This is a touchy subject....and I will approach it with just cause.
I am more playing the devils advocate here because I think it is an interesting debate. I am in no way in favor of euthanizing innocent animals, and think that practice is inhuman.
First off I just want to say, people may think they know their animals but some of these animals are beartraps with muscle. They can be extremely dangerous. I have had a pit bull, members of my family have had several chows, dobermans, a rottweiler, a st. bernard. I am familar with these animals, and they were ALL great dogs.
But, when I worked as a phone company repairman, even the most friendly dogs can become vicious. I have been out to peoples farms where the dog wouldn\'t even let me get out of the truck to go to the front door. No one was home at the time. When I finally came back a day later, the customer was mad at me and said their dog would never behave like that.
I have had dogs chase me through back yards, and one dog being walked by its owner rushed over and bit me for no reason. The lady said she had never seen her act like that. I suppose it could have been the tools hanging from my belt.
I got to the point where I would carry little doggie treats in my truck. Sometimes this worked, sometimes it didn\'t.
I don\'t blame the dogs, they are just doing what they think is appropriate, protecting their own BUT my point is, you don\'t know how a dog will react to a stranger.
Several insurance companies WILL NOT sell you home-owners insurance if you have a \'dangerous breed\' animal. At first I balked when I heard this type of fiscal black mail, but soon realized it does make sense.
You could have the worlds best behaved dog, but what would happen when a toddler accidently pinched it? Would it snap?
Finn is absolutely right also. There are a bunch of sick freaks that get pleasure over raising a vicious dog, and breed it and train it to be so. I see it no different than someone being careless with a firearm or weapon. They should be punished for that. But what do you do? Wait until someone is attacked?
A fellow in our town was raising a pair of mountain lions a few years back. Should that be allowed? He kept them caged, but guess what? They got loose. No one was harmed, but what is the point of having them? The law came down on him pretty hard. But is a mountain lion less or more dangerous than a large german shepard?
It is very sad that these people would ever have to lose their family pet. I know people get attached to animals and they are no less a member of a family than a person would be.
But what is the right answer?