But What Do You Actually Want..?!

Toddler Joshua Mann still bears the scars of a horrific dog attack two years ago.

Little Joshua, four, had to have more than 200 stitches after he was mauled by a collie belonging to his paternal grandmother in 2010.

Now his family are backing a campaign to ask the Government to crack down on dangerous canines and their owners.

Very admirable…but this wasn’t a ‘dangerous canine’, it was a family pet, and it’s hard to see just what the government are expected to do about it.

Presumably, you had no worries about the dog before the attack?

The dog, which was put down, attacked the toddler when he went to pat him, but his aunt Zoe said she believed the incident never should have happened.

Well, yes. I believe lots of things shouldn’t have happened; 9/11, The Great Fire of London, the second season of ‘Primeval’…

But what is it you are suggesting the government should do to prevent this?

"We are in total agreement that owners should be held responsible for their dog to prevent it causing injuries.

"Every dog bites. The dog which bit Josh wasn't on the banned list. Kids will be kids, they should be allowed to play, and they are going to go up to dogs and want to touch them."

Yes, all true. But, for the last time, what do you expect the government to do?!

She said the Government's focus needed to shift from a specific list of banned animals to a culture of punishing dog owners whose pets get out of control.

Ah! At last! A suggestion!

And it’s a pretty sensible one, despite the fact it was like pulling teeth to get there.

So, the only question remaining, is how long do you want to put granny in jail for, Zoe?