4 Dalmatians escape home, attack passersby in Sakai

I guess the culprits were...

(••) ( ••)>⌐■-■ (⌐■_■)

...easy to spot.

Man, I have seen about every pure breed dog there is in Japan but have never honestly seen a dalmation here. I hope the victims are ok.

This was a 4-member raiding party designed to test the defenses of the enemy. Had they successfully returned, the entire 101-dog company would have then engaged in-force.

I've heard horror stories of people with Dalmatians that are aggressive and bite, while purebred Dalmatians are wonderful dogs.

As with any mammal, in-breeding leads to birth defects - including mental defects. Saint Bernards used to have the reputation for being very gentile. In-breeding has rendered that reputation outdated so I would look at any claims about the merits of a "purebred" Dalmatian with a jaundiced eye.

This is one of those instances when Carrying a Concealed Firearm comes in handy, provided you are legally licensed to carry. It is all too common that people get attacked in the USA, from people with Rotweilers or the like. My neighbor had TWO, that weer coming under the fence at my family, every time we were in the back yard. I called the police neumerous times, and they could do nothing unless the damn things actually ATTACKED us....luckily for the DOGS, that never happened, then of course, the police said I could take care of the situation myself, without fear of legal repercussions.

Perhaps those are deaf. About 30% of Dalmatians are deaf and you need to be very careful not to startle them

you are walking down the street minding your own business, and a pack of snarling dogs comes at you - would your first reaction be "Oh! Mustnt startle them!"?!

It wasnt the victims fault, and it wasnt the dogs fault either. Anyone who keeps 11 dogs in an enclosed space is at best clueless, and at worst - I dont even want to think about it.

Perhaps those are deaf. About 30% of Dalmatians are deaf and you need to be very careful not to startle them.

"The owners are currently under investigation by police, who are gathering information about the conditions under which the dogs were being kept."

I'll bet those conditions are not good.

Shouldn't Dalmations be kept in fire stations?

Any dog is dangerous under certain circumstances and treatment. I know it's not common to read about Dalmatian attacks, but that is not to say they can't be dangerous. Being attacked by a group of dogs is a terrifying experience, especially for little kids. It's a bit sad to see so many jokes being made about it in this thread.

Attack of the bloodthirsty Dalmatians.

'Purebred Dalmations are wonderful dogs' As you said, it depends on the dog and its environment, even with pedigree dogs. Dalmations have been used as guard and coach dogs and while the modern Dalmation is less aggressive than its ancestors, it's still a dog with high energy levels and a tendency to bore easily which can lead to aggression. 11 dogs housed together in an enclosed area doesn't sound like the best way to keep any dog, less so for a an active breed. On a related point, one of the reasons many dogs turn aggressive is that prospective owners do little or no research on the breed they are buying and think only about things such as looks, size or if they are fashionable. I heard Jack Russells are becoming more popular in Japan, no doubt for some because of their size and cute appearance, but as a former owner I can attest that they will create absolute havoc if not properly exercised and stimulated. By the looks of it, this incident isn't simply mistreatment of animals, it can and should be seen as endangering public safety.

The devilsAssistant & Onniyama - nice one! ... maybe they let em run away due to Disneys financial issues....no money to feed all 101 of em

I thought Dalmations are not considered an aggressive breed. Must have been mistreated.

A property housing 11 dogs?.... Doesn't sound like these were properly trained family pets, more likely breeding animals on a small-scale puppy farm. The owners (reported to be a 50-year-old man and his son) have a lot of explaining to do. Dalmatians need a lot of exercise, no way two people can adequately exercise 11 spotty dogs, they were probably stir-crazy when they managed to get out.

Poor dogs, and poor people who got hurt.

the injured, many of whom were bitten on their legs

There were only 5 people involved altogether, so 'many' doesn't really cut it. The vernacular Yomiuri is saying a boy and two men were bitten, and a woman and her daughter hurt themselves when they fell off their bikes. 3 out of 5, most/the majority were bitten.

They are lucky it was only 4 and not 101. But seriously, nasty mongrels! Boot em in the chops next time.

quick! Call Disney