Home
Criminals are intimidating their victims using dogs, seeing the animals as a legal alternative to carrying a knife, council officials have warned.
In Wandsworth, south west London, the council's senior dog control officer, Mark Callis has noticed the tactic being used by some gangs.
"Thieves are saying give me your mobile or I'll set the dog on you," he said.
"Kids are aware that you can carry a knife and do the same thing but the difference is it's not illegal to walk down the street with a dog."
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are often the breed of choice for youths keen to portray a tough image.
Their large heads, thick necks and muscular stance make them look mean, moody and up for a fight.
Add a heavy chain-linked lead and a studded collar and they become urban warriors, hard as nails - a must if you are a teen wanting to be taken seriously on the streets.
However, for individuals who buy a dog with the sole intention of reflecting their image, the animal's welfare tends not to be a priority.
Battersea Dogs Home in south London took in 2,678 Staffordshire Bull Terriers last year and over half the dogs at Southridge RSPCA are also staffies.
Anna White, Manager of the Southridge RSPCA Rescue Centre in Potters Bar, said the breed is wrongly perceived.
"They have a naturally sweet and loving nature which can be easily manipulated," she said.
"When they're all macho, dressed up in all their brass they can look aggressive but they're actually lovely dogs."
Meanwhile, banned Pit Bull Terriers pose an additional threat to residents, as Mike Ebberson discovered after being attacked by two last year.
"One dog actually bit straight through my arm down to the bone. He had to have 25 stitches. It lasted for half an hour. I still suffer nightmares. It was horrible, horrific," he said.
At a recent conference Anna White says she heard a novel idea of reducing the problem of gangs using dogs for intimidation.
"The suggestion was to make the breed appealing to middle aged women," she said.
"If Mum has one then their kids won't want one - it'll lose its credibility."
There has to be some solution - the dogs are bought cheaply and not vaccinated, breeding to unmanageable numbers.
"It's spiralling - it's already out of control," the RSPCA manager concluded. "If it carries on this way I really don't know what we'll do."
sourced from: sky news
In Wandsworth, south west London, the council's senior dog control officer, Mark Callis has noticed the tactic being used by some gangs.
"Thieves are saying give me your mobile or I'll set the dog on you," he said.
"Kids are aware that you can carry a knife and do the same thing but the difference is it's not illegal to walk down the street with a dog."
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are often the breed of choice for youths keen to portray a tough image.
Their large heads, thick necks and muscular stance make them look mean, moody and up for a fight.
Add a heavy chain-linked lead and a studded collar and they become urban warriors, hard as nails - a must if you are a teen wanting to be taken seriously on the streets.
However, for individuals who buy a dog with the sole intention of reflecting their image, the animal's welfare tends not to be a priority.
Battersea Dogs Home in south London took in 2,678 Staffordshire Bull Terriers last year and over half the dogs at Southridge RSPCA are also staffies.
Anna White, Manager of the Southridge RSPCA Rescue Centre in Potters Bar, said the breed is wrongly perceived.
"They have a naturally sweet and loving nature which can be easily manipulated," she said.
"When they're all macho, dressed up in all their brass they can look aggressive but they're actually lovely dogs."
Meanwhile, banned Pit Bull Terriers pose an additional threat to residents, as Mike Ebberson discovered after being attacked by two last year.
"One dog actually bit straight through my arm down to the bone. He had to have 25 stitches. It lasted for half an hour. I still suffer nightmares. It was horrible, horrific," he said.
At a recent conference Anna White says she heard a novel idea of reducing the problem of gangs using dogs for intimidation.
"The suggestion was to make the breed appealing to middle aged women," she said.
"If Mum has one then their kids won't want one - it'll lose its credibility."
There has to be some solution - the dogs are bought cheaply and not vaccinated, breeding to unmanageable numbers.
"It's spiralling - it's already out of control," the RSPCA manager concluded. "If it carries on this way I really don't know what we'll do."
sourced from: sky news
» If you are looking for a Rottie pup
» Srigo's Press Your Luck aka Wishious
» tips
» does your dog like veg?
» Reinforcement
» DOG FOOD ALLERGIES
» BAD FOODS FOR DOGS
» HOMEMADE DOG BISCUIT RECIPES, TREATS, SUPPLIMENTS