As we learn of another tragic dog attack related fatality in the UK, it is time for us to consider why and how we can make a positive impact on the dog bite statistics. But before we do that, we need to actually establish a safe, reliable way of collating dog attack statistics in the UK, because as it stands there is a great division of opinion as to whether the data we are working with is worth the paper/pixels it’s written on.On the 4th of March 2008, K9 Magazine contributor Alison Green asked:

Are We Being Lied to About Dog Attacks

Her article contends:

What the media and Norman Lamb fail to mention in any article I have read, is that the figures do not separate dog bites from dog strikes.  I know of quite a few people who have been admitted to hospital because their dogs greeted them a little too enthusiastically or accidentally knocked into them.

They will all be logged under the same code meaning “bitten or struck by a dog” yet the two meanings are often very different and certainly don’t scream “dog attack”. Many people have been struck by dogs, many have been bitten by dogs however few have been attacked by dogs. While even one true dog attack is unacceptable the medias use of these figures to “show” an overwhelming increase in dog attacks is misleading and nothing more than scaremongering.

The media have also focused on the “rise” in certain areas but do not seem to be aware of the fact that the strategic health authority for treatment restructured at the start of 2006 which, according to Ben Bradshaw when he supplied the figures to Norman lamb as a written answer, means a direct comparison is not possible before and after 2006.

Hospital workers are also “ a bit bemused” by the figures.  It has recently been reported in one online newspaper that hospital bosses in west mids where surprised at the “findings” of an 80% increase in under 18’s being admitted due to “dog attacks”.

What is not in debate is this;

5 children will not grow up in to adults because of dogs.

That’s domestic, pet dogs.

How have we arrived at this point?

More importantly, how do we do something about it?

I have been outspoken for long enough about what I think of the current dangerous dog legislation in the UK. It is my position that our laws do not protect the public and have failed, tragically.

Unless we are prepared to accept that we need to do something different, why should we expect anything other than a procession of tragedies, rising dog attacks and more conflict between humans and dogs?

We must realise that the need for greater, wider and properly administered dog owner education is the only way we’re going to see any kind of radical change.

If we didn’t compel people to learn to drive, we’d have a nation of seriously under qualified drivers.

If we didn’t compel children to go to school, we’d have a less educated population.

Why then do we assume things will be different with dogs and dog owners?

Focusing on dog breeds has failed. In fact, it’s failed wherever it’s been attempted.

We do not yet know the circumstances that lead up to today’s fatality – but it will be a genuine surprise if we do eventually learn that the dog in question was NOT a family dog rather than a so-called ‘weapon’ dog owned by so-called ‘hoodies’ or street gangs.

I say it will be a surprise because the four previous dog attack fatalities have not fitted that pattern at all. Four children died as a result of incidents involving family dogs whilst in the care of family members in a family home. We must wait and see what the circumstances were in today’s fatality, but if the patterns of previous dog attacks are anything to go by, we shouldn’t be too surprised if it did transpire that a child has lost a life as a result of an incident with a family dog.

We simply have to get a grip of this.

Far too many people are running around focusing on the WRONG elements of canine legislation. While they do, youngsters are dying. And, make no mistake, they will continue to. We must make a change, a radical one, if we want radically different results. How many more lives need to be lost for us to realise this?

www.dogownershiptest.co.uk

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Related posts:

1. Dog Bite Statistics – Are We Being Lied to by Politicians With a Hidden ‘Dangerous Dog’ Agenda?
2. Beware: We are in the Middle of Dog Attack Season
3. Australia to Launch Online Dog Attack Register
4. No Charges Following Rottweiler Attack
5. England Ace’s Son in Dog Attack Trauma