Justice?

[kita1]

The two Rotties in the case have been destroyed within a short time, no trial, no inquiry. Massive publicity. Outcry against all dogs. Demands to change the law.

What will the two people arrested in the murder and stabbing of the grandparents get? If this was a break in gone wrong, where is all the publicity? Where are the demands to change the law? Where are the demands for tougher sentences?

The two cases are totally unrelated it seems.

[Booldawg]

Humans, it seems, are treated with leniency when it comes to murder. Despite being armed with the knowledge of right and wrong and rational thought we seem to get away with alot more. A terribly, terribly tragic case, the media jumps all over any dog attack story.

[LazyGun]

Nothing new there. In all cases of severe attacks by dogs, the dogs are destroyed and rightly so. There is a massive outcry, what would you expect? Its a pretty gruesome case, fortunately such cases are incredibly rare.
No demands that I have heard to change the law, but some people have commented that whilst you need to prove your competence to drive a car, no such burden of proof exists for anyone to own a dog, a point of view I would agree with.

As to the stabbing incident, what do you mean, where is the publicity? shed loads of it, from what I have seen. Since no details are currently available, not much there for people to comment on re tougher sentences etc.

[jno]

You wanted the dogs to be tried? They would probably have pleaded not guilty on grounds of insanity and refused to give evidence.

[Lonnie]

Personally, in this case, its a shame, I understand why they were put down, but I think no blame could really be attached to them, they were trained as attack dogs, the baby was left in a vunerable position, and the dogs attacked, how were they supposed to know they were doing wrong.

[flubber]

I'm sorry for the dogs. They were trained to do a job and they did it (only too well) they could not differentiate because any human encroaching on their territory they would guard or attack as trained. In this case it was a very young innocent child. The blame lies solely with the parents for letting their child near dogs trained to guard property. The dogs are destroyed through the thoughtlessness of the parents and an innocent life was lost in the process. Dogs always get the blame!

I recall a sweet tempered labrador who used to be chained near a supermarket while the owner went shopping. Two kids used to taunt it and hit it and poke it with a stick or throw stones at it until one day the sweet tempered labrador bit one of the children..........the police were called and the labrador destroyed.

Rotty's get bad publicity. I am wary of them but I still maintain that the fault was with the parents putting a young child into a risk area.

[dyli795]

Yes everyone, I'm a dog lover. But dogs is dogs and they aren't idiot proof. That's why it is high time any old idiot shuld be veted and prevented by law from having charge of what we all understand to be a dangerous animal.
Maybe then we'll see a few less neanderthals sauntering about with pit bulls etc.

[flubber]

Any animal is dangerous if it is trained to guard property. A Jack Russell can go for the throat - a bigger dog can cause damage by sheer bulk and size of teeth. Who can state legally what could be classified as a dangerous animal? I'm not in attack mode with you dyli but although I agree dangerous animals owners should be vetted I ask how the law can differentiate and list a dangerous animal and their breed.

[juddlinski]

"A JACK RUSSELL CAN GO FOR THE THROAT."

What, of a dwarf? Shut up.

[dilf]

jack russells going for the throat is perfectly natural - after all they're only human {;�)

[Booldawg]

There are alot more breeds more aggresive and prone to attack than Rotties, Pit Bulls etc. As most of these breeds are the smaller types that do less damage and are certainly less likely to kill then they don't gain media attention.

Rottweilers have natural guarding instincts, they dont need to be 'trained' to perform this role, and in the wrong hands they are lethal as has been sadly proved in this case.

Alot more legislation needs to be put through to 'vet' the type of people who own these types of dogs. Remember, the only reason they werent banned along with the Pit Bull Terrier in the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Acts is because alot of rich, land owning peers own working Rottweilers. The Pit Bull was an easy 'working class' target and of no importance to the powers that be.

[Miss Inquiry]

I am really sad that Rotties are getting really bad publicity AGAIN, the owners should be held responsible, and people who own these dogs (and many other breeds of dog) really need educating to prevent things like this happening again.

I used to have a Rottie and she was incredibly placid, HOWEVER she was trained from a puppy, and I would never say she did not have the ability to do something like this, I would have been an idiot to have ever left her with children alone. After all, it's in dogs nature to attack. If we as humans have these dogs into our homes, we should not get on our high horses when things like this happen.

I don't really know anyting about the situation these dogs found themselves in, and it's an incredibly sad story, but hopefully it will act as a warning to people all over the country to think before they let their beloved little ones climb all over the dog who would never ever bite anyone!

[admarlow]

Ha ha ''no trial, no inquiry'' lol
How would that go?

Judge- How do you plead?
Dog A - Woof?
Judge - Pardon
Dog A - Bark
Judge - Please answer the question!
Dog A - Woof!
Judge - If you do not answer the question I shall hold you in contempt of court
Dog A............er.....woof?

[4getmenot]

juddlinski, shut up yourself. A Jack russell is very capabale of going for the throat, seen as the attack was on a baby, bit smaller than a dwarf it would seem. Any dog will/can go for the throat of a young child or even adult that is invaiding their space.

[admarlow]

From personal experience, I have seen a pack of vicious Jack Russels attack people, biting their ankles and jumping at at their crotch, I would never leave a baby near a Jack Russel. Were they not ever used as gun dogs?

[NJOK]

I agree with Admarlow. I know 5 people, including me, who have been bitten by dogs recently - and in every case it was a Jack Russel. They're vicious little things.

[lankeela]

I keep reading that these were 'trained' guard dogs when I would bet this weeks lottery win on it that they had received no training whatsoever. They were probably just allowed (and even encouraged) to be aggressive to portray an image that the owners thought would prevent anyone breaking in to the pub.

If that is the case, no-one would be safe with them, let alone such a young baby. I have a ten month old Rottie bitch and although she has a wonderful temperament I would not allow her to be put in the position where she was left with a young baby or even with older children, as you never know what the children are going to do that might injure or frighten the dog.

I hope the owners of the dogs are prosecuted.

[brionon]

Weren't there Dog Licences in England at one time ?