Councillor Tobin has caused anger with “dangerous” dogs post
A Meath councillor’s “dangerous” dogs post has been shared almost 70,000 times as dog lovers lashed his comments against certain breeds.
Fine Gael councillor Alan Tobin posted a picture on his Facebook of the signs in his constituency which are labelled “Public Safety Notice. Restricted or listed breeds of dogs.”
Tobin posted: “As a dog owner I’m absolutely delighted that signs I’ve asked for, with pictures, showing the dangerous breeds of dogs have been erected over the past week. It still amazes me that some people think these dogs are ideal family pets.”
ARAN’s John Carmody said: “Councillor Tobin should stick with local issues that pertain to people instead of coming out with hideous and inaccurate comments that have little basis and that are absolutely hurtful to the many species of dog such as staffies and pit-bulls; animals who are troubled animals all because of their built and look.
Alan Tobin if you think that any of these dogs are more dangerous than the ones you have, I feel sorry for you pic.twitter.com/PxsLAzEOnk
— ✝SingMeToSleep✝ (@Rachel_etf7) May 9, 2016
Dog lovers are angered at Tobin’s description of breeds including Rottweilers and Alsatians, as dangerous.
People posted photos of their dogs, playing with cats and with children, to show how harmless many view the pets to be.
And a photo of Tobin was photoshopped to show him with a muzzle.
Zoe Alannah Bates posted a picture of a child with an Alsatian and said: “My family’s German Shepherd is the most loyal, playful and placid dog I’ve come across!
“What a stupid post, little dogs are just as capable to attack as the above breeds are.
“Alan you must be afraid of dogs, intimidated by their size, or never owned one of these breeds; if not I have no idea why you’d be delighted to see this.”
The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 impose additional rules for these breeds, listed on the sign.
They include: English bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, Bull mastiff, Dobermann pinscher, German shepherd (Alsatian), Rottweiler and the Japanese akita.
The rules state these dogs (or strains and crosses of them) must: Be kept on a short strong lead by a person over 16 years who is capable of controlling them, be muzzled whenever they are in a public place, wear a collar bearing the name and address of their owner at all times.