First of all, whether we want to hear it or not, this is by and large the owners’ fault. If you read the article, there were signs that these dogs showed aggression towards the child way before this incident. Had the owners - the parents - taken action and found another home for those dogs, this may very well have not happened. If you do have an animal - any animal - that shows aggression and has potential to do actual physical damage, it's the responsibility of the humans to take charge and find a new home for that animal before something tragic like this happens. Having two obviously aggressive dogs in the same house with the source of their aggression is poor judgment all around.
Second of all, what's true for one is not true for all. The reason “bad breeds” get their title is because of these kinds of articles. My rotty would never make the news because she's sweet and wants nothing more than a cuddle and a pat on the head. Likewise, “bad breeds” will always be bad simply because they're not portrayed as anything BUT. Dogs are like people, it's about how they're raised. Raise a dog well and, like my rotty, it's the biggest teddy bear you'll ever find. Raise it inappropriately and it can turn sour.
Third of all, yes this is horrible and no I'm not saying it's not a big deal. In this case, the police did the right thing and killed the animals, but saying we need to wipe out an entire breed is just silly. If a tree limb crashes down and hits you on the head, you don't cut down all the trees in the nation. Pretty much every breed of dog has this potential for aggression. Little ones, big ones - tick them off and yes, they can do serious damage. It's about raising them right, understanding the nature of the beast, and not harboring them in a situation where that aggression might come into play.
Sorry for the double-post, the first one timed out and I assumed it didn’t display. My B!