Dangerous dogs and owners (2)

I welcome Karl Flores's comments (June 13) regarding the definition of a dangerous dog.

Mr Flores also makes a very valid point about cross-breeds. If muzzling is determined by breed, then how will cross-breeds be grouped? The suggestion to muzzle by the weight of the dog is much more sensible.

However, Mr Flores seems to feel that there is no need to muzzle smaller dogs. In my experience it is often the smaller dogs which display the most aggressive behaviours (barking, snarling and growling). It seems that these dogs will remain not only unleashed, but also free of the muzzle.

A privileged position indeed! Perhaps we should also exempt their owners from cleaning up after the dog. After all, how much waste can a tiny dog leave? I urge you to take a walk through the Sliema beach area if you need to clarify this last point.

It would appear that the law does not protect my dog from harm. If my pet is bitten by a smaller dog, the bite is unlikely to be life threatening. But it still requires treatment, which costs money. If my dog defends herself, she is labelled a killer and may be destroyed. It seems the only option is to defend the dog myself. A few swift kicks should send an unleashed dog on its way and I can always say that the dog was attacking me. If the dog retaliates, then I can claim it is a "dangerous dog". Perhaps then people will learn that a leash is an essential item, not an optional extra.

As a large-dog owner I do not mind muzzling my dog, even though it will make her look like an extra from a Hannibal the Cannibal movie.

It will mean that I can walk her along the Sliema front without drawing looks of fear and concern from passers-by who do not know that she is just a teddy bear trapped in a big body. It also means that other dogs who usually bark and snarl at my dog will also be muzzled, thus giving my dog some measure of protection.

If this law does come into being, I urge the government to use common sense. We live in a hot country. Do not allow muzzles that restrict the dog's ability to pant. A dog muzzled in this way is bound to become agitated, not to mention the fact that it will be downright cruel in our climate.

Finally, I would also like to remind the powers that be that animal lovers have been lobbying for an animal hospital for some time now. I hope that muzzling will not sweep this issue under the carpet.