Lhok

Thanks But that is terrible.. Does this mean it could well be open slather for bully breed in the coming years? Also if the state does declare amstaffs as pitbulls will they brutally purge them like they did with pitbulls? I'm shocked and saddened for the family of this dog and the others should the worst come to pass -- Lhok edit for spelling

So where does that leave it now? (Not able to follow the legal jargon, sorry) Could someone explain it in laymans? --Lhok

One question If BSL is ended in Australia, and some how someone (who won't treat the animal right and did make the dog aggressive towards humans and other animals) got their hands on one and the dog attacked someone or heaven help it killed someone. Isn't that only going to prove the government right? and the second time round cause them to be even more aggressive in their approach? I mean I can't help but think they will be watching and waiting for the first little thing to go wrong to bring in even tougher laws. --Lhok

But it also would have been cheaper for them to get the dog desexed before the pups ever came along

I was thinking the same thing..

Seeing how I don't have access to a Tv with reception is there anyway for me to view the program? Thanks in advance --Lhok

You can remove microchips? I never knew that, I'll be keeping a closer eye on my dog now. --Lhok

Yup that's pretty much me too. Had not heard of the movie, just saw it at Video Ezy and grabbed it. Was very glad there was noone else there watching it with me... the tears were definitely flowing throughout. ;) I really like the Japanese movie too, and compared to many if not most Hollywood remakes, the original offers an extra dimension of authenticity. None-the-less, as many people in English speaking countries seem to have an aversion to subtitles its nice to have a re-make that attempts to capture the essential elements and emotional impact of the story. I'd be interested to see the Japanese version... any idea where I might find it? I watched it by accident on sbs one night, when I was about 15 I'll try and find some more information for you I wrote down the info somewhere. Here's a bit of a montage I found of it on youtube: But the Japanese movie is called: Hachiko monogatari and was made in 1987 --Lhok

I love this story Although I liked the Japanese movie made about it a bit better then this hollywood take on the story. --Lhok

My OH read this thread over my shoulder and just rolled his eyes and told me he would still go to Dog shows with me so long as there is Internet --Lhok

I would prefer that the dogs have their handlers and team with them instead of being sent in alone. I have a lot of respect for the handlers and animals that go into areas that a lot of us would not dare to tread. Some of my father's friends are alive today because of dogs in combat zones both from Vietnam and operation desert storm. I would love to say I don't approve of animals in a war zone but unfortunately humans will always fight over something and will always drag into the conflict dogs either as attack dogs or tracking dogs like the ones that saved my father's friends. Both dogs that saved my father's friends survived and where given over to the consulate staff when the handlers had to return home. The handlers were upset to be parted with their canine companions but the military couldn't bring them back as far as I know. --Lhok

Possible name: Siegfreid Meaning:Derived from the Germanic elements sigu "victory" and frid "peace" Also Siegfried was a hero from Germanic legend. Hope he gets better --Lhok

Just wondering about this My other half and I are fostering a kitten at the moment. The kitten is a little boy between the age of 6-7 weeks and since he is so small I have been letting my dog get used to his smell and appearance for a couple of days now. However I have noticed my lab's behaviour has changed a bit, she seems to cry and carry on when the kitten is mewing ( we have him set up in the bathroom at the moment due to toilet training and him being so small we don't want to see him harmed). Also when we have the kitten out my lab goes into her crate and all the while she is crying unless the kitten is in her view, Once the kitten is back in the bathroom she races around the house trying to find him and the last couple of times we had them both out she licked the kitten. I am just wondering if this is ok behaviour as this is the first time my dog has been around a cat and my first time of trying to introduce animals to each other. --Lhok

Just wondering about this My other half and I are fostering a kitten at the moment. The kitten is a little boy between the age of 6-7 weeks and since he is so small I have been letting my dog get used to his smell and appearance for a couple of days now. However I have noticed my lab's behaviour has changed a bit, she seems to cry and carry on when the kitten is mewing ( we have him set up in the bathroom at the moment due to toilet training and him being so small we don't want to see him harmed). Also when we have the kitten out my lab goes into her crate and all the while she is crying unless the kitten is in her view, Once the kitten is back in the bathroom she races around the house trying to find him and the last couple of times we had them both out she licked the kitten. I am just wondering if this is ok behaviour as this is the first time my dog has been around a cat and my first time of trying to introduce animals to each other. --Lhok

Poor poor spike I'm lost for words to describe the lady and her actions but they certainly make me very angry --Lhok

