It has been said the dogs are man’s best friend. I presume that goes for women too although somebody did once say “diamonds are a girl’s best friend”.
Whatever, it is clear that in our society today, we have much to thank dogs for. They are invaluable for those with sight and hearing difficulties. The police use them for drug searches and other intricate police work often in situations that would be unsafe to place human life at risk.
Recently I spoke with a friend who told me that to have certain dogs taken in to see patients in hospital often gives them a feel good factor and helps aid their recovery. They have a therapeutic value. And in today’s world, office staff often have a dog in residence at their work place. The dog’s presence helping to reduce stress.
Then there are the rescue St Bernard dogs working to save human lives.
However there is another side to this. When I was canvassing in the Aberdeen area recently, I was amazed at the number of households where there was a dog. Nearly one house in every three had a dog. And some had more than one. Dogs left to their own devices whilst the owners were out. Its always a challenge putting leaflets through a door when there is a barking dog which might chew your hand off.
It is worrying that the number of dog attacks in Scotland is very high, and clearly unacceptable. Admissions to hospital from dog attacks have nearly doubled. Interestingly, rates of admission to hospital were higher in urban areas and between two and three times higher in the most deprived areas. It demonstrates that the 2010 Control of Dogs act is just not fit for purpose. It has failed in the purpose for which it was created.
The fact that there is a woeful lack of resources at local authority level has meant an insufficient number of wardens being appointed to enforce the current law.
There is little data at Scottish national level and the powers ministers were given has not resulted in a database being operated.
Currently there are a number of dangerous dogs and a similar number of irresponsible owners which have resulted in many attacks on children. Regrettably, with little enforcement. However, it is not just children who are affected: over 250 postmen and women are attacked every year.
Local authorities should be compelled to use their by-law powers to create safe play areas within parks, where children can play and dogs are banned. But this has to be enforced.
Too often I see dogs roaming around parks with no leads on. Presumably this is to allow irresponsible dog owners to let their pets foul without picking it up. Believe me you can see the results of this on our beach front and on many of our main street pavements.
To be fair the majority of people walking their dogs do pick up the mess their dogs leave and I think that’s good citizenship. I was impressed by an older lady who challenged a guy, holding three dogs on a lead, one of which had fouled the pavement on Union Street. The woman stopped and she told him he was required to clean the mess. Thankfully, he did so. Well done that lady for calling him out.
Dog mess is one of those issues people get so worked up about quite rightly.
But dog attacks on children are more serious and need to be tackled. I recall seeing a child go to stroke a dog. The child’s mother said: “no, no”. But the dog owner said: “it’s OK, he’s quite friendly”. Well they were infamous last words. The child did get bitten and had to be treated in hospital.
I guess in the world of work today, where we pay others to watch our children, pay people to look after our elderly relatives, so it is natural that we also buy pets then pay others to walk them or look after them while at work.
Whole industries have arisen round this. They do a great job looking after other people’s dogs. But that could also be connected to the lack of any bond between the animal and its owner? Just as it has been said there are no bad children, only bad parenting. So it is with dogs.
I am never comfortable with dogs being around young children. Probably because I have twice been bitten by a dog as a child. Once by a collie on a farm where I used to spend my school holidays. The other occasion was by a neighbour’s badly-trained cross breed. I’ve spoken to so many people who have had similar experiences either themselves or their children.
It was because if this the 1991 legislation was brought in. However it has so many loopholes a new act was brought into force in 2010, But little has been done to monitor and implement that act.
I find it reassuring that the public audit and post-legislative committee in our Scottish Parliament have called on Holyrood to review all dog control laws immediately. The sooner this is done, the better. Then we can get back to simply enjoying our dogs and valuing the public service many of them provide in our society.
Len Ironside is a former champion wrestler who served as an Aberdeen councillor for 35 years, four years as council leader
