This ....back in the day you needed a dog licence....now any bell whiff can own a dog.... It would be a nightmare to re-introduce but I am sure there is a way...but I expect it boils down to funding , practicallities etc.
All dogs can attack , even the chiahaus can give a nasty nip.
The owners are to blame in the main. Dogs aren't born nasty IMO.
It is undoubtedly the owner, not just the hoodies with pit bulls but those who allow the dog to take them for a walk, those dogs are not under control. I've had dogs al my life mainly from animal rescues, yes I've been bitten, both times it was my fault, I had accidentally hurt the dog and they've nipped in self defence.
My present dog was in a proper state when we took her on, she had been adopted twice but within a matter of weeks brought back because of aggression problems. When we took her on I asked many questions of the centre staff and found out that her original owners from being a pup had told them she was acting up in a family of toddlers that already had a dog and they couldn't cope. My experience told me the animal had been abused, she was actually scared of her own shadow, she'd never been petted, had no idea what affection was, on top of which she was deaf in one ear. It has taken a lot of patience, understanding and knowledge but when I take her where other dogs are she is the one always first to get her ball, she brings it back to my feet and her tail just doesn't stop wagging.
Many old folk have dogs, they quite often provide more companionship than society itself does. To ban dogs for the actions of poor owners is callous and unnecessary. Dogs should be treated like guns, if you shoot somebody it's your fault not saying it went off in my hand, if a dog attacks like the Clubmoor and St Helens incidents, destroy the animal by all means but throw away the key when locking up the owners.
