In defence of dogs

An article in The Times yesterday suggests that the British are falling out of love with dogs.   There are people who don’t like them – we know that.   If a dog attacks a human it’s front page news.   Such a pity that  dogs can’t publish newspapers – our cruelty and destruction towards them would be on every page!

There are consultations with the authorities (local councils) going on at the present time to decide on action against dogs and their owners.   Limiting the number anyone can keep or walk is one.   New dog control orders are another.   The people who are against dogs seem to be more vocal and well organised than the dog lovers.

There are a lot of dog ‘incidents’ and hospital admissions are said to be over 5,000.  They make a mess and people complain.   In past times dogs used to run about loose during the day and dog mess was something you had to watch out for.   Nobody then picked it up – we were all careful where we walked!   The rain washed it away eventually.   We valued dogs more then, they lived a more natural life and their nature was understood.   Dogs were useful to mankind, catching vermin, guarding the house, catching food, herding sheep and cattle as well as being much loved companions and family friends.

Where would mankind be without the dog?   it’s doubtful we would have progressed much from cave dwellers without their help and protection.   And it’s not just dogs who make such a mess and are so dangerous.  What about the hooligans on our streets?   The vomit from late night drinkers, the litters, the destruction of property?   Wars, pollution….. the list is endless.

The benefits of having a dog are well documented – they lower our blood pressure, get us out for exercise, stop us being depressed.   Some owners don’t look after their dogs properly and they are a nuisance.  It’s been proposed that dogs should be excluded from parks and playing fields, that police have the authority to make owners keep dogs on leads.

We don’t exclude trouble-causing teenagers from the streets even when they cause riots and millions of pounds worth of damage.   Surely we don’t want any more regulations and ‘pet police’ because some owners are less responsible.   More emphasis could be placed on help and education.   We think it’s time to stand up in defence of the dog – to whom we owe so much.