Campaign to enact a dog muzzle law

Matthew Grech

Oct 9th 2008, 13:11

Dear Mr John Meilak and J Micallef. I am 6 feet 4 and quite built because I train and run about 4 times a week so that makes me a killer for you..... think before you speak my friend size of a dog or human doesnt matter its the brian that controls everything thus HOW IT IS TEACHED TO REACT TO CERTIAN MOMENTS AND SCENARIOS IN LIFE.

My friend has a pitbull and you can leave him with a 1 day old baby and he wont touch him all he will do is guard him so that makes it a different storty from what you are saying, a dog has to be teached to kill and I am sure everyone knows how they teach pitbulls to kill i font have to go into certian horrific detials.

Thanks

Kristine Bonnici

Oct 7th 2008, 15:21

I have read Vanessa Bonnici's letter and the comments that various readers have written. There have been many well-publicised cases in Malta and abroad of dogs attacking children. I love dogs and have two of my own, but I am no expert on dogs and their inherent characteristics. When it comes to our children's safety, what's the point of discussion? Dog owners should humanely muzzle all their dogs when out on the street. Do we have to wait for a vicious attack to take action? Chihuahua or pit bull - frankly, I don't care. Muzzle it today.

Sharon Azzopardi

Oct 3rd 2008, 19:36

@dennis agius: We do have laws prohibiting breeding / bringing certain breeds to the islands. However, this goes unheeded by irresponsible dog owners who owe laws due obedience. Unfortunately, the root of the problem lies with authorities and their blatant lack of enforcement of the law, especially the police.

Kenneth Cassar

Oct 3rd 2008, 19:19

@ Dennis Agius:

Malta has a Dogs Act as well. See http://www.animallaw.info/nonus/articles/armtpoole_chap1.htm

Whether its enforced...now that's another question.

vanessa bonnici

Oct 3rd 2008, 18:55

For those of you who asked, a petition was signed by thousands and it was shown to the MP i mentioned in the letter, I also took it to parliament personally....but to no avail.
Incidentally if anyone would like to know, once we went to court, neither I nor the other witnesses who took the time to come and testify were even called into the courtroom.. And as for the owner of the dog, well he was fined LM20.00 (what a shocker!) and literally laughed at us outside the courtroom, his actual words were "nice dog!"
To those of you who think that certain dogs are inherently bad i respectfully disagree, I have lived and worked with dogs for most of my life, i've even been around fighting dogs when they were thrown out or tortured after losing a fight and the sad thing is, that just like the dog that killed Sophi, once they do the job they look at their masters for praise - simply because that's what they were trained to do. But yes certain dogs have a dangerous bite, hence my wish to have muzzling made a law.

J Micallef

Oct 3rd 2008, 13:13

@ Bertu Cassar

I think Mr. Meilak's point is that over the centuries, Man has breeded dogs for specific uses, and that means that a dog has a triat to be - intelligent, or guarding, or caring, or trusitng, or to be simply cute (these are called 'toy' dogs in fact).

I've had dogs almose since a child and love to read and study about them. You will see that breeding was carried out to reduce or accentuate aggressiveness or intelligence.

Ms. Bonnici on the other hand was putting all the blame on owner training, whereas the dog's character has a part in it.

If you want to know more, see: http://www.dogbreedz.com/ and click on Breed Directory. Very useful, especially if you are considering getting yourself (or soemone else) a dog.

Bertu Cassar

Oct 3rd 2008, 11:51

@ Mr Meilak

And what exactly is your point in relation to this letter?

dennis agius

Oct 3rd 2008, 11:33

On viewing the dog's act, one should note that dogs have to be on leash while they are out in public, and the joke is that IF the owner knows his dog is dangerous he should walk him muzzled, apart from having a bag available for poowie!!!!!!! Otherwise you get fined. U.K have the Dangerous Dogs Act! Should Malta do the same? M.P.'s please take note.

John Meilak

Oct 3rd 2008, 10:42

Let me correct you Ms. Bonnici. Certain dogs are inherently more vicious and dangerous than others because they genetically programmed to be so. Okay, you can train a chihuaua to be fighter but the most it can do is to bite your little finger. A dobermann or rottweiler is designed to kill. You can see it for yourself. Stronger jaw muscles, longer fangs and powerful reflexes. There have been intensive studies about this and there is documented proof. Such dobermann are natural born fighters and this is attributed solely to their genetic makeup. Training only accentuates that trait.

l Galea

Oct 3rd 2008, 10:32

Get a petition on line so that people can sign it.
I am sure that all parents will sign as they don't want their children to be mauled by such dogs.

J Micallef

Oct 3rd 2008, 10:13

Dear Ms. Bonnici,

I totally back you up. You are right.

Dogs above a certain predetermined size should be muzlled, while ALL dogs are to be on a leash when in public.

It's been too many times I was trying to enjoy a meal by teh sea (particulalry at Tower Road) when I was interrupted by a huge dog raoming about on its own. The cheeky owner almost put the blame on me because I had food! ("It's because you have food - the dog smelled it", she told me in a rude tone!!!)