'Status' dogs make owners seem 'weak': You react to news 100 dumped dogs put down in Wolverhampton every year

In the city the reason behind up to 75 per cent of the dogs being dumped is that many of them are potentially dangerous and that they have been bought by young men wanting to keep up a macho image. However, they are often they dumped because they become too aggressive for their owners.

We've had loads of responses from you on this, most of you agree with Kaylz Jones who said: "Any dog can be dangerous, but it's not the dog, it's the owner."

Steve Downs agreed: "Introduce a dog licence and many of these people wouldn't be able to get a dog. Many 'status' dogs such as the Staffie are some of the most gentle breeds in existence, and if they are aggressive it's due to the owners making them that way. On the rare occasion that they do attack it's because they've been provoked."

Zara Jones agreed that certain breeds get a bad reputation due to being 'status' dogs. "It's people like this who give the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and others a bad name, they've turned them into a pariah. It's wrong, owners should be dealt with, breeding laws should be introduced, and neutering should be encouraged and made cheaper for low income families. All dogs should be given a chance regardless of breed. Mandatory animal care lessons should be introduced in schools to at least try to tackle future cruelty."

Phil Evans also believes that legislation would help to combat the issue of dangerous dogs: "Again we need legal ruling on how we breed animals, allowing for registered monitored breeders with specific selling regulations and how paperwork is kept. The government needs to ban them being sold on Gumtree , Facebook or any other social or community website. Only responsible, fully vetted people should be allowed to own an animal."

Others just felt sorry for the animals which end up being destroyed. Ann Matthews said: "The poor dogs! They are nice, intelligent and deserve to live. The information in this story makes me ashamed to live in Wolverhampton!"

While some made their thoughts clear on people who buy dogs to make them appear tough. Jaime Louise Skelding: "I have always said it takes a real man to confidently walk a tiny dog. It's just embarrassing when boys need to be seen with 'strong' breeds for their image. All I see is weak."