Our View: Irresponsible dog owners

They're described as man's best friend, loyal to the end.
But dogs are never far from the headlines - and too often for the wrong reasons.
This week, the city's chief dog officer revealed the number of dog attacks reported to the council over the past two years are actually a fraction of the true number of attacks.
Figures obtained by environmental compliance manager John Payne show claims for 270 "dog bite-related incidents" were lodged with ACC in Tauranga in 2009, while 61 biting dogs were reported to the council.
It was a similar story last year, with 303 dog-bite ACC claims and 67 reported to the council. ACC is not required to report its cases to councils.
And, as Mr Payne points out, the actual number is likely to be double the ACC figure because not everyone lodges a claim if attacked.
If his estimate is correct, this means there could be up to 12 dog-biting cases in Tauranga a week - an alarming figure given there are about 9000 registered dogs in the city.
Most dog owners are responsible and their pets are fun, loving and safe to be around. They're part of the family and anyone who has one or has owned one will know just how much joy they can bring.
But being a dog owner means being responsible, not only for family but for the public too.
There have been many horrific dog attack cases reported over the years.
This month, our sister paper, the Herald on Sunday, brought its readers the story of a 45kg bullmastiff dog leaping over a property's fence to maul a 7-year-old boy in West Auckland.
One of the most notorious cases was that of Auckland girl Carolina Anderson, who was viciously attacked in a park in 2003. She is still having regular operations as a result.
In Tauranga, there have been people and animals attacked by dogs.
Dog owners must, by law, ensure that when the animal is on a property occupied by the owner it is under control and confined in such a way it cannot freely leave the property.
Of huge concern is that it is not uncommon for dogs to harass people and other pets on the street, park or beach. Most people walking a dog on a leash will have experienced that moment when another dog has rushed them, leaving them uncertain whether the animal is friendly or means harm.
This is unacceptable and downright selfish of the owners of these unleashed dogs. If they can't keep their dogs under control, they should have them on leashes.
The worrying aspect of Mr Payne's revelations is just how many of the dogs that have bitten people might have the potential to cause serious harm, particularly to children and the elderly.
It is understandable that owners will want to protect their animal but any dog that bites another creature, be it human or cat, should be reported or handed in to the council authorities so a proper decision can be made about its safety and future.
Mr Payne also notes an alarming trend with pit bull terriers. Pit bulls comprise 1.4 per cent of the country's registered dogs but are responsible for 18 per cent of bites.
There will be people who argue it is the owner not the dog who is at fault and there will be a measure of truth in that. But wherever the blame lies, the bottom line is the safety of people outranks the rights of dogs and their owners. Irresponsible dog owners need to smarten up their act.