And another toddler mauled to death by a dog?

[i-need-a-martini]

2 years old and killed by a mastiff cross.

The grandmother managed to free the boy from the dogs jaws and rushed him inside. The dog followed her in and grabbed the baby right out of her arms because he wasn't finished.

By all accounts a well cared for dog with no history so we can't blame the owners here.

Why do we continue to allow these dogs to be kept in homes??

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/town-unites-behind-family-of-mauled-toddler-20130806-2rc22.html

[***super_nova***]

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90% of dog attacks on people and other dogs involve un-sterilised male dogs.

All fatal attacks on humans have been by un-sterilised males.  

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I am sorry, but that is just pro desexing propaganda.  There are countries that desexing is illegal, unless performed for a medical reason, yet these countries do not have more dog attacks than other countries where desexing is the norm.  Although, there probably would be a disproportionate number of pit bulls who are not castrated.

Also  I know a number of castrated dogs that live with entire bitches and will mate with them given the chance.

Another point is that when dogs are castrated there is no immediate noticeable impact, and as a bitch is only in season for 3 weeks, if your dog was getting worked up by her, he would have stopped once the 3 weeks was up.  It takes a while for the male hormones to decrease.  Unless the bitch has been walked on the street, where your dog would pick up the scent, or sitting by the front fence and you walk your dog by and let him sniff her, he would not have known about her season.  saying that dogs can smell a bitch in season for miles is total rubbish.  I keep several entire bitches, and with the simple precaution of not allowing them in the front yard and never walking them on the street when in season, and never have any males hanging around.  

[azureline**]

in which countries is it illegal?

[***super_nova***]

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@azureline** wrote:

in which countries is it illegal?

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It was in the Nordic countries, I am not sure if that is still the case now, but in 2004 when I used go to UK dog forum where many breeders from all over Europe used to go, it was still the case.  When I lived for a year  in Europe 20 years ago even in other European countries hardly anybody would desex their dogs, although it is becoming more common.  In France people would spay their bitches, but males were generally entire. 

And I should mention that I do know of at least one case of a baby killed by spayed female pitbull earlier this year, it happened in Prague.

[mugssy65]

I think the LAW has changed but in Denmark it's still not the done thing to sterilise a male dog. I couldn't believe it when I heard it but Danish family and friends say its true.

[azureline**]

I think unless you are an approved, registered breeder, all dogs should be sterilized........some people too.

[acacia_pycnantha]

And cats.  Compulsory sterilization for all cats. Followed by an humane eradication programme. 🙂

[***super_nova***]

In Europe people keep their dogs under control and they never had a problem with so many unplanned litters as we had here.  I have never had a castrated male, but as my dogs have never been able to wander, none of them was ever responsible for unplanned litter.  I spay bitches at about 5 or when I stop showing them.  But desexing too young is wrong, it should not be done before a dog is mature.  The hormones released by ovaries and testicles at puberty are necessary for the individual to develop correctly, one of the things the hormones do is close the growth plates.  Dogs desexed too early still do have some of these hormones released by other glands, but the process will be much slower, and the dogs will continue to grow bit longer, and their bones will not calcify correctly.  There are now many facts coming out, especially about previously unknown bone cancers in dogs that undergone juvenile sterilization.  

If people keep dogs properly confined to their property and want to put up with their bitch's seasons there should not be anybody who will dictate them to spay her and when it should be done.  Some councils now require dogs to be sterilised by the age of 3 months, and they are setting themselves up for class action by people who will blame them for their dogs' cancers and other problems.

[twinkles**stars]

Some councils now require dogs to be sterilised by the age of 3 months

Really? Which councils for I can't find any that require this?

Anyone that says a small dog can't / unlikely / doesn't do as much damage when attacking has blinkers on. Ever seen a Jack Russell savage another animal 😞 ....... they don't have a preference for anything small either.

I would trust a large dog over a small dog any day....and  yes my grandies play with my 2 dogs (border collie and lab) without me ever feeling anxious. It's the old cat that worries me:(

[***super_nova***]

In Victoria  all dogs must be registered by the time they are 3 months, and in some areas to be registered they have to be microchipped  & desexed.  The one I know definitely is Frankston, but I believe there are others.

"As of 1 September 2008, all newly registered Cats and dogs must be permanently identifiable e.g. microchipped, and desexed from the age of three months". 

http://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Animals/Cat-Dog_Registration/index.aspx

 That does not apply to people who are members of the DOGS Victoria (VCA) or the cat breeder society (what ever they are called)

[twinkles**stars]

and desexed from the age of three months".

That says from the age of 3 months not by 3 months......

I know my vet dislikes desexing any dog under 6 months.