Your front page headline last week 'Protect us from beasts' was eye-catching, and had some of us wondering if a reference was being made to savage dogs, their owners, or perhaps both!
Surely there can be no argument about the owner, or handler, of an animal being responsible for behaviour that may lead to injury, irrespective of breed.
It is somewhat bewildering to see so many dogs described in the Press recently as bellicose and threatening, being exercised by young persons who in many cases do not look to be in such good condition as the animal or animals on the lead. One would have thought that with the prospects of more unemployment looming the keeping of any pet would have to be given careful consideration.
Dogs like dobermans or rottweilers have large appetites and are more at home working with security forces. Bull terriers and pit bulls and the like are scarcely in the lap dog or fire-side category, nor are their retrievers. One questions why so many should be seen being walked in parks or along pavements as they are not the kind of dog which in past years in this country could be described as a domestic or family pet.
Whatever may be the reason for the proliferation of such specialised and aggressive breeds they must not be allowed to be engaged in illegal sports or threaten humans or other dogs on their perambulations.
Some effective means of identifying owners should be found and such breeds kept muzzled when out and about on streets or parkland.
JIM PASQUAL Estridge Close, Hounslow. :
