‘Fur-babies’ or a public nuisance – it’s time we had a conversation about dogs
Since when did dogs take pride of place in many of our public gathering spots – and shouldn’t we be more aware of the risk, asks Madonna King
It’s time we talked about dogs.
And yes, I know this column will be unpopular with dog owners and dog breeders and dog walkers and everyone else who loves a pup.
But a dog is not a human being. And the vicious mauling of a six-year-old boy by a British bulldog this week should be the impetus for a community canine debate.
Routinely now, in cafes and coffee shops, dogs walk in and out of areas where food is handled and displayed. Often, those behind the counter will pat or play with Fido, before handing avocado on toast to another customer.
Is that healthy? And wasn’t this something, only a few years ago, that would breach every food regulation in the book?
A dog is not a human being. So why do we see them them now bundled into prams and baby carriers and taken for walks?
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Why do we see the well-heeled hounds wearing bonnets and ribbons and outfits that some families couldn’t afford for their babies?
I’m not anti-dog, and spent a childhood with a family chihuahua.
But rules and regulations and commonsense that once determined how dogs lived in communities have been turned on their head by fur-baby lobbyists, without any real discussion.
Perhaps it is fine for a dog to lick a hand, which then puts food on a communal table. But when did that advice change? And what is the current advice?
A dog is man’s best friend. That might be as true as the day is long – but is it comfortable for dogs to be holed up for hours and hours in small high-rise units while their owners are at their work places?
Perhaps. But when did that advice change? How much space does a dog need for its comfort?
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The mauling of little Teddy Bracek at a Gold Coast cafe this week brings the place of dogs in our community into sharp focus.
The six-year-old sustained significant gashes and has undergone two surgeries after patting a British bulldog, on a leash with its owner.
So where does the responsibility lie here? Should a child be stopped by their parents from patting a dog they don’t know? Should a dog owner, as some city councillors are arguing, face heavy fines over the vicious behaviour of their pets? And is it unfair to put down a dog that might have been frightened by the approach of a stranger, albeit a child?
We need to have that conversation.
Teddy Bracek isn’t the first victim. And he won’t be the last. Only last month an elderly woman was hospitalised with severe injuries after a dog attacked her outside her home, while she watered her front garden.
And just before Christmas, a five-year-old boy was mauled and killed by a bull terrier cross American bulldog while his family was house-sitting.
Should we be having a conversation about what canines can be kept in public spaces, and what dogs are better suited to less populated areas?
In Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, a total of 10 dogs have a current destruction order under review or pending an outcome of an owner’s appeal.
Should ratepayers be footing the bill for keeping them, while that process chugs along?
Lockdown saw a big increase in pet ownership, and no doubt the family hound is here to stay.
But we need to talk about what’s best for our pets, and the communities in which they live.