Thanks for letting us know Ams --Lhok

I agree Lhok, but larger more powerful breeds will cause greater damage in all aspects of the attack is the point. If you did have to suffer a dog attack and could choose the breed, I would choose a Silky Terrier over a Pitbull, Rotty or GSD without question like most would if self preservation was the motive. It's a really silly argument claiming that all breeds are equal in their ability to cause the same level of physical injury to a person.........don't you think???. All I was trying to do is make the point that regardless of if the dog was a small one or a large one that a dog attack should be something that never happens. People seemed to get hung up on how much physical damage was done and don't seem to care that the fact remains that a lady was attacked by a dog. I can't believe as it appears to me that people wouldn't care as much if a small dog attacked someone. To me that doesn't sit quite right like I said before a dog bite is a dog bite and should be taken seriously. --Lhok

Ok let's put this into perspective: Say the dogs in question were silky terriers and they ran at the elderly lady and bit her, yeah maybe it would only be a "flesh wound" however what if she tried to run away and she fell? Being elderly she would more then likely be very hurt from the fall and the silky terriers would still be there and now she is lying prone to more "flesh wounds". Either case doesn't make it less traumatic for the lady or her family, regardless of wound type she would still end up at the hospital and the bite recorded as a dog attack and in both cases the dogs are let down by irresponsible owners a dog bite is a dog bite and regardless of how much damage is done should be treated seriously. As to what to do about irresponsible dog owners I sadly don't have any answers for that but I do know that allowing them to own a smaller breed won't make dog attacks any less terrible. --Lhok

Invertebrates are animals too so I would hope that you wouldn't use bug spray on insects as I would think they would find that painful what with the way they squirm and wriggle when they die they also avoid being sprayed with the stuff too. I wouldn't have an issue with these laws if they also included plants and invertebrates but the fact is that most people would consider that going too far and what is the life of a spider or bee compared to a lovely fluffy dog or in this case a wild fish? But I guess with this sort of stuff it's a matter of perspective although I have never seen anyone protesting for the liberation of silk worms or spiders that are farmed for the textile industry, I have no issues with the man that caught the fish due to the fact he caught it and ate it, it's not like he caught it and threw it back just to have a crack at it hopefully again. Hmm went off topic there a bit.. I think I should stop posting and reading forums at 1:51 am --Lhok

With a 1 minute landing time.. I don't see any fisherman who would be able to land a fish in that time I've seen Rex Hunt struggle to land fish in that time. So the only likely hood would be to ban line fishing. Then you will see the law come into play against net fishing as fish tend to stress and struggle when caught in a net. I really see these laws as a stepping stone to no hunting, farming, fishing or even pet ownership as they just find more and more ways to prevent things --Lhok

I joined after I read leo's story which I came across while doing some research for one of the many courses I have under taken in my life so far. While I have been here I have learned a great deal I probably would never in my life known about and I also have been saddened to read about human's cruelty to animals in the news section. You guys would never have known but my endless lurking on this board helped me through some of the toughest times I faced while working as a volunteer at vet clinics and animals shelters and I feel I can cope now I know I'm not the only one who feels disheartened sometimes with things in the dog world. So I guess this I just wanted to say THANKS to you all and felt this thread was a good place to do so --Lhok

Many "serious" attacks are Pitbull types on a regular basis unfortunately. I would wonder if the same severity in attack would have occurred had these owners had GSD's, Rottweilers or Silky Terriers instead???. I doubt that a pair of Silky Terriers could inflict wounds to an adult person equal in damage as an APBT could inflict???. It doesn't matter how serious the injuries were or that if it had of been silky terriers attacking the damage would have been less severe. That a dog attack happened at all is terrible, the poor lady and her family and I also am upset at the fact that the dogs were in a situation that this sort of thing could happen at all (i.e owners who failed them). And so what if they were pitbulls or amstaff? breed doesn't mean a damn thing! and as sad as this may sound it I feel that this can be used for the whole BSL wagon to bann amstaffs if more and more amstaff or so called amstaffs appear to be attacking people.. /sigh --Lhok

I too would like to know what happened to the dog --Lhok

I would like to see the swiss government put into place tougher laws on cruelty to plants and invertebrates, I mean the article said that they didn't want to be seen as only protecting "cute and fluffy" and I feel that plants and invertebrates are probably more important over all to the world then vertebrates. Plants give us oxygen and it's mostly invertebrates that pollonate the plants so we can live. Maybe when they are all so heavily legislated that they can not move or think without being fined the people will revolt and some common sense will prevail. Legal representation for a Pike indeed... --Lhok

I've recently had a similar experience to the OP, a close friend of my OH stated that they wanted a "cavoodle" because they were cute. I told them all I could about puppy farms and whatnot but they said they had done their "research" and that their puppy wouldn't be coming from a place like a puppy farm and that they had spoken to several breeders of these dogs and they sounded nice and knowledgeable about the breed. My little world has been rocked for 2 days now due to the ignorance people choose to display when it comes to dogs --Lhok