The thing is, even though the almost bottom line is that it IS irresponsible owners, breeders etc, not the dog's fault....the very bottom line is, that all that aside, when these dogs do attack, they tend to be extraordinarily determined and tenactious...more difficult to break off the attack. And this is what is particularily dangerous. I'm not saying that other dogs don't attack or are dangerous too, but these dogs were designed and bred for fighting. Their jaws are incredible.
So, yes...it is the fault of owners for letting their dogs loose and it is the fault of bad breeders who breed bad temperaments sometimes. But when these dogs get loose, I think the risk is very great that if they do attack, the damage will be terrific. They just don't stop easily.
So, blaming the owners and bad breeders instead of the breed doesn't stop the attacks on dogs or people. If this is true, that statistically, Pits are attacking by such large numbers, then I understand peoples' worry about them as a breed. Sure, other dogs attack and are horribly dangerous too. But I do hear about an awful lot of pit attacks...media or not.
I'm sort of on the fence with this, I guess. I don't like breed legislation. Heaven knows...I have a Doberman. And I wouldn't like it even if I didn't have a Doberman.
I guess owners need to pay handsomely for their carelessness. They need their dogs taken away, maybe a ban on them for ever owning another dog again.....if their dog seriously attacks someone....regardless of the breed.
I was bitten seriously by some mixed breed dog, not very big...I think a Lab/terrier type mix. (?)