I would like to see the 2 pits put down, and the owners fined, for all the pain and suffering they have caused, along with all damages and replacement of the shetland. I don't think the owner of the pits should ever be allowed to own another animal. Also I believe the breed (pits) should be terminated.

Jaye, I agree with you about limiting the owners from ever having dogs again. But you can't make that kind of "blanket" statement about any breed! I've met/rescued/adopted out bunches of pits that were absolute darlings....it's not their fault if their owners are irresponsible scumbags!

The irresponsible owner(s) of the dogs should definitely be fined and should have to pay for damages caused by their dogs, but this isn't the fault of the dogs or Pit Bulls as a breed. These dogs need to be evaluated for their temperament towards humans and rehomed with people who are responsible enough to keep their dogs properly confined. They attacked a pony, which is very sad, but they didn't attack a person and this attack doesn't mean they will attack a person. Animal aggression and human aggression are totally different. They shouldn't be punished for behaving like animals, but the owners should be punished for being careless and not having control of their dogs. Ignorance is what should be terminated Jaye. BLAME THE DEED, NOT THE BREED. Terminating an entire breed won't stop irresponsible dog owners from obtaining another breed to ruin.

I think the police and perhaps an animal cruelty investigator should look at the owners more closely. perhaps they or people they know are breeding these pits and possibly training them for fighting. a properly socialized dog (or pit) would not go straight to the jugular of a much larger animal unless that part of its instinct was nurtured...teaching it to be a baiting dog.

For someone to say that a breed be terminated is very ignorant. Educate yourself about the breed: http://www.badrap.org/rescue/

Gracie, nurture had nothing to do with this, it is nature for Pit Bulls. Bullbaiting is the original purpose of this breed because they were bred to bring down bulls for butchers and then later as entertainment for spectators, so a pony would be no trouble. Once bullbaiting was banned they were used to fight eachother in dogfighting matches, no training or baiting required. Animal aggression is an inherint trait in this breed(not to be confused for human aggression) as with several other breeds bred for combat with other animals. Socialization cannot remove animal aggression which is a common trait in terrier breeds like Pit Bulls and even Jack Russell Terriers.

If these dogs attacked their owners instead of their unsuspecting neighbors and their pets, this problem would be solved. How many times do we have to hear, "Oh, they're so gentle. I'd let them play with my baby. I don't know what happened"? A disabled woman resting in her bed was recently attacked by her neighbor's two pit bulls that had pushed in through the sliding glass door that she had left slightly open for her own medical aid dog. The owner kept saying that he didn't understand it, but there had been seventeen previous complaints about the dogs!!!!! If it's not the breed, then how come we don't hear about poodles and shelties terrorizing the neighbors in their own yards and homes? Pit bulls --who needs them?

I know of a Jack russell terrier who attack and ate the top of a head of a foal as it was being born it ate its eyes and killed the foal, It was a terrible loss to the family who owned the horse.
I also know of non pit bull dogs who have killed sheep, cattle, chickens, cats etc. But you never hear about them do you?