[allmendream]

1) Large and/or aggressive breed of dog? Yes. Pit bulls.
2) Running loose, often >1 running loose? Yes. A pack of four out looking to raise hell.
3) Prior reports of running loose and/or aggression? Not reported.
4) Unrealistic expectation of gentleness in regards to the dog from dog owner, often despite #3 above? If they were where they could all break out and run loose - yes.

I support criminal charges. Four pit bulls who, if they broke out, would (and did) hunt down and kill a woman walking down the street - are a deadly weapon left unattended and unsecured by the two moron pit bull owners in question.

[brytlea]

If someone’s four collies or golden retrievers are at large and maul and kill someone they should be (the owner) held accountable. And I don’t think a dog wakes up one morning and becomes a killer, regardless of the breed (baring some weird health issue). The owners know when a dog has the potential to bite, much less kill or seriously injure someone.
Bottom line, leash laws, dogs need to be under owners control regardless of breed, owners need to be held accountable, and before they hurt someone, regardless of breed. Most pit bulls never bite anyone.
And no, I have golden retrievers, in case that was your next question, but even if you killed all pit bulls tomorrow, there would be another breed to take their place. The idiots who like to own some big bad dog would get a cane corso or mastiff or something, breed the nastiest thing they could find and suddenly we would be hearing an outcry about that breed. If we could ban stupid people it would help.
Oh, and prayers for the family of the poor woman. What an awful way to die.