently you could be forgiven for imagining packs of rabid canines roaming the Irish countryside sniffing out their next young victim.

Basically no responsible parent is going to knowingly allow their child to come into harms way (“Go and play with that nice, chained-up rottweiller Johnny,”… I don’t think so). Likewise, no responsible dog owner is going to knowingly put their dog in a situation where it’s a threat to children. Based on that premise it strikes me that the problem isn’t really with the dogs, per say, but with a minority irresponsible dog owners.

On the radio one of the panellists surmised that the problem stems from the fact that certain breeds of dog – and he used the American pit bull as his prime example – are natural born killers.

News flash: all dogs are natural born killers. They’re predators: killing machines, designed by nature for one purpose, and one purpose only. Despite a couple of thousand years of human genetic interference, that cute little puppy on the Andrex advert is still a wolf at heart. What makes it different is the way it’s brought up, and taught by people to suppress its killer instinct.

Another of the panellists had worked in the USA rehabilitating problem American pit bulls. I was surprised to hear that these dogs went on to work as drug sniffer dogs in crowded airports, and even as therapy pets visiting old people’s homes.

The problem, it seems, isn’t the breed of dog… the problem is the way they are treated by people and the way they are integrated (or not) into human society. Naturally some breeds are more temperamental than others, but take any breed of dog and you’ll find good and bad behavioural examples. It mostly depends on how they’ve been treated. Some breeds get a bad press simply by attracting the wrong type of owner.

When a dog is simply an extension of the ego, rather than a family pet or a working companion, you’re asking for trouble. If a dog is neglected or mistreated it will become either a cowering wreck or a vicious lunatic. Another potential time bomb is when “Fido” is treated as “one of the family”. In a pack wolves (and by extension dogs) establish a natural hierarchy. A dog will be subservient to those above it in the pecking order, but any individual equal or lower than it is fair game. Put the dog on an equal footing with the kids in any house and you have a dangerous situation.

Dogs should be treated like… well, dogs!

Banning certain breeds won’t solve the problem. Irresponsible dog owners will simply switch to breeds that haven’t been outlawed yet. And let’s face it, they’ll go for the most powerful, potentially lethal, ego-swelling breeds available. What we need is legislation to tackle dangerous dog owners, not dangerous dogs. They’re the real threat to our children’s safety.

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