Blame the owners, not the dogs

Re: Dangerous dog attacks child

I am writing in regards to yet another “dangerous dog” attack story.

I am a lover of all animals and find it very frustrating that we are so quick to blame the dog or the particular breed of the vicious dog.

I would like to point out that a dog isn’t born to be vicious they are taught this behaviour by their owner and the dog is the one that loses their life because of this.

Also, I would like to point out that the majority of children that are bitten by a “vicious” dog get into the animal’s face which causes this animal to get nervous and yes they bite.

Parents need to teach their children the proper way to approach a dog and the way to behave around a dog that the child may or may not know.

I have many friends that have small children and their family dogs are Rottweiler’s, Pit bulls, Staffordshire Terriers, German Shepherd’s, Mastiffs, etc.

Before we are so quick to blame the animal we need to look at many factors as to what caused the “attack.”

Am I saying that there is no such thing as an aggressive dog? No.

I am simply saying that before we take an animal’s life we need to ensure that this is the case and the dog is in fact vicious.

Janna Riegel