Another week, another report of a horrific pit bull attack.
A 7-month-old infant in Columbus, Ohio, was killed after being mauled by one of her family’s three pitbulls.
— AF Post (@AFpost) April 13, 2025
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/CmbewVxjws
I’m deeply invested in this debate as the owner of a pit bull mix, which slightly shifts the conversation, but I’m still mindful of the breed’s reputation. Seven years ago, Rocky, our pit bull mix, wandered onto my father-in-law’s ranch in North Florida after a hurricane. He was tangled in barbed wire, and after freeing him, my father-in-law searched for his owner. No one claimed Rocky, so he stayed. Rocky was a joy until his playful antics started knocking over new calves, which wasn’t sustainable on a ranch. When my father-in-law asked my son to take him, Rocky found his forever home with us.
Rocky is the gentlest giant I’ve ever known—obedient, fiercely loyal, accident-free, and wouldn’t harm a fly. But I’m cautious. If we’d had small children when Rocky arrived, I might not have taken him in. When visitors come over, Rocky retreats to my room, lounging on his sofa, maybe catching some Fox News. It’s a precaution I insist on. In my view, pit bull owners with young children are taking a serious risk—one I wouldn’t chance.
The most striking thing to me about the pitbull debate is the apparent inability of most pitbull defenders to engage without dishonest avoidance of the issues and hot bursts of anger.
— Abby Libby (@abbythelibb_) April 14, 2025
If the argument is that pits are safe when owned by stable, disciplined people, um...
This is why I avoid arguing about pit bulls. Their track record is indefensible—many have killed people. I believe it’s largely due to breeding for fighting, but when you adopt a pit bull from a rescue, how can you be sure it wasn’t trained to be aggressive? Perhaps ones raised in your home from puppies are safer, but then you don't know their blood line and the temperament. It's all a crap shoot. With all of the kinds of dogs there are in the world, maybe pitties aren't best for families with small children.
I don't want a pit bull but their defense is obvious.
— Bill the Cat Guy (@BilltheCatGuy1) April 14, 2025
There are 4.5 million pit bulls. They kill an average of 18 people a year. The murder rate for humans is about 18 times higher.
A baby is safer with a pit bull than with the mother's boyfriend.
I mean, I've written extensively on why single mothers should not allow their boyfriends around their children alone ever, so we can agree there must be supervision of both pit bulls and boyfriends. That's a fair comparison.
My last roommate had a pit and she was a sweetheart. But she was also deliberately trained and still had some weird triggers. Generally speaking, I don't trust them.
— BookstoreThor (@BookstoreThor) April 14, 2025
If my son and his fiancée have a child while Rocky is still with us, he’ll come live with me. We adore our dog, but a new human family member will always come first. Rocky will never be left alone with a small child. If you own a pit bull, it’s your responsibility to ensure they’re never unsupervised with a child—the consequences are too devastating to risk.
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