To say that all dogs are bad because some dogs are bad is a bit like saying that folk music is bad because some folk musicians are bad.

I have had quite a few dogs, including English and Staffordshire bull terriers and a bull mastiff, and none of them ever attacked a person, a cat or another dog. This is because I vetted the parents and the breeders before buying them, and then I trained them properly.

Both my wife and my son have, however, been quite badly bitten by other people's dogs, including one that belonged to a policeman.

I wouldn't say that there is no such thing as a bad dog, but there are plenty of bad owners.

G-force, your local council should have a dog warden - he or she would probably be the best person to contact. Around us they take their responsibilities very seriously.