Huskies have become a fairly popular pet here in Ireland, but are they suited for the family life? One mother in Limerick believes they should be listed as ‘dangerous’.
Currently the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 requires owners of the following dogs to be muzzled when out in public: American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
However, Mags O’Leary, from Carew Park in Southill has called for Huskies to see the same fate as the dogs listed above after her family pet mauled her two-year-old son. It’s the second time that a Husky has been involved in the mauling of a toddler in the mid-west in less than two weeks.
Thankfully, the toddler didn’t suffer life-threatening injuries, however, he did spend time in Cork University Hospital after the unprovoked attack. Unsurprisingly, the dog was put down following the injury.
“I wouldn’t have got the dog if I knew what they were capable of. I thought they were pets but I would not advise people to buy these dogs. I didn’t think they could be that wild,” she told the Limerick Leader.
However, some people believe the onus should be on the owner and not the animal itself.
Rafaela Rocca, a local volunteer urged people to “think long and hard before taking on a high energy dog”, such as a husky, as they need more exercise than other dogs.
What do you think? Should the government continue to restrict certain breeds that can pose a serious threat in the wrong situations?
