a "pit bull type'' and anything resembling a "pit bull'' tends to get the banners going.

We hold no brief for "pit bulls'' but it does sometimes seem that any dog resembling the breed is going to be picked on a good deal more than any other type of dog. It appears that people do not cry out for the ban of any other type of dog despite the fact that any "SPCA kennel mutt'' can, if it is encouraged to, be a vicious dog.

We are tempted to argue that there are no bad dogs but there are a fair number of bad owners. Generally, vicious and destructive dogs have either been untrained, neglected or encouraged to be angry animals. It is often suggested that some named breeds of dog are bound to be more vicious than others.

We know of two well loved and well cared for Rotweillers who are the friendliest of animals. We also know of four well-disciplined but by no means cowed Rhodesian Ridgebacks, originally bred to hunt lions, who are pussy cats.

You can leave them in a car with the window open and they will not jump out! This is not to say that any of these dogs would not defend their property or their owners. They would do so but they are not roaming marauders terrorising their neighbourhoods. Why? Because they are properly cared for, properly fed, trained and disciplined.

It is ironic that every time a pit bull attacks there is a call to have the dog put down. More often than not, the dog is not at fault. Too often people who do not have the time or the inclination to be good dog owners get a dog or even dogs. We do have laws to limit the number of dogs on a property but these laws do not always seem to be enforced.

However, people have a right to be protected from marauding dogs and to have their pets protected. Bermuda is too small and properties are too cheek by jowl for people to constantly feel threatened by their neighbours' pets. It is not right that you should not be at peace on your own premises.

The real answer is that animals of any kind should be kept at home. One lady wrote regular letters to the Editor because her property was violated by a neighbourhood duck. Other people have been enraged by cats scratching in their garden. The problem is not all caused by dogs.