Doesn't matter, still a dog attack. Now if you wanted to say "dogs that are strong should be handled differently" I would be in FULL agreement. I believe anyone owning an animal (yes animal) that is over 30lbs should have to pass a qualification first. However, the majority of dog attacks that are, one way or another, passed off as APBT attacks are not from the type of people you would socialize with (needless to say put your animal around).

Dogs I would list of capable of inflicting severe harm (short version):

APBT
American and English Bull dogs
Rotts
Doberman
Labradors
Retrievers
Chows
Husky
St. Bernard
Any Mastiff


People love to make it a clean cut case, and just like human society, it isn't.

IMO, no dog (NONE) should be allowed to roam free without a leash EVER. It is an animal and people seem to assume "oh I know my dog, it's fine".

Just to let you know how I treat my dog:
- never is off a leash outside, ever.
- never has a collar off (inside or out)
- responds to several verbal commands to put herself in specific areas of the house
- is NEVER allowed unattended around any visitor in the house.
- is not allowed around other dogs without an insane amount of supervision (and again, on a leash).

I doubt most dog owners, of any dog, take such stringent precautions. I am routinely told that I should take it easier on her by visitors, I don't. You can't treat an animal as though it has human characteristics, it doesn't. It is a pack animal and will always check to see who is the Alpha in the relationship.

I would hazard to say the odds of you getting shot or hit by a car are better then an attack by any dog 'deemed dangerous' (and there are over 40M dogs in the US). I feel the same way on this topic that I do about gun control. Kid gets your gun and kills someone, you're responsible just as much as the kid.

__________________

An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting.

"promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare"

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.