You wouldn’t give your kids a machine gun to play with as
you prepare their dinner or hand them the keys to your car and watch as it careers
out of control down a hill.
And should a real tiger come to tea you wouldn’t leave your
toddler alone with them to pass round the buns for fear that your tot might become
part of the menu as well.
But give the potentially dangerous object you bring into the
family home a collar and name tag and that’s makes all the difference,
apparently.
With stories hitting the headlines yet again of children
being killed or maimed appallingly while left in the company of a family pet
you’d think some people would be more wary of the actions of their canine friends
but for some the danger seems to ride over their heads.
Out and about on a regular day there’s nothing that gets my
back up more than to see a small child left in charge a mutt that makes the
hound of the Baskervilles look like Beverley hills Chihuahua while the adult
looks on adoringly. Likewise, parents struggling to control something the size
of the proverbial brick outhouse at the school gates makes me wonder on what
train of thought they travel to think that this is the perfect environment for
a large carnivorous animal to be.
And please dont get me started on those who think its ok to
do away with the need for a lead in public and let their beast roam free
regardless of where they are because after all he or she is just “ a big softie
“.
All dogs no matter of how friendly or loving they can be are
still capable of turning in just a split second and it’s up to their owners to
accept that responsibility and use their common sense to prevent any kind of
tragedy.
After all, if you were little red riding hood you wouldn’t leave
the big bad wolf alone in a room with granny given his potential for unpredictable
behaviour, so why would it be any more of a safe haven for your kids and his
ancestors to be.
MEDWAY MESSENGER COLUMN 24/02/2014
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