Letters to the Editor
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I never said pit bulls bite more often.
Nor did I say they have a different temperament or that their jaws lock. What I did say is that when they do bite, the consequences are worse.
Quote from a Center for Disease Control study:
"Despite these limitations and concerns [the authors refer to owner-related issues], the data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human dog bite related fatalities in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities [my italics]."
You can disagree with this conclusion but you can't say I'm making it up. 67% for just two types of dog, that's hard to explain away.
As for the nose-kissing: I just meant to say that kids should feel comfortable going up to domestic animals, without panicked parents running after them and screeching, "danger, danger".