Bring back dog licence and stop the maulings

ONCE again there has been a fatality because of a dog being out of control (Yorkshire Post, May 27). I can’t think of a much more frightening way to lose your life than that of being mauled by a wild dog.

There are certain dogs whose possession is illegal because they are considered dangerous and anyone owning such a beast should be given the severest penalty.

Why can’t we bring back the dog licence? When I was young, the licence was seven shillings and sixpence (quite a lot in those days) and the local bobby called at regular intervals to have a look at it.

I would make it illegal to buy a pup over three months old without a licence. It might stop pups bought at Christmas, because they are cuddly, and discarded later on.

I would set the figure at £25. Not a lot to a genuine dog-lover in this day and age.

Pensioners, of course, would be exempt.

I think it would put a stop to stray dogs roaming the streets and ending up in kennels, and I hope it would stop people breeding pups to sell and making a living out of it.