From the Washington Post this morning. You never see this kind of tragic story about poodles:

"A pair of pit bulls attacked and killed a 7-year-old boy in Lowell, Mass., on Saturday evening.

A preliminary investigation suggested the unidentified boy entered a fenced area containing the two pit bulls, which then attacked him, the Middlesex district attorney’s office said in a statement to several local media outlets.

Neighbors witnessed the attack at around 6 p.m. and frantically began calling police.

“I heard someone yelling, ‘It’s my baby! It’s my baby!’ and I come to find out that it was my daughter’s friend’s son,” neighbor Annmarie Dizazzo told WFXT..."

I read this story. How disgusting.

What I find interesting on this topic is it comes down to a clash between dog owners who stand up for the rights of everyone, including those who don't take responsibility for their animals, vs. the rights of the innocents who are harmed.

Unfortunately, we have no way of identifying who is/isn't a responsible owner until AFTER the damaging attack occurs, at which point it is too little, too late. With such non-predictable scenarios, I think the situation argues for prudence and public safety over rights of someone to own a specific breed of dog.

Of all the breeds, pit bulls are consistently cited as the most likely to cause damaging or fatal attacks, more than any other single breed or several other large dog breeds combined. Even when the owner is responsible, there are also circumstances where the responsibility appears to have little or no effect when the dog "snaps" or is provoked.

Because the rescues are full of "mixed pits" and people are encouraged to adopt them without regard for where they came from.

THE question that no one has seemed to address is: WHY Was a 7 yr old child not supervised by an adult, and free to climb into the fenced dog area? IT is not JUST the responsibility of the pet owner (and it is), but ALSO the responsibility of whatever adults were in charge of the child.

MY daughter rescued a pit bull puppy several years ago and she turned out to be a sweet gentle dog that likes both people and cats. ON a walk she barks and growls at all other dogs but has never made any aggressive moves, and is very obedient to stopping when spoken to. She comes when called, and is fairly easy to distract, or change the mood. I realize she is probably an exception. I would not allow a tenant to own a pit bull in my property

Heart breaking.

Today, here in Monmouth County I was in the local SPCA dropping off some bedding donations. I always walk thru the dog sector and in the 30 or so enclosures there were maybe 3 or 4 non-pits.

They send all the cute and pretty stuff to a higher end Pet Smart rescue section in Freehold.

Maybe 3 of the pits seemed somewhat friendly.....3 were downright scary in their demeanor and I do not jump to that conclusion easily.

Yet we have to allow them if the owner claims they are an Emotional Support Animal........

Just saying.... Dogs on leases and who obey don't get hit by cars.

Kids climb. Kids are not aware of danager. Even if an adult was right there...and they were, if you read the story. There was clearly no control over the dog/lion/tiger/bear. No adult could have stopped the attack. Try and help and you'll be next.

Also the pet owner always says "yesterday the pitbull was as sweet as a kitten" even the owner doesn't understand.

Here are the Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds.

10. Akitas

9. Boxer

8. Great Danes (Scooby Do)

7. Chow Chow

6. Dobermans

5. Alaskan Malamutes

4 German Shepherd

3. Huskies

2.Rottweilers

1. Pitbull

Of course number one being a Pitbull. There is a problem that Puppy Mills have created with dog breeds and its not only the 10 dangerous Dog Breeds its all dog breeds.

Consider a person buys a dog. Decides this is easy money lets breed this dog. The first heat cycle the dog is 6 months to 9 months old NOW this dog; females or males are not done growing to maturity. ESPECIALLY the top 10 big dog breeds and now a 6 to 9 month old puppy is NOW having puppies all in the name of making money. NOT in the interest of promoting a strong breed and temperament, bone structure and very importantly a healthy dog. Now the puppy mills continues to breed this dog every heat cycle creating a bad situation for future owners who do not realize how badly this dogs health and temperament was compromised. Most big dogs are not mature internally until they are 2 years old and in the process these PUPPY MILLS had most likely 4 litters. Now these off spring will have issues; bad hips and other health problems. Now another Puppy Mill starts this process all over again. Now this process is causing the breed to have weakened traits from a to z.

The aggressive barking by the one posters dog is not good this dog AND owner needs more training because there could be a very dangerous outcome in the future of the dog.

The top two Puppy Mill states are Alabama and Pennsylvania, There are 2 other states that are top puppy mill states but I don’t recall the other two states. Unfortunately these states are not doing much to counter act the puppy mill issues.

Sadly for the family that lost the child there is no good reason of why and no explanation that will easy this senseless loss, the pain and anger that will be with them. Also add fear to the mix because they will be fearful of any big breed dogs.

Here are the Top 10 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds.

