Pit bulls

2017-12-23:

Should pit bulls be banned, as a danger to humans, both their owners and others?
I say yes,
as a result of an accumulation of stories of humans being killed and gravely injured by the creatures.
Obviously, they are a hazard.
Who can reasonably deny that?
And what is the compensating value they bring?

This statement was prompted by the results turned up today by a google search on "dog mauling",
which in turn was prompted by the stories about the recent fatal mauling by pit bulls of 22-year-old Bethany Lynn Stephens:

http://wtvr.com/2017/12/18/press-conference-on-mauling-by-dogs/
“Let me cut right to the chase,
the most important detail that we did not release
because we were worried about the well-being of the family
is that in the course of trying to capture the dogs early Friday morning...
we turned and looked…I observed, as well as four other deputy sheriffs,
the dogs eating the ribcage on the body,”
[Sheriff James] Agnew said.


http://people.com/crime/dog-mauling-death-expert-reacts/
Over the last two decades,
[Dr. Richard Polsky, an academically trained expert on animal behavior and dog bites]
says there have been between 30 and 45 fatal dog attacks in the United States.
Polsky admits that most involved pit bull-type dogs
but notes Rottweilers and mastiffs have also attacked humans.
Almost always, the dog is male with little to no socialization or training, he says.

“Most of the victims are very young or old, and they have no defense against a big, strong muscular dog,”
Polsky tells PEOPLE.
Like in Stephens’ case, “most of these incidences happen when the victim is alone.”