Well there’s not much understood about this dog other than that it was a pit. Was it old? Sick? Had it been trained to be mean? Was the child trying to do something to the dog out of adult supervision?
Having pet cats is one way of having a pet that is less likely to harm a child, if a pet is desired. All dogs will bite, and will bite rather than attempt to flee like most cats will if they sense a threat.
I was regaled in my youth with the story of a neighbor, our doctor actually, who heard the dog whimpering and found his toddler son with his hand down the dog's throat. A collie.
Pitbulls are designed to attack and kill. They are weapons with mind of their own. No operator necessary for them to kill and maim. Poor children that die due to adults’ stupidity.
Is it a Darwin award win if your offspring dies because of your stupidity? Sounds harsh and not fair, but laws of nature are hardly fair.