Mid-Day Opinion: Dog owners need to act a lot more responsibly

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A jogger was bitten by a Rottweiler on the Carter Road, Bandra (W) promenade, our report said. The bitten man has serious injuries to the genital area.

The dog handler told the victim that he was only responsible for taking care of the dog and was not the owner. The Khar police registered an FIR against the handler and the owner of the dog.

This is a serious incident, which brings up the prickly dog vs human issue. While the owner is overall responsible, the dog walkers too have to be extremely competent while handling the canines they are supposed to. If the dog is supposed to be muzzled, keep the muzzle on at all times. If one simply cannot handle the dog for any reason, then do not. Many times large breed dogs are very hard to handle and this should be related to the owner truthfully.

Sometimes, it is the owner only who can handle the dog and he or she should be the one controlling the animal.

This does not refer to the Carter Road incident specifically, but must be seen in the larger perspective. We often have dog walkers walking four dogs and more with the handler struggling to control the canines. They have too much strength literally pulling the walker along the road.

At times while sitting or on a short break while walking dogs, the handler lets go of the leash, removes the muzzle thinking the dog is just next to him, he will sit peacefully. This is an unpredictable animal; you cannot be 100 per cent sure about a reaction or what may trigger him. Pet care, handling is challenging and a job that demands alertness and responsibility.