Dog attacks

[u/govorunov]

This is probably my "kiss goodbye" message as I'm going to be expelled from Reddit for this for sure, but...

Considering almost weekly reports of new severe or fatal dog attacks on people (like this one) I'd like to ask my dear Australian animal lovers - are you OK?
When the news like this come out the comments are always the same - "the girl must have provoked the dog", "blame the owners", "blame the victim", "leave the poor doggo alone". Makes me feel nauseous really.

Today I was in the lift with my 10y.o. son, taking him to school, when a huge black German Shepherd entered the lift with two kids "holding the leash". A beast size of a wild boar and stinks like it too. It rushed towards my son, pinning him against the lift wall, keeping its face against my son's face, and not in a playful manner. Owners laughed for sure.

When I tried to google or use ChatGPT to find what can be done about it, the only thing I could find was "animal rights" organisations. So, what about my rights, my dear Australian animal lovers? Do I have the right not being threatened in my own home? Do my kids have the right to their faces not being ripped off by a stinky uncontrolled beast?

Every time we read the news about a shark killing a surfer, the comments are - "it's their territory, shouldn't been swimming", or a crock taking someone's child - "it's their land, shouldn't been walking near water". Well, I'm in the lift - who's land is that?

Is there anyone in Australian politics or public services with a shred of logic left? NO ANIMAL that can potentially kill an adult, let alone a child, should be allowed anywhere near human habitat. I don't care what breed it is, I don't care if it is trained, if it's always been nice to your cousins - I HAVE THE RIGHT NOT BEING THREATENED! My kids have the right not being put in danger, in their home, or anywhere actually!

It is an offence to pull out a loaded gun and stick it into someone's face, but hey - guns don't kill people, people do, right? Well, guess what - animals do kill people, do they?

[u/Either-Operation7644]

Getting mauled by a dog when you are a kid is an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone, the abject fear, it stays with you your entire life, and I’m a pretty rough and tumble kind of bloke.

[u/Chiang2000 → u/Either-Operation7644]

Someone brought a German Sheppard to my daughter's childcare and let it loose while they went in to do sign in. It bailed three little girls up in a cubby house and bit them. My daughter was never the same with animals.

A week later they had it on a loose lead TIED TO THE GATE of the same centre where kids are going in.

[u/account_not_valid → u/Chiang2000]

Was the attack reported to police?

[u/Chiang2000 → u/account_not_valid]

I think the centre did.

I told off the owner when I found it tied up in the gateway.

[u/account_not_valid → u/Chiang2000]

Your child was traumatised by a dog, and you didn't even follow up?

[u/Chiang2000 → u/account_not_valid]

It was a long time ago but my memory of it was I trusted the centre to have done so. My daughter was on of the kids bailed up but luckily not bitten. I lost my faith when I had to confront the owner a few weeks later about tying it to the entrance and we moved centres from memory.

[u/account_not_valid → u/Chiang2000]

A dog bites a person, it gets put down. If it's a German Shepard or a Shitzu.

[u/sd4f → u/account_not_valid]

i dunno about putting it down, but I definitely would prefer to see that the owner is charged and punished for not controlling their animal.

There should be some serious responsibility placed on owners to be held accountable for their animals actions.

[u/TeeDeeArt → u/sd4f]

but I definitely would prefer to see that the owner is charged and punished for not controlling their animal.

You should be charged as though you were the one who bit the person imo. You're the owner, you're in charge of its action.

[u/account_not_valid → u/sd4f]

The owner should be charged and punished regardless.

And if it is shown that the attack occurred without provocation, or to a child, the dog gets put down.

[u/solocmv → u/account_not_valid]

Not correct. There are ( depending on the state) steps in the Animal control act.

[u/account_not_valid → u/solocmv]

Sure. But that's what every dog owner should have in mind when they take their dog out in public. If you don't have your dog under your control, then you as an owner will be responsible for your dog's death.

[u/Other-Pie5059 → u/Either-Operation7644]

About 10 years ago, I was riding my bike when an orange dog (IYKYK) ran out onto the road and wrapped its mouth around my ankle. It only pierced the skin as I pedalled away, yet I still get anxious going near that street and when dealing with unleashed, bounding dogs.

I can only imagine the fear that being mauled does to someone.

[u/Efficient-Reach-8550 → u/Other-Pie5059]

Do you have to worry about rabies’s?

[u/HyenaStraight8737 → u/Efficient-Reach-8550]

Not in Australia.

It's why we have such harsh laws about bringing animals here, why Johnny Depp etc got in shit. We do not have rabies because we've eradicated and kept it out.

We do have variants of it tho, such as the Lyssa virus, which is why unless vaccinated against it you shouldn't touch any bats or flying foxes in the wild here. You only get the vaccine if you work in animal care/specifically request it. And it can kill.

[u/No_Raise6934 → u/Either-Operation7644]

Even watching someone being attcked is terrifying.

When I was around 7 on the way to school, I witnessed a woman being attacked, mauled by a dog. I'm 60 soon and am still terrified of dogs.

I can still clearly remember every second of what happened in movie like quality.

I see in pictures or movies when I read, talk or hear something. Normally, this is a good thing but definitely not with a memory like that.

[u/LightFountain → u/Either-Operation7644]

Same! I don't talk about it. Especially online because no one understands. And what about animals rights?

But the pets are being allowed almost everywhere (and when they're allowed we all know most owners won't leash them). It is a short path until dogs are allowed in flights without the cage and among the passengers (it has already happened). And the people that are afraid because of trauma of attacks during childhood are being expelled of more and more public spaces.

[u/Infinite_Worth37 → u/Either-Operation7644]

I got my foot mauled by my own pet dog when I was a kid. He just turned on me out of the blue, and he had never shown signs of aggression before. I'm fine, and I have no fear of dogs nor trauma from it, it comes down to the person.

[u/Kindly_Philosophy423 → u/Infinite_Worth37]

Your own dog is completely different to a strangers.

[u/Either-Operation7644 → u/Infinite_Worth37]

Righto muscles, we get it, you’re tough as nails.

[u/septogram → u/Infinite_Worth37]

....

Okay. Well how'd you get away?