Give a dog a bad name...

WHY is it that within weeks of two very highly-publicised dog attacks, Minister John Gormley has reacted by scheduling further changes to the Control of Dogs Acts, while months and even years after tireless campaigning to bring the 1911 animal protection up to date has gone virtually unheard?

The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2009 has been all but forgotten, it would seem, now the elections are behind us.

While certain breeds require better understanding and management so do many others that are not listed. Indeed, any dog has the potential to do the same, yet only when the listed breeds attack do we hear about it.

It has long been my experience that the ignorance and lack of understanding of dogs is far more often the cause of such incidents than pure aggression on the part of the animal.

There are no bad dogs, only bad people, and bad dog management and lack of responsibility is what results in innocent bystanders becoming victims, both human and canine.

Jennifer Carroll, VTA

Dunbittern

West Bantry

Co Cork