My niece, maybe 10 years old at the time, was also attacked by a dog. Not a pit bull. She had to have plastic surgery. It has made me very guarded about walking outdoors.
Every dog I have ever owned would have killed itself before hurting anyone. I don't know that for a fact of course and we always caution our daughter about sticking her face in the dog's face. So I must have some doubt. But it would just shock me to no end if any dog I ever owned attacked someone without provocation of some kind.
My mom took in a stray once. Sweetest dog ever and it loved to play and loved people. In her neighborhood was a lady who did the high step, swinging arms walking thing and the dog went after her. Now my mom swears the dog was just playing. And immediately ran away when she kicked it. But evidently it drew blood.
So she called the police and animal control came. They said they had to take the dog. And I said that is a shame, I will go get her. And they said no they had to do it. I could have walked this happy dog to the truck and they could have taken her quietly and with no violence at all. But they went in and aggressively put a choker thing on her and pulled her violently (image still in my head) into the back of the vehicle. My mom was in tears over how horrible the entire incident was. I felt so bad for that little dog. It wanted to do nothing but play and be loved. I understand where the animal control folks were coming from. They were told this dog attacked someone and couldn't take any chances. It was just a sad event.
I am only bringing that story up because it still pains me. I know its really not relevant to the thread.
I just wonder what triggers the dogs in the cases where they aggressively attack. I am sure some of it is due to the owners abuse and probably some due to just some primal instinct. I am guessing some dogs can also have innate mental issues but I don't know if that is true or not. lol. A lack of nurture or an act of nature?
