I meant ‘minor’ in health terms - although I recognise that there are a few horrible exceptions every year in the UK where the consequences of a dog bite are much more serious.

My intent was to highlight the horrific consequences of dog bites in a poor country like Sierra Leone with poorer public health and health services - where people die for lack of access to medical interventions that we take almost for granted.

I agree completely that it’s always unacceptable for owners to allow dogs to bite members of the public going about their lawful business - even if it’s through a letter-box!

I’m not entirely convinced that dog licenses are the answer because I’m not clear how they would help (although I recognise that this puts me in opposition to Lib Dem party policy)! I’d rather there was proper prosecution when dogs do attack.

I don’t know how much of a “nip” you got, but I think that much more should be done to make dog owners responsible for the behaviour of their dogs.

I was attacked by three dogs (in a pack) whilst out running on the downs and bitten by one. Far too many owners seem to think that it is *my* fault that *their* dog wants to attack me (one excuse was “oh, it is because you wear a hat”).

I was up in Cheshire over the last few days, and was even chased by a dog when walking along a public footpath. In the same way that people who allow dogs to chase sheep and cows should be held responsible, farmers should be responsible for keeping farm dogs under control.

I am not usually in favour of new laws, but I do think it was a mistake when dog licensing was abolished - except that I would make it owner licensing, and conditional on proper training for both dog + owner.