Surely you want to rethink that statement.
Okay, I've rethought the statement.
If I mounted a pair of chainsaws on the front of an SUV and then drove around a neighborhood trying to cut the neighborhood kids into pieces, they'd be safer than if a 150 lbs. rottweiler got loose in the neighborhood.
Here's why.
My two year old knows enough to stay away from the chainsaw wielding SUV, but to him, the rottweiler is a big doggy, which is roughly the same size as the baby cow at the petting zoo nearby. Same with my 3 and 4 year old.
If the dog runs loose in the neighborhood and decides to lay down on my lawn in the heat, my kids will walk right up to it.
What are the chances that dog will get loose? I don't know, are they better than the chances that it will rip some baby from a mother's arms and tear it to pieces? Who wants to bet? Who wants to wager their kids life on that bet?
Chain it down with something sturdy in your backyard or put it down is what I say. And I'll go further.
If I did find that dog on my lawn, which course of action is most likely to safeguard my kids.
1) Kill it dead.
2) Call animal control, who will contain the stray pup, return it to the moron that let the gorilla escape from its cage so that it can get away again.
3) Call 911 and wait the 20 minutes for the cops to get there so that they can call animal control. They won't site the owner for at least negligence and at worst reckless endangerment.
4) Let it walk away so that it can maim or kill somebody elses kids.
Pit bulls and rottweilers deserve to go to the same zoos we send lions and tigers.