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Also, you and I both know there's a significant difference between the rare 'escape' and people who don't care if their dogs are roaming the neighborhood.

I made that point in my post. If there are persistent problems, then the authorities need to get involved.

Shooting in self defense is one thing, but on sight is another. I mean - c'mon - if a 5 year old accidentally lets out a doberman family pet (who are much mellower as a breed than they where 10 years ago), I think it is cruel. One of the dogs that I had in my garage over night was a Mastiff Rott mix (and his bulldog buddy). The family was upset - evidently a utility person had not shut the gate after him and the dogs got out.

You probably haven't read every post on this thread - I was lunged at/ attacked by a german shepherd. Many big dogs make me nervous, but I stand by my statement that shooting on sight is cruel. Humans have the power of reason and judgment, and a shooting on sight flies in the face of that.

OK, I guess we misunderstood each other. I was going overboard to make a point. Dogs that are regularly let loose by their owners are a threat to children and passers-by. The dog that seems to be a non-threat at that MOMENT you see it, is the same dog that might run up on some kid or grandma walking down the street. First option should be calling dog catcher or whatever, but that requires monitoring the dog. Not everyone is comfortable with that.

Someone related to me the story of a neighbor's dog who had attacked people before. His sister lost part of her finger or something like that in one attack, but every time this happens the dog is sent off with a relative and when it shows up cops don't do anything(why they don't INVESTIGATE, I don't know.) Then later when you encounter the owners walking their filthy animal down the street they smirk at their neighbors. Apparently, they are confident in their ability to get away with it.

The solution to such people is

1) Kill the dog as soon as possible. It has attacked before and will attack again, esp with such owners

2) If the owner does not take immediate action to stop an attack and they are at the scene--shoot them. They are as responsible for the attack as the dog is, in such cases.

Oh yeah, it was a pit bull. What a shock.