Dangerous dogs - Time to limit ownership

The adage that there is no such thing as a bad dog, only bad dog owners, is still largely true, although not as accurate as it once might have been. Recent attacks on children by large dogs underline the threat posed in what may seem the most innocuous of circumstances.

Unfortunately, too many people have become attached to breeds that have no place in a modern domestic setting. Pit bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, Rottweilers, Siberian huskies and others have all shown how lethal they can be.

We all have to pass a driving test to be allowed to drive a car. You will be vetted by the gardaí before you are granted a gun licence. Yet these dangerous animals can be bought by anyone, of any age, on a whim. It is time the greater good was served and strict limits put on the ownership, sale, and purchase of these dogs, as so many people have shown they do not understand the risk they pose and seem incapable of controlling them.