Savage man or beast? dickie it is no answer but the question has an answer some times it is both are beasts.
The dead children, elderly and just unlucky remain the victims.
Dogs are not human, they should not be toys, if they are we ignore the welfare of them and for some of us the mounting victims.
We one day must confront the real issue why do we have dogs?
Some do not have them for the reasons you or I may.
Do we all have the right to own dogs?
Do we consider the life of that dog?
Surely most of us know the thread just below this one about animals bought at Christmas is fact, some are not really wanted or understood .
How will the parents of the next victim think after the dreadful event?
Remember some will say my dog is ok and never know if it truly is , others will see their dog in the back yard for not more than a few minutes a day.
The issue is not solved by asking who is the beast.

spot on Belly,
I think it's true that many pets are merely toys to many people. the bigger the specie the bigger the risk. pets are animals ! full stop ! animals, like all other living creatures need a degree of freedom & that includes freedom from harassment, particularly children. anyone who thinks it's ok to pester a rotweiler or a sheppard or bull terrier or whatvever mongrel better have a re-think. how often do we hear the standard defensive reply (excuse) "I'd have never thought my dog would attack somebody". well, that's part of the problem, they don't think. not ahead in particular.

May 2008 be a year we would all like to have. happy new year to all on OLO.

CJ, I hope that in your role as Santa you were a little more generous than the minute of congeniality I may receive.

Belly. No mate, you don't understand my post at all. I have no party, and no pain over the Libs. loss. And I still think the waterside crack was fairly funny. And I will continue to have a dip at your side of politics and at the 'log in your eye'.

And as for my being an idiot- well, I resemble that remark!

My dog is one part foxy, one part bully, one part blue, and one part dingo. He is all heart.

And he is incredibly intelligent- runs rings around me, and quite often wags this old cur.

palimpsest

Just between you and I as -I know you have a sense of humour- but I wouldnt wish to upset belly who is fond of `foxys` in particluar.

This thread reminds me of a T shirt I saw on a guy the other day.

It read

' `Stamp out racism- Shoot All people.

Now I had best run before I have CJ after me. PS love the sound of your friend- Whats his or her name BTW?

Just wanted to say Happy New years to all.

Palimpsest it would be strange if you and I did not engage in verbal tennis now and again.
You have my sympathy about that dog, mine is half Jack Russel half mini Foxy.
I was warned it would have too much energy and brains for me.
Please do not tell her.
Fact is we do have a problem, some do not want to address, dogs are not human, well some of them.
And some of us should not be able to own dogs.
Born in the scrub I knew about the differences human and dogs a very long time ago, I get on better with dogs than most.
But the growing list of injured and dead must be addressed.
While I too wish every poster a great new year I intend to hold myself responsible for every post, and to keep a resolution or leave the forum.
I would hope the year sees an end to posting in threads just to taunt, to switching threads directions to totally change the subject, to failing to understand free speech means we have a right to disagree.
Above all we need an understanding our ideas all of us, are not right always just because that are ours.
Pat your dog for me.

Amen to that, Belly.

>>We one day must confront the real issue why do we have dogs?
Some do not have them for the reasons you or I may.
Do we all have the right to own dogs?
Do we consider the life of that dog?<<

It's a conversation we need to have.