Ban the breed or sanction bad owners?

Some dogs have the capacity to cause huge harm.... But who should be held responsible?

Good morning! Welcome to the Armagh I newsletter, which drops into your inbox every Tuesday and Friday morning.

Dogs. Everyone loves them, almost. Many of us can’t do without our furry friends. Dogs are companions to both the oldest and the youngest in our society and in most cases, are treated as one of the family.

Despite this, we’ve all come across dogs on our travels that appear slightly less friendly, with some even liable to take a chunk out of your hand if you’re not careful!

In other words, is there a dark-side to ‘man’s best friend’?

While many dogs wouldn’t hurt a fly, others are often quick to bark or lash out, with the strength that some breeds are capable of unsteadying even the most hardy of dog owners.

On a daily basis, news outlets across the world report incidents of out of control dogs wounding – sometimes fatally – their owners and other members of the public.

One dog breed that is currently in the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons is the American XL Bully.

The American XL Bully. Photo provided by the USPCA.

Last month, following a string of fatal attacks, the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced plans for the breed to be banned in England, Scotland and Wales by the end of the year.

The ban however, will not extend to Northern Ireland…. But should it?

In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Newry-based charity, Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA), branded the move as a “knee-jerk response” to the issue.

A spokesperson for the USPCA said: "We believe focusing on the type of dog, rather than their individual actions, is a flawed and failing approach."

Read more: Newry-based USPCA issue guidance for American XL Bully owners

In their statement, the charity say that we must “look behind the dog to the actions of humans”, taking the blame away from the breed itself and focusing it on the irresponsible owners themselves.

Indeed, we’ve all experienced seemingly endless dog fouling in our town centres, with most of the opinion that the owners should be lifting after their dogs.

Related: Owner lets dog poo all over Armagh city centre street as shop worker lambasts lack of enforcement

However, it must be noted that the issue of dog fouling is a far cry from dog attacks that can result in serious injury or worse.

While no one is suggesting that tiny Yorkshire Terriers are a danger to the public, are bigger breeds like the American XL Bully just too much to handle for the everyday pet lover?

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Headlines

🤬 Man tried to snatch woman’s purse and phone outside Portadown shop

👍🏻 Drive-thru American diner on the menu for Lurgan as exciting plans for former Centrepoint approved

⚖️ Markethill cannabis factory accused both refused bail

📖 Waterstones in Craigavon set to open its doors on Friday with 10 new jobs created

⚖️ Judge refuses anonymity for woman accused of child cruelty over seven year period

🟢 New filling station with shop, café and sit-in restaurant in Lurgan gets seal of approval

⚖️ Tandragee man who put children through ‘horrific’ ordeal jailed

🚑 Two people taken to hospital following Portadown collision

⛔ Council will no longer enter Craigavon development to empty bins due to state of roads

⚖️ Judge dismay as PPS direct revenge porn case against woman to remain in lower court

🚓 Police investigating series of attempted car thefts in Portadown

⚖️ Co Armagh mother caught with up to £60,000 worth of cannabis avoids prison

⚽ Benburb football club among winners at Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards

⚖️ Portadown man who told victim to drop criminal damage charges jailed

🕳️ Beastly Richhill pothole returns and is claiming tyres at an alarming rate

💰 Two Co Armagh men arrested after £7m cocaine haul seized in Liverpool

🐀 Man who harassed ex-partner and painted ‘rat’ on her fence jailed

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Armagh Jobs

✅ T. H. Jenkinson Armagh require an Office Clerk.

✅ Cross Refrigeration require a Cad/BIM Technician reporting to Project Director.

✅ Fairlawns Nursing Home require a Senior Care Assistant for Night Duty.

✅ Armagh Credit Union seek to appoint a Clerical Officer.

✅ Portadown Locksmiths require a Job Planner/Administrator.

✅ Clearway Group Portadown require an HGV Mechanic and Welder/Fabricator.

✅ McElmeel Mobility Services are offering a number of exciting opportunities.

🛎️ If you have a job and want to advertise it to 40,000 daily users on www.armaghjobs.com, www.armaghi.com, as well as almost 8,000 people on this newsletter and our 100,000 social media followers, get in touch.

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Notice Board

❓Table Quiz in aid of Tearfund | Friday, October 6 | 7pm | Thomas Street Methodist Church Hall, Portadown. Teams of six welcome. Minimum donation: £5 per person, children under 11 free. Refreshments available. Contact Steven Wright on 07982 216197 for further information.

🥳Youth Club @ Vibe | Friday, October 6 | 8pm - 10pm | Age 11 - 17, don’t miss it! Invite your friends.

🧶Knitted Knockers' Breast Cancer Awareness Exhibition & Coffee Morning | Saturday October 7 | 10am - 2pm| The Jethro Centre will be hosting this amazing showcase of Bust Casts with coffee and scones.

🎗️Free Bowel Cancer Community Support Event | Radisson Blu Hotel, The Gasworks, Belfast | Saturday October 14 | 9.30am - 3.30pm | Bowel Cancer UK will be holding a free community support event for people affected by bowel cancer in Belfast. It’s an opportunity to meet others going through similar experiences and hear from expert speakers about the disease. Registration for the event closes Monday 2 October. To find out more about this event and register to attend please visit: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/belfast-event/

⛪ No Greater Love | Wednesday November 8 - Sunday November 12 | Armagh Elim Church | Armagh Elim will have a service each night for children, ladies, men, youth and the Sunday will be a day for the whole family. As a church, they simply want to share a message of hope to people that they are loved by God.

Want to include a free event listing to almost 8,000 of our newsletter readers? Get in touch by simply replying to this email or, if you haven’t received this via your inbox, email us at info@armaghi.com.

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