10. Akitas

9. Boxer

8. Great Danes (Scooby Do)

7. Chow Chow

6. Dobermans

5. Alaskan Malamutes

4 German Shepherd

3. Huskies

2.Rottweilers

1. Pitbull

Of course number one being a Pitbull. There is a problem that Puppy Mills have created with dog breeds and its not only the 10 dangerous Dog Breeds its all dog breeds.

Consider a person buys a dog. Decides this is easy money lets breed this dog. The first heat cycle the dog is 6 months to 9 months old NOW this dog; females or males are not done growing to maturity. ESPECIALLY the top 10 big dog breeds and now a 6 to 9 month old puppy is NOW having puppies all in the name of making money. NOT in the interest of promoting a strong breed and temperament, bone structure and very importantly a healthy dog. Now the puppy mills continues to breed this dog every heat cycle creating a bad situation for future owners who do not realize how badly this dogs health and temperament was compromised. Most big dogs are not mature internally until they are 2 years old and in the process these PUPPY MILLS had most likely 4 litters. Now these off spring will have issues; bad hips and other health problems. Now another Puppy Mill starts this process all over again. Now this process is causing the breed to have weakened traits from a to z.

The aggressive barking by the one posters dog is not good this dog AND owner needs more training because there could be a very dangerous outcome in the future of the dog.

The top two Puppy Mill states are Alabama and Pennsylvania, There are 2 other states that are top puppy mill states but I don’t recall the other two states. Unfortunately these states are not doing much to counter act the puppy mill issues.

Sadly for the family that lost the child there is no good reason of why and no explanation that will easy this senseless loss, the pain and anger that will be with them. Also add fear to the mix because they will be fearful of any big breed dogs.

A couple of thoughts:

1. I was looking to adopt a puppy 3 years ago and really wanted to get a rescue dog. There were a large number of dogs labeled "Lab Mix" that looked suspiciously like Pitts.

2. I know friends and family that have had both Pitts and Rotts and never had an issue. Once they had problems getting homeowners insurance they suddenly had Lab Mix dogs.

3. I also periodically see news reports about breeds involved in fatalities. If there out of 100 car models that are safe, why drive the 2 that are most likely to kill you?

Wow, what a sad story. I too feel so bad for the mother of the child and for anyone who has been affected by a biting dog.

I knew a rather wealthy woman who owned a Malamute (#5 on Tom's list) who was so vicious that she took it to a dog psychologist near Sacramento, CA. The dog returned and was seemingly docile and obedient until it suddenly tore out of my acquaintance's front door and darted to a neighbor's area where it killed the neighbor's cat. Another acquaintance in Los Gatos had a Malamute who kept escaping the property to attack anything that moved until my acquaintance put some sort of electric device on the dog's colar that elicited an electric shock if the dog went near the perimeter of the property.

Thanks for all of the perspectives and the posts.

I think the american staffordshire terrier is a breed that is docile after a transfusion of fermeldahyde has been performed to replace the blood of it's own and other critters.

Yet in Chicago, over 500 people have been murdered deliberately by other people and not one of you says a thing about it. Easier to focus your rage on animals. At least they can't shoot back.

Using your logic, why not just identify the type of people that may kill others and destroy them. It's the same kind of logic.

First it was the Dobermans. Then it was the Shepards. Now its the pits.

People like you are so easily manipulated into attacking whatever is the new identified target that it makes me wonder why there is not slaughter in the streets-- oh, wait, there is slaughter in the streets in Chicago.

None of those breeds is allowed in my units. About the only dog I allow is a Chihuahua. Anything else is no. I keep my leases mtm just in case someone gets a bright idea of bringing in an emotional support animal.

Richard of MI, Absolutely they should destroy vicious dogs AND the states should make it illegal for puppy mills. However then the states would have to hire more policing for puppy mills. Sad fact is that many states can not keep their financial issues in order. Example with Michigan financial woes especially Detroit was on the verge of bankruptcy like many other cities.

The high crime rate in Chicago check out what the powers to be have done about it, ZIP nothing...

The police can not touch anyone with out being accused of abuse. There are excellent police officers across our country but the less than 1% give police a bad name. AND TV shows do not show the reality of the day to day issues an officer faces once her she steps out of bed in the morning until he or she gets safely home at night.

Start with the powers to be in a city like Chicago then work from there.

There is a prime example in PA with a case that happened in the late 70's. Travaglia and Lesko killed four people on new years eve and one was a police officers on the job for a day or so. Sadly these two are getting appeal after appeal; WHY? is an excellent question. And its called the criminal justice system who really gets the justice???

When I say we are careful,I mean it. Our yard has a wooden, 6FT high fence. Maybe a teenager could get over it(?) If we leave the property, she is put in a crate. The only time she is free in the yard is when I am there. Our walks are short as she tires easily. Being 3-legged dog her head & shoulders are supported only by the one leg requiring lots of bouncing up/down and she is exhausted easily.

The time she got out (and hit by the car)as a puppy was when she lived with my daughter, and her stupid boyfriend let her out. He's long gone now.