• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Panorama

noblehead

noblehead

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
23,618
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Disrespectful people
Last night's Panorama programme made disturbing viewing for pet lovers, focusing on the growing problem of abandoned and stray dogs in the UK, mainly the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Issues regarding their image as aggressive dogs has made them impossible to re-home, and consequently leads most to be put down as a result. Cross-breeding and the desire to use these dogs for other purposes than a family pet have ultimately led to their demise and unpopularity among pet owners.

Stray and unwanted dogs has placed a terrible burden on the charities that take these dogs in, so much so that last year Battersea Dogs and Cats home had to destroy 2815 dogs, of which 1913 were perfectly healthy, and this is a common problem throughout the country where many more animals are needlessly destroyed due to overcrowding and re-homing issues.

I found the programme quite upsetting being a dog lover, more should be done to stop people breeding 'designer' dogs, and people should be made accountable for the care and well-being of unwanted animals, except of course where circumstances may prevail where this is not possible.

Rant over!

Nigel
 
Always had staffies until the last one died and haven't got the time to start over with a puppy.. They are the same as other dogs and it is the owners that are at fault not the dogs. We have loads of louts in a town near me who see the staffie as the ultimate fashion accessory and think it gives them a macho image. Their pet keeping skills are probably zero and they use them as a type of weapon. How sad is that. They probably spend more on their studded collars than anything else and also breed them to make money and sell them to like minded people.
My last staffie was brought up with three kids and was a fun loving, happy dog and was quite a character. No one was frightened of him as he was trained well.
 
I used to breed and show Italian Grey hounds. Even have a Crufts first place rosette on my study wall, though that doggie has gone to doggie heaven a few years since. I still have 3 IGs and am shocked that I regularly meet a group of people in my park walking "labradoodles". these folks paid a LOT of money, for what are actually mongrels and there's someone out ther breeding these deliberately. If someone tries to breed from a pair of these mutts, they'll be disappointed when the puppies don't "come true" and what will happen to them then? There are plenty of unscrupulous breeders of other things too. I was told by one proud woman that her dog is a "Miniature Jack Russell" there is, of course, no such breed.
All pets should be neutered. and all people wanting a dog should be encouraged to go to rescue organisations. PLUS
BRING BACK DOG LICENCES and enforce them.
Hana
 
This is what the programme was trying to get across Catherine, the morons that cross-breed dogs and train them to fight or become aggressive for their own ends, eventually they abandon these animals when they have served their purpose, and due to their nature it makes re-homing these animals impossible.

It wasn't just about one breed of dog though, abandoned dogs is a growing problem and older long-term dogs make way for new intakes, hence why they are destroyed, even the RSPCA admitted that they had to put down 700+ dogs last year. My friend has a staffie and has 4 young children aged from 3-13 years old, it is a family pet and very loving and happy dog too! :)

Nigel
 
hanadr said:
All pets should be neutered. and all people wanting a dog should be encouraged to go to rescue organisations. PLUS
BRING BACK DOG LICENCES and enforce them.
Hana
Click to expand...

I am not sure about all dogs being neutered, where would the dogs come from to fill the rescue organisations?.......breeds would be lost forever!

Yes tighter control need to be in place to stop breeders profiteering from forcing their dogs to have litter after litter, and where people offend, harsher punishments need to be handed out by the courts.

The dog licence is unworkable, last time there was more animals without a licence than with, this was discussed on the programme and most experts/politicians are of the opinion that this is not the solution.

Nigel
 
A classic example of the thugs who think staffies are something to abuse and try and make them vicious and bite people for the fun of it.

Simeon Major repeatedly booted his seven-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier to impress cackling pals.
He kicked the trembling pup into the air, then slammed it on a wall before punching its face.
Major, 19, of Luton, Beds, goaded his pet to bite a pal, but it refused.
The jobless dad of one, who admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, sobbed as the RSPCA footage was played at Luton Magistrates' Court.
He was given eight weeks detention, and a further eight for breaching a suspended sentence.
He was also banned from keeping animals for ten years.
District Judge Carolyn Mellanby called the violence "appalling".
Click to expand...

I'd have loved to have seen him booted repeatedly and punched in the face whilst being laughed at.
What is it with people getting banned from owning an animal for 10 years. People who cause such cruelty to animals should be banned for life from ever owning one. Makes my blood boil seeing things like this. :evil:
 
