Copy of a letter sent to the G2 editor at The Guardian in response to an article published last Monday (22nd May 2006).
Michelle Hanson accurately identifies a real and increasing urban problem (Guardian G2 - 22 May) and thankfully ascribes blame where blame lay, with the human owners and their parents who fail to instil an appropriate responsibility to young owners of powerful objects or animals. For the purpose of her article Ms Hanson stresses the populist aggressive image of Staffordshire Bull Terriers but despite her acceptance that "There is nothing wrong with Staffordshire bull terriers. They can be darling, cuddly softies," she fails to note the vast majority of these loveable rogues that bring pleasure and companionship to many thousands of owners.
Recent events have again highlighted the problems associated with knives in the wrong hands and wrong circumstance. Nobody can justify the culture of children carrying knives to school yet the knife has been a major boon to mankind for thousands of years. What percentage of knives are involved in crime? Obviously the answer is minute and so the knife itself cannot be held to blame, the problem must surely lie with the children and their parents and perhaps with a society that glorifies "tough" and fails to deal with infractions until a murder occurs.
In much the same way, large powerful dogs - previously the German Shepherd, Rottweiler, then the pit bull, and perhaps now the Staffordgets cast in the role of monster. Lines like "teeth, which snap shut and cannot be prized open", "two rogue Staffs roaming the neighbourhood, crapping and attacking freely" and "two hulking dogs, muscles bulging, hackles rising" all add to the image of a threat posed by the dogs. Scary stuff eh?
There are an estimated 300,000 Staffords in the UK. They are officially (according to a 2005 PDSA survey) the most popular pet breed in the UK. Assuming an average 2.4 person family then nearly 1 million of us live with a Stafford. The breed has become popular because of the size - not too big and not too small - a short coat, ability to take whatever level of exercise suits its owner and most of all its superb temperament with children. Owners range from Olympic athletes, World cup footballers, World champion boxers and Oscar winning actors. They include barristers, Lords, doctors and politicians. They also include the elderly (my father had a Staffordtill his death at 85) and young children growing with their pet.
The monster image comes from a small number of "lads" parading their "trophy pet" and an equally small number of adult owners who are just too uncaring to provide the proper environment for any pets. Please don't let them destroy a great British dog and the tremendous pleasure they bring to a much larger part of our society.
David Levy
Kennel Club Breed Liaison Officer