Great article, Mehdi. Dogs are horrible, servile, beasts and their owners are evidently the kind of people who like servile company – "unconditional love," they call it. They're four footed slaves who suck up to their masters, which is the lowest kind of slave of all.

"It is indeed true that Muslims and dogs don't mix" - that shows good taste on their part.

"Not even cats which the Prophet Muhammad is alleged to have adored." – that shows good taste on his part. I love the story that he cut off his sleeve rather than disturb a cat that was lying on it.

Thanks for your kind words Daniele, I appreciate it.

(By the way, it's just "Jai". I have no idea why this website randomly replaced my username with something else in my original post).

Haha. Someone who hates dogs as much as me.

PS By the way, you were excellent on question time with the two Kens

i have a rottweiler and they are very smart and loving. they only act bad when you teach them to be bad. if you were to raise one yourself you would see where I'm coming from. DON'T HATE THE BREED HATE THE BREEDER!!!!

^What Mehdi said - with knobs on.

I've always thought of dog owners as being like smokers. Their pleasure impacts on other people. You get those who do it with consideration at all times, and those who don't. A bit more self-awareness from the "he's only being friendly" brigade would be a big step forward.

Mind you, I thought we were actually seeing a slight decrease in dog ownership. Only anecdotal natch, but you seem to see a lot less of them about than you used to twenty or thirty years back, no?

Dogs are great, Mehdi's article is really unfair on good people who own dogs regardless of political persuasion. I always disliked dogs as a child, as an adult i have realised all the positive things a dog brings to your life. The original article is snide and crass, i know someone who owns a tortoise and she is very conservative.

What a dismal and obnoxious little rant Mehdi matey u r one sick puppy.I also think u speak with forked tongue: 'Islamophobic'or not I can well believe that your ire against our canine comrades is based on Koranic injunction. The Prophet Mohammed stated that dogs are unclean and should not be kept in the house. He said Dog saliver is unhygenic and if a dog drinks out of a bowel used by humans then it should be washed 7 times. Good advice but then he goes on to contradict himself by saying using dogs for hunting is ok, just one of the many glaring inconsistancies found not only in the Koran but in all the holy books of the Abrahamic Monotheistic faiths.

Unlike the Buddhists, Hindus and Animists who revere nature and animals these monotheists in their ascendancy and disharmony with nature have rendered many species extinct and are in the process of unleashing environmental catastrophe.

Mr Hasan if it was down to me I would send you home to consider your position, I am show you will be ok the Beeb and The Grauniad would welcome your cozy fireside chats about islamophobia, and give Richard Dawkins or another militant atheist your job. New Statesman is a left wing mag and the role of the Left is to be critical and skeptical of all authority and that includes organised religious authority.

In my belief system anyone who makes the statement "I dislike all animals" is, to be polite, a sociopath (lacks empathy) and am sorry to say that no matter how many CRB checks u might have I wouldn't invite u to babysit my children :(

http://www.unholylegacy.woerlee./islam-and-dogs.php

" " It is indeed true that Muslims"

"Speak for yourself, Mr Hasan.

When the great Sufi Master Abu Yazid al-Bestami, called Bayazid, was walking in the desert on the pilgrimage to Mecca, the Hajj,..."

FAIZAL: Thankyou for posting this. I also heard a story about the Muslim Commander Saladin posting a Guard over a bitch about to give birth to puppies so she wouldn't get caught up in the battle. Top Geezer!

MEHDI HASAN : "Can you clear your desk out next monday morning Security will be here at 1 o clock leave your keys with the receptionist when you go."

"your P45 will follow in the post, and by the way thanks for the work you have done and best of luck in the future"