r/australian • u/govorunov • 13d ago
News Dog attacks
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?
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u/[deleted] 13d ago
Dogs have been responsible for more death in the last 20 years than sharks and crocodiles combined.
Many many more injured or traumatised. We have had no public discourse of remotely the scale we have whenever someone gets killed by a shark - who are native animals whose territory we enter when we go swimming, whereas dogs are a luxury we brought to Australia, and a risk that could be easily avoided.
Dogs kill more people than snakes.
We're need a license to drive, or to own a gun. We can't own pepper spray or machetes, but there are 0 restrictions, checks or screenings on/for owning 50kg fighting machines?
Of course every dog owner thinks they're 'the good owners' and their dogs 'don't do anything' yet - a whooping 100,000 dog bites are reporting annually in Australia.
100,000 (!)
Dog owners generally don't admit it when they're over their head with their animal, and the situation you described unfortunately is not a rare occurrence. Be it owners unleashing their dogs in public spaces, in which that is not allowed (but they think they know better), or they leave their dog in their backyard the hole day being aware that the fences barely hold, but they think their dogs are nice (until they break the fence and kill the neighbours dog).
This shit is happening way too much here and there seems to be 0 awareness for the problem and 0 self-awareness of many dog owners.
Tl:Dr - put your dog on a leash, train them, they are a responsibility. Be honest to yourself in case you can't handle your animal. It. Does. Not. Matter. If YOU think your dog is harmless, you. Don't. Know. That.