hanadr said:
I used to breed and show Italian Grey hounds. Even have a Crufts first place rosette on my study wall, though that doggie has gone to doggie heaven a few years since. I still have 3 IGs and am shocked that I regularly meet a group of people in my park walking "labradoodles". these folks paid a LOT of money, for what are actually mongrels and there's someone out ther breeding these deliberately. If someone tries to breed from a pair of these mutts, they'll be disappointed when the puppies don't "come true" and what will happen to them then? There are plenty of unscrupulous breeders of other things too. I was told by one proud woman that her dog is a "Miniature Jack Russell" there is, of course, no such breed.
All pets should be neutered. and all people wanting a dog should be encouraged to go to rescue organisations. PLUS
BRING BACK DOG LICENCES and enforce them.
Hana
Click to expand...
Hana, as a scientist, you will realise that the false distinction between mongerels and pedigree dogs is just that: a false distinction, created by dog breeders who are more interested in who its forebears were than in wheather the dog is healthy - look at the abominations produced as pedigree dogs I would far rather have a mongerel that is healthy (and produced to be petable by a kid with allergies) than be a pedigree cripple bred to fulfill the criteria of a dog-snob.
I have had pedigrees and mongerels in my life and the important factor is that they had been loved and well trained to behave - they all turned out as good family members.
 
Nothing wrong at all with mongrels in general and Labraddodles in particular. We occasionally look after a 5 year old 'Doodle' by name of Jed who is the most energetic, gentle giant and playful beast ever. He is often seen walking round the house/garden with a Whippet ***** hanging from his beard. On occasion Jed visits when we are also looking after another friend's 4 dogs (pedigree Maltese, Affenpinscher and, Pomeranian and a beautiful Yorkie/Pekenese cross) and he happily and gently plays along with these outgoing and boisterous miniatures.

Rather a well behaved, fit and agile Jed than some of the grotesque inbred monstrosities which frequently appear in the world of dog showing.. Only now is the Kennel Club starting to do something about the in-line breeding etc. used by breeders of pedigree dogs to overemphasise 'attributes' which are in fashion.

I might add that we have 9 dogs of our own; 7 pedigree whippets (ranging in age from 14 years to 4), a 13 year old Cavalier and a 2 year old Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund. Five of these animals were rescued. Living on a pension means that Licensing costs would make life difficult and taking in rescue dogs would become impossible.

Best ever daily exercise for Diabetics!
 
I couldn't watch that program, it was too sad. I don't know how people can breed dogs for fighting, poor dogs. I also can't bear to see them putting down dogs with nothing wrong with them, last program about aggressive dogs I saw they were putting down rescue dogs who growled at you if you tried to take their food away, seems a bit needless if that is the only problem, it can probably be trained not to bite or just say it's not suitable for a home with children.
 
There is a vast difference between cross-breeds and mongrels....from a purely 'definition' point of view. And please let's remember that before they became the trendy-pet-of-choice, Doodles were initially bred to enable blind people with pet hair allergies to have a guide dog, as doodles don't shed. Trials proved that standard poodles themselves made poor quide dogs, but that crossing them with the traditional Labrador retained the exquisite learning capabilities of the latter.

I own a rescue dog. She is 9 years old.
Her mother was an English Bull Terrier and her father a German Shepherd. (She looks like a GSD, but with which feet). The first 6 months of her life was spent being beaten, half starved and scavenging for food. Then she came to us. She has always been, and still is, the most perfect dog I have ever owned. Loving, boistrous, crazy, affectionate, handsome and utterly adorable. She eats like a horse, drools like a tap that has been left on and sheds (I swear) at will! And I wouldn't part with her if you put a gun to my head.
 
The reason I went for Italian Greyhounds, when I did compete with them, was that they are "dog shaped". Although there are a few rogue genes in the breed, they are generally healthy. I have got all the ones I've had well into their teens.
I know that labradoodles were originally bred for guide dogs[ I saw some many years ago doing street training here in Reading] I don't object to them, but I object to the prices people have paid. Much more than I ever charged for a pedigree IG puppy. Also guide dogs are all neutered, so no second generation of mutts from them. Licences should be paid by anyone breeding dogs, that way the conditions havve a chance of being monitored a bit.
As a result of my former hobby, I know many ethical breeders, who take the greatest care in selecting homes for their puppies. Ialso know a couple who are making money with breeds that traditional cost a LOT to buy.
Ps I'm still in touch with all the puppies I ever sold.
 
i love Staffies! we have three in our family, two of wich live here with me..........I had them when I was a childminder with the full permission and knowledge of Social Services, and parents loved that their children were learning to interact with pets that they sometimes couldnt have themself because they worked such long hours.
I agreed about them being great for blood glucose levels too - there's no ignoring a Staffie when it wants a walk!
 
My daughter and her husband have two dogs - one is an Akita and the other a Rottie.
They are both really lovable and sweet tempered dogs. I was a bit nervous when I went to stay when they first had them especially as I was not a great lover of "big" dogs. When they take them for walks they have to be muzzled and kept on the lead, which is the law in Eire but all too often it is the smaller dogs that will come up and attack THEM!
So much of it is down to the owners not training and treating the dogs properly.
I too could not watch all of that programme as I new it was going to be distressing.
Certainly it is high time that some better solution is brought about.
 
Back
Top