Why can you go to a dog show where there are up to 50 Pit Bulls (usually intact males) together and they are surrounded by other dogs, children, strangers poking and pulling them and yet no one ever gets bit? I will tell you why....because the dogs there are well bred and raised. If they are more dangerous and born killers as you imply this couldn't possiblly happen! Please stop listening to the fear monger press and get out and meet some dogs and owners who raise wonderful dogs.
You just aren't going to see these animals mauling/maiming/killing people when they come from responsible breeders and are handled by people who UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF OWNING SAID BREED.
The guy in the story being debated OBVIOUSLY not only didn't understand his own breed, he didn't understand DOGS, period.
Animal behaviorists everywhere must be ripping their hair out at this. It's COMPLETELY illogical to expect ANIMALS to see a squirmy, defenseless, tiny creature, that makes a MYRIAD of squeeky, high-pitched, PREY-LIKE sounds as a HUMAN BEING. Anyone who's ever seen a dog chase screaming kids (even in what looks to be like fun), can recognize the potential for danger there.
I learned that lesson myself when I was ten years old and got nailed in the leg after running and screaming from my Aunt's cattle dog mix. The minute I stopped, turned, and issued a command to sit- she did so. I got my first REAL lesson in animal behavior right there.
That prey drive is present in varying degrees in ANY breed. It is OUR responsibility as OWNERS to know how to deal with it effectively. And part of that means not being dumb enough to leave a 1 year old child alone with a pack of dogs.
Dogs are NOT humans, and we should NEVER expect them to operate by our own social mores. To do so is a HUGE disservice not only to ourselves, but to the dogs as well.
To argue that they SHOULD is to argue a completely useless point. We can't make dogs any less canine. We CAN however educate PEOPLE to "become more canine." To learn to stop anthropomorphising their animals and see them for what they are- ANIMALS.