Nelson: Time to jail bad dog owners

Content of the article

As for the joke, “Don't worry, it never bites,” it means, “I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.”

Dogs can and do bite – it's their nature, descendants of the gray wolf – even if they're called Fluffy, wear socks when it's freezing outside and boast them like school photos of children in their owner's wallet. did it once.

Content of the article

Content of the article

Of course, hundreds of dogs tried to get a piece of me, but only two managed to sink their teeth into the meat.

So, in a world full of self-labeled experts, I'd say I'm one man when it comes to aggressive dog habits. This knowledge has been hard work for 20 years, during which time I've run enough miles in preparation for various road races to circumnavigate the globe twice. Often, when I run past someone walking a dog, the animal lunges at me.

Runners, like posties, quickly learn that they must go the distance of a fixed leash. Miscalculate like I did in these two cases, get stitched up and get ready for a week's worth of antibiotics from the nearest clinic.

The funny thing is, if you stop and ask the owner about this attack, because it is – it becomes your fault. In fact, I suspect many dog ​​lovers are writing hate mail for my future reading pleasure, as well as angry letters to the editor of the Herald demanding that I be fired. (I'm out of state, so this direction is a bit pointless.)

Content of the article

Content of the article

They argue that I startled the dog, what did I expect? The old lie that their beloved dog would never bite anyone was gone, replaced by a fiery accusation of my stupidity in running in front of an animal. Such reasoning was once common in sexual assault cases, where the victim was held partially responsible for the attack because she was dressed attractively.

However, even if the logic is twisted, they are circularly correct. Finally, when it comes to dogs, you have to be careful because it can be dangerous for your skin. And some risks are more dangerous than others. So I've never been near a pit bull or one of the mastiff-like breeds. It may seem a little cowardly to turn around and retrace your steps, but considering the damage these animals can do to the human body, such discretion is the better part of valor.

Unfortunately, we have yet another example of the brutal power of such animals with the death of an 11-year-old boy in Edmonton. The dogs involved in this tragic episode were Cane Corsos, a breed with the dubious distinction of having jaws capable of more damage than the average pit bull. (Some cities in Alberta have banned such dogs, but not here in Calgary, where the city council seems too concerned with the dangers of plastic spoons and paper bags to bother addressing the controversial issue.)

Content of the article

In any case, the answer of defenders of such breeds is always the same: there are no bad dogs, only bad owners. Considering how many times I've dodged lung rash, there must be a huge assortment of bad hosts.

But if this is indeed the case, then when one of these mastiff-type animals kills or maims some innocent victim, the owner must pay the price, and not the person who pays the penalty for breaking a simple rule. They should be charged with first degree murder or aggravated assault and sent to prison.

After all, it's never the dog's fault.

Chris Nelson is a regular columnist.

Content of the article