I just saw another television news report about a Pit Bull mauling and killing a child. You can almost set your watch based on the regularity of PBs attacking and killing someone. Occasionally you hear of a victim surviving but even they end up being badly injured and are usually adults. Children seldom survive PB attacks. And so why is it that PBs are so popular that they are kept as pets or for some other reason?

 What is it that motivates a person to own a Pit Bull given that they are so vicious and unpredictable. Pit Bulls are bred and maintained for their aggressive nature and apparently can be extremely prone to attack and maul a small child to death. Children are prone to curiosity and exploration to satisfy that curiosity. A child might approach a PB simply out of a natural attraction to animals. A PB can immediately interpret a child’s approach or presence as aggressive. Consequently the dog attacks and mauls or maims and kills.

 Does a person keep such an animal as a defense against the outside world? Do they keep such a dog as a warning to others that he or she will tolerate no disagreement or opposing opinions that they interpret as counter to their own? Do PB owners view themselves and their dogs as a bulwark against imagined attacks from outside their own circle? If a person insists on owning a PB, why doesn’t he control the animal in such a way that it will be in no position to attack a child or adult? Do PB owners keep the dogs simply as pets?

 Your opinions on the ownership or non-ownership of Pit Bulls are requested. Would particularly like to hear from PB owners about how attacks on children or adults might be prevented.

CoH applies.