[News] Staffie attacks 5 yr old girl biting half her cheek off

[Shropshire Seagull]

When I worked on contract for the PDSA we were shown a clip similar to below [Please don't watch if animal cruelty upsets/offends]

And to think there was an adult [or someone who should know better] filming this.

 

[The Clamp]

Nearly any dog owned by anyone has the capacity to seriously hurt anyone. Even dogs that have been in a family for years can start to behave out of character as they get older. Only a fool would 100 % trust a dog around kids.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Really not the way to look at it.

My daughter started campaigning for a dog at the age of around 7 and we finally got one when she turned 11. He's not a Staffie or German Shepherd but he is a medium sized dog, a big 15kg cockapoo, thanks to being the product of a standard poodle and working cocker.

He's been hard work but we've all trained him together and she's done the work we said she needed to when we finally agreed to get one. We're now happy to leave the dog with her and her 16yo brother and for the kids to walk him too.

You have to be in control of a dog and that takes a lot of time, effort and love. But, guess what? If you do, they'll give it back.

One of my dog's best early morning walk mates is a Staffie. His owner is a local teacher and massive BHA fan and the two of them play beautifully.

Dogs that attack come from chaotic homes where the owners neither train their kids, nor the dogs. It sounds snobbish but it's an absolute fact. And probably all they need is a bit of support, some assistance with training the pooch and some parenting lessons, since they've likely been raised in chaotic homes themselves.

Yes but, mate, you're a sensible bloke....

Perhaps this is Darwin's law in action.

Given that sensible people should be allowed to own a dog without any more hassle than passing a driving test (and why can't we have that?), everything after that, like coked up teenagers muntering themselves and their passengers in their first car, this is just feckless dog owners reducing the influence of their genes by allowing their kids to be eaten.

And, of course, make the penalties for this custodial and life-ruining.

Some people see it as a badge of their honour to show how cool and in charge of their dogs they are to let them loose among their own kids, and others. That's how some people are. They should burn.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Awful what happened to this young child obviously, but should never have been left alone with a dog that big anyway, and people really need to read up on certain breeds and how to properly care for them before they take on the responsibility. Pit bulls another example of that.

We have some dreadful tosspots abound in the UK. Unarmed in the main, thankfully, but in very tenuous charge of their dogs, their children and themselves. From time to time the kid gets it. I am more concerned when it is someone else's kid, due to public 'carelessness'.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

Just Google "Staffie attack".

The sheer number of different but very similar stories of people being attacked by these dogs tells me very clearly that they're not "soppy", "gentle" or "loving".

My old Whippet has been attacked multiple times while he's been out walking or at a park.

4 different attacks, 3 different Staffies.

The other was a German Shepherd.

There's a reason why they appear in those stats far more often than other breeds and it's not just the owners.

They are far more dangerous around other creatures though than around humans which is why you'll often hear owners state they are great with people.

 

[nicko31]

It's very simple for me. I wouldn't want my kids around something that could do them damage

A 10-12 year old around miniature/toy dog ? I might be persuaded

Anything more than that ? FFS if you want children, you should be prepared to make sacrifices. Look how big the bite is of any animal you want to put around your kids, It really isn't rocket science

I'd say you can never 100% trust any dog. That said we used to have a golden retriever, just couldn't see it attacking a child, it was a total wimp...

 

[Mo Gosfield]

Dogs have become status symbols. The thick-set beast with the large square head and strong jaws. The owner wrenching on the heavy chain lead. The air of menace as they approach. The dog, bred for fighting, centuries ago, has aggression in its DNA. Its a dangerous cocktail of owners more interested in image than safety and dogs unfairly being expected to live placidly in domestic situations, amongst children, who don't know any boundaries.
Any dog historically bred and designed for fighting, has no place in our society. They should be put down and banned.

 

[The Clamp]

I'd say you can never 100% trust any dog. That said we used to have a golden retriever, just couldn't see it attacking a child, it was a total wimp...

And yet GR’s have a high incidence of recorded bites. And the breed is getting more aggressive. So as you say, you can never 100% trust any dog.

 

[Solid at the back]

Staffies are a great breed of dog. Loving, friendly, all they want is cuddles.

Calling for them to be banned is just ridiculous, any dog can turn. My friends son was bitten by a sausage dog, one of those ugly little things, just the other day. May aswell just say all dogs should be banned.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Staffies are a great breed of dog. Loving, friendly, all they want is cuddles.

Calling for them to be banned is just ridiculous, any dog can turn. My friends son was bitten by a sausage dog, one of those ugly little things, just the other day. May aswell just say all dogs should be banned.

How many kids are killed or seriously injured on our roads? Yet we protest for the removal of safe bike lanes when they inconvenience the car.

These attacks make the headlines as they are thankfully rare, all be it horrific. However, kids are harmed when left unsupervised near water, or sharp objects or stairs they can fall down, or a whole host of things if you're not on it as a parent or carer, and a dog is one of those hazards.

Like a car in the hands of an idiot texting, or speeding, a dog can injure and kill, the common denominator being the idiot.

 

[herecomesaregular]

The Kennel Club: "Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children. Often known as "the Nanny Dog".

I like staffies, they're friendly to people, often big softies. However, they were bred to fight other dogs (a fact) and I have walked many a dog who reacts aggressively to them first (rather than vv), hence I would never have one. And of course it should be common sense to not let children be unsupervised around them because as said above many times any dog can turn at any time. I have also known of two staffies who when they aged had dog dementia and were suddenly very aggressive. Not worth the risk.

Imho bring back the dog license. Too many dogs around for starters in general plus too many people have them who cannot meet their needs leaving the dog very frustrated. Many people seem to have dogs as "emotional support" due to their own personal issues and I'm not sure this is a good idea either.

 

[Peteinblack]

Not saying that all these dogs are aggressive or dangerous, or that everyone who owns one is irresponsible (as posters above have testified) but at the risk of being called a snob, these dogs especially do seem to be the dog of choice for aggressive or violent blokes and wannabe Gangstas who want to display how 'hard' they are, and intimidate the rest of us - they usually call their dog 'Tyson', 'Rocky' or 'Diesel' and insist that it loves children; wouldn't hurt a fly