I'm fairly upset with the recent news regarding the Rottweiler attack in Kamloops. My writing this in no way is meant to minimize what the lady who got attacked went through. It is aimed at the owner, City council and the education and thought process of the general public.

From what I have learned about this case, this specific Rottweiler already had a history of biting a mailman. The owner had been warned and given instructions to muzzle the dog as well as to take steps to rehabilitate the dog.

Apparently, these steps and instructions had been ignored. This is not the dog's problem as dogs aren't known to muzzle themselves nor do they have the means to get themselves rehabilitated. The dog is not a human and does not think like one so in all reality, it doesn't know that what it did was wrong, as it never had the opportunity to learn that. However, the owner did. Which brings me to my next point.  

The dog has been all over the media - where is the owner? In my opinion, the owner should be publicly held responsible! Their name should not be kept private. The media doesn't keep criminals' names private, especially after a second conviction.

The owner should be charged for the vet care, the City workers' wages for thosw who attended the scene, the lady's medical expenses, any activities the lady won't be able to do anymore, such as housecleaning, yardwork, shopping, etc. The owner should have to pay for someone to come in and assist her. He or she should also be held publicly responsible with their name in the media.

It may sound harsh to some of you but what is happening right now in our city regarding this is harsh to me! The owner pretty much gets away with this, and the dog (who can't be held responsible, for lack of knowledge) pays with its life. Could you imagine if we put the same punishment on people? Hold the owners more accountable instead of protecting them while they receive a slap on the wrist!

JESSIE TAYLOR

Kamloops