The reality is that having a dog in a black family in the US is perfectly normal. Most of this stems from first generation Caribbean migrants to the UK who came from an island where dogs can run in wild packs (Jamaica). Plantation owners used dogs to chase runaways which may have contributed to their reputation there, however there are breeders of pedigrees in Jamaica that treat their dogs in the same way as Europeans. It is certainly true that the reputation of the "yard dog" from Jamaican immigrants (1st gen) to the UK will still have an effect on next and follow-on generations with regards to fear and understanding of keeping a dog. Like the US, this will probably change with generations. What does need to change is the obsession young black men have with owning a dangerous "status dog", making it aggressive and not affording it correct veterinary care.

But you all forgot that in USA something like 10 years ago, a tv show which was about people making love with their dog was supposed to be air ....and was finally stop in last minute!!

I am a black woman of West Indian & African parents. My mother would never let me have a dog, even though I begged her many times. My other black friends did not own pets, but my white friends did. So in part the author is correct. But, as soon as I had my own place, I bought a puppy. The dog grew and so did my love for it, it becomes part of the family. Loving a pet has nothing to do with race, but being human, and you would only know if you had a pet yourselves. Beastiality, on the other hand is damn nasty and goes beyond anything I can think of. To me, this is comparable to paedophilia!

That dog must feel guilty.

This is probably the way in which AIDS was created - not to be recommended!!

It doesn't matter where she's from, does it?!! The fact is that these white people get much too fond of their pets. I mean, if they can sleep in the same bed with them, then what more can you expect! It's probably far more widespread that we realise!!

Change white for black in this article and you'd all be screaming racism.

look up rodell vereen on google. For those black people here who think this kinda thing is just a white person issue. Rodell preferred a horse. So does that mean that black people like horses more.

My point is that this kinda stuff goes on in all races and all over the world.

I am a caribbean person and I don't like or want dogs in my home! But it is grossly unfair to generalise that european people have an obsession about pets! Nevertheless the thought of a dog licking my face makes my screen crawl. I know some europeans feel the same way as I do. I don't understand why that ghastly story of bestiality was given so much litery space.

how can you allow such a racist, stereotyping so called journalist to write (terrible) article? I am reporting her and i hope others will to.

where did you find this woman? Why we you print well actually hire her for the job!? she is racist, talks crap and is one of the worst journalists i have ever encountered. I will be making a complaint about her and this racist piece of "work".

I think the new look and format for voice online is great! But I have to raise serious concerns about its content. This article is appalling and not the sort of thing I want to read in a community publication. There are other articles that have made me think that there is a lack of substance and weight on this media web site. Now we have a story that really lowers the credibility of the Voice and puts it in the category of being a black version of the Sun or the Daily Star. It’s not just the sickening subject area of this article that I find disturbing, it’s also the stupid generalisations about black people that are very irritating. I also suspect that there is an implied racial undertone to this article (as pointed out on a previous comment).

Please stop!!!

There is nothing wrong with the article, the writer is correct at how black people behave with dog to white people, any time white people don’t like to hear the truth they react bad, when they do the same and worst to black’s every day.

What the journalist wrote is exactly how we were brought up, white people treat their dogs better than many humans. As for the man who infected his child, white people do that and worst, so if that person what to come with that, fine there are many, many more disgusting and disgraceful things they have done and do not want it known.

Get of the truth and move on.

Voice, keep up the good work.

basically, what the voice is trying to say that black folks wouldnt do such thing,i feel sick when i see people let dogs licking their faces, in uk a dog has more rights than some human.anyway good for her i hope the rest of these nasty people that having sex with animals learn. nasty ra*s dem. nasty scums.

What's this about black people being too hygienic to have a dog. Never heard anything so ludicrous. Where are you coming from Yvonne? La La Land. Yeah, thought so!

This article is crap. No idea how the Voice keeps going when you think this is any form of journalism. Pure and utter rubbish.

You mean like the Europeans raped, hung and brutalised black people??? Its disgusting behaviour and the majority of soc allowed decent white people allow this to happen.

There's some shocking racial undertone to this story, something that this paper is trying to rid out of this country, how can you, when you write this crap.

Perhaps she was a Zen Buddhist and returned as a dog.....and lived happily ever after!

WHY IS A NEWSPAPER THATS IS SUPPOSED TO RAISE ISSUE'S GOING ON IN THE BLACK WORLD REPRINTING CRAP FROM THE DAILY STAR, ARE THEY JUST LAZY AND CANNOT BE BOTHERED TO FIND REAL STORIES GOING ON IN THE BLACK WORLD, OR DO THEY HAVE SOME OTHER AGENDA?

Worse things have happened in Africa - please dont racial stereotype white people. I could stereotype black people for example the man in america who infected his 6 month old son with HIV- but I dont-its a cheap and nasty way of having a dig at a group largely decent people. The comments at the top of the page is disgusting, not all europeans have such obsession. How dare you say that. This is about one particular woman who was struck down for her sin unfortunately.

Well I hope she conducts herself better in her after life. Everything is not up for experimentation. When will people learn. SNM