"To Lizzie

You don't know whether humans are going to harm a child Lizzie. But we do know place restrictions on people who work with them. And I don't know about you but I warned my kids about contact with adults. (I also warned them about contact with dogs - but it didn't do any good - see above).

You don't know a dog will not harm a child - so all I want to do is place restrictions on them. Similar to the ones that stop (for example) people taking dogs into hospitals."


The restrictions don't work, Dave, in so many cases. And besides, not all dodgy people are known about. My point is that you cannot make life 100% safe. I am fair fed up of living in a 'restricted' world, where one restriction leads to another, then another, then another.

As a species, we have seemingly lost the plot, if you ask me.

Good Heavens, my cat, Wilby scratched me, a few years back, he shoved his claws deep into my nose, then pulled...all the way down, right before the first Sidmouth Folk Week too. It was agony and I still have the scar. But did I start up a campaign to get ALL cats banned from households 'just in case' ? Nope. I gave the little b*gger a severe talking to, spent an age each morning trying to hide the mess he'd made of my nose, and have never let him near my face again. End of story. It's life, it happens.

And then...there was the cormorant I tried to rescue one day, from the shallow waves of Bigbury on Sea..he had oil on him...and I was determined to help...Little devil chewed another part of my nose...but hell, he only did it because he was terrified..I left the waves, with blood trickling down..and rang the RSPCA, which is of course what I should have done in the first place..but nope..I didn't demand that all sea birds should be banned from places I like to visit, just realised I'd been a total twit..and got on with my life.

ALL festivals should state that dogs are allowed in *only* if they are on a lead, and a suitable one, at that, not these 3 mile ones that trip people up and give you no control over the dog. They should also state that any dog causing problems, on campsites or in the festival itself, will have to leave, immediately, along with its owner. This can be reinforced by the stewards on the gates. HOWEVER, they should ALSO state that dogs are allowed at the festival, and therefore would humans please take the trouble to treat them with respect and kindness.

And as far as I'm aware, dogs have never been allowed into hospitals, other than guide dogs, hearing dogs, and dogs that are there to give people nothing but love..to heal them, bring them happiness and make them feel better...

Therapy Dogs - or whatever you want to call them...

Oh..and by the way, you're far more at risk in hospital of becoming infected with MRSA, than you are from picking anything up from a dog, be he in the hospital, or outside it.

And that really is my final woof in this thread.