'It's never the dog's fault - it's stupid bloody humans who make killer dogs'
When a dog barks, or growls, or jumps, or bites, stupid bloody humans always do the same thing.
"BAD DOG!" you say, because the animal who's lived with you for 30,000 years should know better than to annoy you. People tap their pet's nose, or jerk their lead, some shove them in a crate.
And when a dog kills a human, you kill the dog. The owner gets a fine, or is banned from owning another dog for an all-too-brief period. And it happens again, and again, and again, because nobody ever tackles the root cause of dog attacks: stupid bloody humans.
The family of four-year-old Alice Stones, killed by a family bulldog-type breed, is said to be "heartbroken". The relatives of Shirley Patrick, 83, have called for the American 'bully' breed be be banned. And after dog walker Natasha Johnston, 28, was mauled by up to 8 animals in Caterham, Surrey, they were all sized and locked up - including two dachshunds and a cockerpoo.
The Mirror, which has long campaigned against dog attacks, has called for a rewrite of the Dangerous Dogs Act. The first thing that needs to be rewritten, frankly, is the name - because it's not the dog that is dangerous.
Furious chimp launches bottle at girl filming him leaving her bleeding at zooAll dogs, of all breeds, are safe if looked after well and treated with respect. Just like a car, they're capable of causing death but aren't going to do it unless they are driven badly, damaged, or broken beyond repair.
Going out with a dog that won't respond to commands, can't go off the lead, or becomes aggressive or nervous around people or other dogs is just the same as driving a car without an MoT, at high speeds, down pedestrianised streets. It's reckless, dangerous, and it's not the car's fault if it hurts someone, is it.