Oct
New Killer Dog Added to Dangerous Dogs List
Lock up your children ladies and gents, for a new addition to the hallowed register of dangerous dogs is announced in the apparently dog-fearing land down under. The newly added breed was responsible for 12 attacks in July to September of 2009 and has shot its way in to the top 20 dog attack perpetrators list aka Australia’s Dog Attack Register. But what is this deadly dog, I hear you cry?
The Maltese terrier might not look like a danger dog, but apparently it is.
The Maltese has appeared on the “top 20 attacking list” on the Australian register, launched at the start of this year.
“This is obviously a surprising outcome, but nonetheless a reminder that any dog has the potential to attack, regardless of breed,” said Minister for Local Government Barbara Perry.
Added to the Maltese, the old favourite, the Labrador Retriever, reportedly involved in 20 attacks from July to September.
The register shows 823 dog attacks reported by councils in the July-September period, an increase from 774 in the previous quarter.
Seems to me any animal will attack if threatened or mistreated.
Because of their look many people tend to think this dogs are toys. I saw a few “tiny lill’ cute things” that were indeed dangerous. But not because of their breed, but because of STUPID PEOPLE. People should be banned to have pets if they don’t respect that animal. Be a big or a small dog, or cat or pig or whatever.
As teens we had a beautiful and loved collie that would attack small children unprovoked. I saw him focus on children, start growling and snarling and ‘go for them’, as did my siblings, on a number of occasions. My mother was sure that the dog was safe because he had such a lovely temperament and she never saw him go for anyone. Therefore we youngsters had to stay on guard anytime visitors with small children were in our home.
Later as a parent myself, we son owned a Tenterfield Terrier cross that would attack small children unprovoked (kids under the age of about 4). Once again, I was present when the attacks took place and the children in question had not approached the dog or mistreated it. Goodness knows what leads dogs to target children.
Denial is very unhelpful. The threat to small children can be measured in physical harm and in unnecessary fear.
We must trust dogs to be dogs. They are not little people just because we live with them and love them.
Yes there are idiots who abuse their dogs or the dogs of their neighbors, but then there are also dogs which attack for reasons we don’t understand.
It annoys me that Staffordshire bull terriers are being targeted as the top breed for dog attacks. I am the owner of a dog grooming business and know of people owning Pittbulls that register their dogs at the council as Staffords in an attempt to disguise the fact they own a Pittbull. As a Stafford is the closest “looking” breed to a pittbull this often sends the wrong messages to the public when there is a dog attack involving a Pittbull. As the owner of a dog grooming business I obviously come across a wide variety of breeds and if asked my opinion, I would state the “Maltese”, “Cocker Spaniel” and “Border Collie” as a dangerous breed. In my experience these are the dogs that have been a problem and these are the breeds I myself have been bitten by. Just because a maltese or cocker has a smaller bite than say a pittbull doesn’t make it any nicer a breed. The larger breed dogs are often targetted because of the “size” of their bite rather than the amount of bites by a certain breed. In my opinion any dog is capable of attack and the way it is raised and treated is the problem. Humans should be accountable and licences for dogs of any breed should be compulsory. Licence’s might also stop the amount of dogs dumped in pounds, and stop back yard breeders.