[She hits a grand slam tonight]

the pit was on it’s 1st night there & chained at that & a small child walked to it in the yard.
what else would you expect, I’ve have expected any dog to attack.
That back door should have been better secure.

[behzinlea]

Then you wouldn’t mind if a parent or other concerned relative went over with a shotgun and took care of the dog? It’s just a natural response, after all.

[fleagle]

I hear that, but if it happened to be, say, a Pomeranian chained out back we wouldn't have a dead child.

I have respect for all breeds of dogs, but a dog like a pitty in the wrong hands is just too dangerous.

And absolutely, the house needed to be secured to prevent a child from wandering outside. This was an entirely preventable tragedy on many levels.

[null and void]

I read it as middle of the day. Otherwise, pretty much what you said, most dogs wouldn’t lash out, but chained up in an unfamiliar environment, “abandoned” by it’s owner, it’s a bit of a craps-shoot with any breed.

[Leisler]

"I’ve have expected any dog to attack" Yeah right. What other pearls of wisdom do you have, blacks and watermelon, Jews and money, Irish and booze? You know everything being the same and all.

[Wicket]

Sad story.

Yeah, my sheltie would have ripped his leg off. And my neighbor’s Golden Retriever would have savaged him unmercifully. Right. . .

The caregivers were negligent - getting up just after noon - I would guess druggies.

But the dog was and is dangerous - more so than many breeds, which are more likely to be protective than attack a child that young. Many dogs recognize youngsters across species lines - toddler, kitten, puppy. Herding breeds in particular, but many others share the characteristic.

[CholeraJoe]

I’ve have expected any dog to attack.

My two Labradors have never attacked a human, adult or child, who entered their back yard. They've been exposed to workmen, meter readers, friends of both sexes and my two godsons ages 5 and 2.