[eastforker]

Looks like the dog was in distress when the girl aproached it. It does sound like an unfortunate accident and IMO could have happened with any breed of dog. I would say the grave mistake was the mother allowing the child to aproach the animal while hung up in the fence.

[Clara Lou]

The grave mistake was that the owner's fence was too low.

[raybbr]

Looks like the dog was in distress when the girl aproached it. It does sound like an unfortunate accident and IMO could have happened with any breed of dog.

I disagree. Show me one story in the recent past where a Lab, a Springer or any other breed has attacked and killed a child for no apparent reason.

[ShadowDancer]

I am not a fan of pit bulls but frightened or injured animals of any breed have the capacity to attack, it's just plain instinct.

[cricket]

While it is an accident; and tragic for sure; there were surely 'forewarnings' here; including the jeopardy even of dog himself; by repeatedly getting his collar caught in chain-link fence; (if even once; though it appears more often - see post #8)

. . . and so from that perspective; one could reasonably offer that it was an accident that did not have to happen.

And yes, for sure the fence was too low; but many motivated dogs; unless met by 'barbed wire. . .or some such; can often take on a chain link fence; no matter how high. . .so height in itself; should not offer one an imagined safety.

[RightOnline]

"...and IMO could have happened with any breed of dog."

Hardly. Haven't seen any reports of border collies or labs munching on toddlers in some time.

They're a dangerous breed ......and need to be 'bred' out of existence.