A Dangerous Dog mauling a child can be a shockingly common story in the British media. Yet during the recent UK election there was a new breed of dog attack victims: politicians.
Several councillors and political campaigners were injured during their door to door canvassing in the run up to the May 2010 Elections – the most serious case being that of Joe Benton.
The Labour Candidate for Bootle, a constituency in Merseyside, had the tip of his finger bitten off whilst leafleting the local area. Mr Benton was pushing a campaign leaflet through a letterbox of a house on Gonville Road, when the dog leapt against the door and severed his finger end.
‘Severed Fingertip’
The 77 year old politician is said to have ‘fallen to the ground’ where he ‘hit his head’. He was rushed to hospital where his condition stabilised but doctors were unable to save his fingertip.
The MP for Bootle, who had been in post since 1990, could not vote, or attend the final count on election day, but managed to retain his seat.
Initially, the dog was suspected to be an illegal breed, but it was later confirmed to be a legal Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Mika. The dog’s owners consider the bite to be an ‘unfortunate accident’
and that Mika ‘Just wanted to grab the leaflet with his teeth and caught Joe’s finger.’The family insist that their dog isn’t dangerous hand has never previously attacked anyone.
Joe Benton,did not report the incident to the police, and the incident is being considered an accidental injury.
Any Dog can Cause Dog Bite Injuries
The case highlights that dog attacks can happen at any time, and are not just committed by ‘illegal breeds.’ Dog bites can happen for a variety of reasons, often because of misunderstandings, or because a dog is trying to protect their owners. Loyal family pets are responsible for over 250,000 dog bites every year in the UK, and, like Mika, many dog bite injuries can happen for the most innocent of reasons.
Macks Solicitors have recovered thousands of pounds in compensation for people bitten by unrestrained and unmuzzled dogs whilst delivering letters, newspapers, leaflets and flyers.
In the last three years, five British children have died because of a frenzied dog attack. Five children who had dreams of a happy future, and assumed the dog in their house was a friend. Like many children, stroking, chasing and teasing their favourite playmate was a normal part of their daily life. They felt like heir dog looked after them and made them feel safe.
That is, until the day the dog turned.
‘He was bitten, mauled and shaken like a rag doll.’
These chilling words were uttered by the relatives of John Paul Massey, who died after a frenzied attack by his uncle’s illegal Pit-bull Terrier. The horrific wounds he received in less than 2 minutes killed him almost instantly. There was nothing his family could do to save him.
The UK Dangerous Dogs Act prohibits four types of dog to be owned in Britain. The Pit-bull is the most widely known, but just as dangerous are the Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. Despite tough legislation, in the last decade, the number of illegal dogs confiscated and killed by the government has tripled.
Dog Bite Statistics
Government figures released in 2009 show that:
• 100 victims of dog attacks are treated in UK hospitals each week – a rise of 66% in less than a decade.
• 5, 221 people needed treatment in 2009, up from 3,137 in 1999.
• 1,250 of these were children. The most common age was children under 2.
All Dogs are Dangerous Dogs
There are many more dog attacks occurring in the UK than there are animals being exterminated. The reason is simple: most dog attacks are made by legal family pets. Whilst the Dangerous Dog Act has created a lot of controversy, animal welfare charities agree on one thing, any dog can be dangerous.
Police have called dogs the guns of the 21st century. To own a firearm, you need extensive training and a specific purpose for needing one. Yet anyone can buy a dog, which is potentially as lethal. Just like gun crime, victims of dog violence are often the families who buy them for protection. It’s not just gang members on council estates; even a family’s cuddly Labrador can snap, and kill.
Experts are starting to wonder if any dog can be considered safe, especially around children. Aggression in dogs is frequently linked to their pack mentality. Allowing dogs to sit on furniture, sit in doorways and eat family food can cause them to believe they are the pack leader and lead to violent attacks. Yet in many families, ignorance about dog behaviour means that these aggressive acts are considered ‘cute’.
Just as a parent who left a loaded gun on their sofa would be considered abusive, families who cannot responsibly manage their pets should also be considered guilty of neglect. Dogs are complex animals, with a psychology very different from humans. Isn’t it time that the dangerous dog act was changed so that everyone should be given training before being allowed to own a dog.
The family of John-Paul Massey will regret their actions for the rest of their lives. Despite their reputation as man’s best friend, any dog can be a killer. Ask yourself one question. Is the dog playing with your children a risk you can afford to take?
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