Nobbut Laiking, by Ross Brewster
Scared? I was, to use the modern parlance, bricking it. Frozen with fear.
It’s more than 50 years since I was the victim of a dog attack. Yet, every time the headlines scream another savage fatality, it comes back to me in a nightmare.
This year there have been half a dozen deaths in this country, the result of attacks by dangerous, out of control dogs. Half a dozen too many. In fact it’s 10 deaths in two years, several of them children. And how many more incidents have there been where people were badly injured, but fortunately not killed?
The authorities have been aware of the problem of danger dogs for long enough without taking firm action.
Last week Rishi Sunak announced a ban on American XL Bully dogs — the evidence is in the name surely — although owners are to get a grace period before the breed is taken off the streets in 18 months.
What motivates people to buy dangerous dogs? Is it the “trophy” factor, the status it gives them on the streets. An extra weapon to intimidate.
There is no excuse for owning these beasts. No good reason. There are hundreds of thousands of perfectly well behaved friendly dogs in this country they could have if it is companionship they need.
No, it’s the owners who are bullies. It’s utterly wrong to use an animal as a threat. When a breed is implicated in so many fatal attacks in a short space of time a ban is fully justified. Get them off the streets as soon as possible. Never mind the feelings of owners, the protection of the public is more important.
Perhaps the time is right to consider licensing dogs. I know some people will ask why when they are responsible owners. Sadly there is a minority of thugs and morons out there making it necessary. The bad owners will just ignore it. Okay, then do something about it. Animal charities opposing the proposed ban must realise that human life is more important than animals that are plainly unsuited to domestic ownership.
My own experience of a canine attack came when I was working away from home, staying in a hotel while covering football matches in London and Portsmouth. At a loose end on the Sunday I made the mistake of going for a jog. From nowhere two large rottweilers appeared. One of them secured a grip on my left leg and, the more I fought to get it off, the harder it gripped — right through the muscle to the bone.
That terrifying moment of fear suddenly hits you. This animal could kill me if it wants and I have no means of fighting back.
I was lucky, if that’s the right word, that the owner appeared and finally managed to get the dog off me. She put the dogs on leads and was off without a word of concern. I ended up in the hospital having tetanus and penicillin jabs in an area of my anatomy used for sitting.
I tend to have an instinct now when it comes to dogs. The vast majority are friendly. My new best pal is a whippet puppy belonging to friends. She’ll come and sleep on my knee. And Lady Elinore loves treats.
But even at half a century’s distance, I still cringe when I hear about the latest dog attack.
What’s driving up car insurance?
If I had a fiver for every time I’ve been approached recently about the soaring cost of car insurance, I’d be part way towards defraying the likely bill I’m facing in a couple of months’ time.
The insurance companies justify hikes that double the premiums by saying repair costs are rising, particularly for electric cars which are more complicated. So the bloke down the street with his fancy new electric model is helping to push up your bill.
Is something ageist going on here? A friend of mine turned 80 this year. His bill went up from £500 to £1,100. I’ve met other drivers who feel that at 75 they are being made to pay through the nose. I’ll soon be able to tell you if it’s true. It’s not just the oldies. One young woman in the paper spoke of a 244 per cent increase.
Apparently shopping around makes little difference. It’s as if there was a cartel of pricing and the usual cash cow, the motorist, has to stump up.
20mph limits
There’s going to be a good job in the not too distant future.
What the Welsh government has done by imposing 20mph speed limits as the default on all roads where cars mix with pedestrians and cyclists, will go to Scotland next and, who knows, the Lake District.
Tourism groups in Wales are up in arms and opponents of the new limits claim the cost to the economy will be anywhere between £2.7bn and £8.9bn.
There’s only one more thing they can do now — and that is to re-introduce the man with the red flag, walking in front of queues of traffic.
If it comes to this area, I want to be first in line for the job.
