Andy Rooke 10.2 Unit no. 892821 September 2007
GCSE English: Persuasive Writing
Letter promoting my view that there should be stricter controls on dogs
6, Knightwood Close
Highcliffe-on-Sea
Dorset BH23 4NE
21 September 2007
The Editor,
Bournemouth Daily Echo,
Bournemouth,
Dorset BH23 4NG
Dear Sir or Madam,
DANGEROUS DOGS MUST HAVE STRICTER CONTROLS
Yet another child has been killed by a dangerous dog and a family devastated and torn apart. Little Ellie Lawson aged five was grabbed round the throat by the family pit bull terrier in her grandmothers home. The dog locked its strong jaws round little Ellie’s throat and shook her over and over again.
I am writing to ask your newspaper to do something to help promote stricter controls for dangerous dogs and stop this tragic loss of life. This dreadful situation cannot be allowed to continue. Don’t you agree somethingmust be done now?
Firstly, over four thousand people are admitted to hospital every year with severe injuries caused by dangerous dogs. There are over five thousand reported dog attacks each year with many more that are not reported. Even one death resulting from a dog attack is unacceptable.
Secondly, there are over seven million dogs in the UK. All dogs have an unpredictable nature and not all dogs make good pets. A Rottweiler for example can weigh up to 10 stone! This is the same weight as some adults.
Thirdly, there have been several horrific incidents reported in the past few months. A teenager was on his paper round when he was knocked off his bike by a Rottweiler and mauled in his chest and arm and was lucky to survive.
Last month a five year old girl was mauled to death by two Rottweilers in the Rocket Pub in Leicester. Three days after this a toddler needed over 200 stitches after he was attacked by his grandmothers Rottweiler near Bognor Regis.
In Christchurch a four year old girl called Shannon was left scarred for life after she was attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier who mauled and ripped off her earlobe.
Toddler Charlotte Hall was only ten years old when she was savaged by a Rottweiler dog whilst being carried by her father! The dog was over 20 stone and clamped little Charlotte around the head with its jaws and would not let go. Her father had to get on the floor and fight with the dog to get his jaws off her head. Charlotte miraculously survived the attack. Don’t you agree that this should not be allowed to happen?
The effect of these brutal dog attacks is long lasting for the victim, the family, the friends, the community and the country. Some of these dogs may have been secretly bred so that they can fight other dogs and make their owners money through gambling. This is illegal and must be stopped.
Fourthly, respected organisations such as the Kennel Club and the RSPCA agree that more needs to be done to stop dangerous dog attacks.
The RSPCA are desperately worried that “Despite being banned in the UK since 1835 the barbaric ‘sport’ of dog fighting is seeing a worrying surge in popularity. There are estimated to be several hundred people involved in organising dog fighting in the UK and the 150 people have been prosecuted for dog fighting related offences.”
Doreen Grantham of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals has told me “All dogs are dangerous in the hands of an owner who does not know how to handle them or if the dog feels threatened.”
Furthermore, the Kennel Club calls the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 “Draconian and flawed” and is calling for this “dangerous dog” legislation to be scrapped immediately and to be replaced by a “Control of Dogs Act” that has stronger powers and better protection for the public without compromising the dog’s welfare. The current Dangerous Dogs Act which was revised in 1997 lists the dogs prohibited in Great Britain but still only deals with dog aggression in public places – nearly all the horrific deaths from dog attacks have been in a family home.
The Dangerous Dogs Act is NO GOOD! The Code of Practice guidance is not enough to stop these deaths – stronger powers are needed NOW. We can stop your reporters from having to say “Gravely disfigured”, “Sank its teeth”, “Savaged”, Shook the toddler”, “Killer dog”, “Locked its jaws round the throat”. It must be distressing for them aswell.
In conclusion your newspaper can help to stop any more deaths from dog attacks. There is guidance from DEFRA on the recognition of prohibited dogs and this publication has frightening photographs of what these dangerous dogs look like. Your newspaper could print these to raise awareness and start off a campaign to get the Act strengthened. Nearly everyone reads your newspaper and I am sure they would support this campaign. I know our local MP and Mayorwould also provide support.
I hope my letter has convinced you how critical it is that you must use your newspaper to help get stricter controls on dogs.
Yours faithfully,
Andy Rooke
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