Attack dogs are everywhere! I spot them all around me. Walking down the High Street I keep my eyes peeled in case one of them tries to take a bite out of my leg! They scare me. What is it with these animals? Why do people want them? For some time I’ve been wondering what on earth is going on with the numbers of these beasts paraded on the streets. Last year 5,943 victims of attacks by these dogs needed hospital treatment! And we keep reading of kids being mauled to death by these creatures.

Only a couple of weeks ago I personally witnessed one such animal sink its gnashers into a little Scottie dog while its thuggish owner stood by watching and smirking. The lady out walking her Scottie dog, who was by now hysterical, picked up her pet in an attempt to rescue it from the attack only to find that the pit bull clung on and was lifted bodily while still holding tight to the Scottie dog.  It was petrifying.  The woman was screaming and yelling in terror.  It took a group of men, who rushed out of a nearby pub, to prise the two dogs apart! 

It’s clear to me that owning such a dog is, for many people, something to do with a deep-seated psychological need to look tough. These are, afterall, the dog-of-choice for hoodies and chavs.

The Observer today confirms my suspicions.

According to the RSPCA, irresponsible behaviour involving dogs has grown so fast that it is now more of a problem than it was before the introduction of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.  Chief Inspector Jan Eachus:

It appears to be the latest hoodie accessory, Guns are illegal, knives are illegal, but to walk a dog on the street is not against the law.

What sort of society is it where these animals are bought specifically for violent purposes? The RSPCA reports:

The number of Staffordshire bull terriers is soaring amid reports that the breed is being used increasingly for street fighting and a practice known as 'lifting', in which dogs or a dog and a cat are sent down in a high-rise lift in the hope that they will savage each other while being filmed on a mobile phone.

The anti-social behaviour includes damage to trees. Keen to build their pets' muscle and jaw strength, owners encourage them to strip off bark or to hang suspended from branches.

Staffies are also being used in muggings. Of 18 reported instances in which a description of the dog used was given, 10 were of Staffordshire bull terriers.

Beyond sick!