I have to agree with Waffy to, is they are ever made legal in this country I would love to own this magnificant breed, and too would happly share my life and family with it.  BUT I would ensure it had been bred correctly had the correct test done and did NOT come from a fighting back ground. 

If not I hope to emigrate when I am older and hope to be able to own one then.

I have researched this breed as to be honest I am slightly obsessed with them and the bad publicity that surrounds them.  From what I have read they make magnificant loyal pets if bred and reared correctly.  As we all kinow they were bred for bull baiting and fighting dogs.  But a well bred well reared, pitbull would never attack a person, even fighting dogs, as they needed to know that if they needed medical treatment during a fight that the owned could go break a fight up with out being hurt, if a dog did show aggression to humans the were not bred from, this is not the case anymore.

In America they do test to determin the likely hood of a certain breed, the Pitbull scored higher than many other breeds, hight than Poodles, Cocker spaniels and Collies. Here is the list.
http://www.atts.org/stats1.html
Here is a link about how pitbulls were bred and why. http://www.pitbull411.com/history.html

The Boston Terrier was bred for pit fighting, but over the years with selective breeding they have bred this out of this breed, so I believe that this too could be done for the pitbull, if it already has not been done my good breeders, as I have heard of pitbulls living happly with other dogs.

I beleive that ANY breed of dog can be dangerous in the wrong hands, but pitbulls and dog alike when they do turn the damage they can do is horrific, were as snappy little dogs who I have been chased off and attacked many times, my staffy was attaked by a lakeland,dont do the same kind of damage so it is never reported.    

Only people make dogs bad. its does not matter what the breed.

If reports in the tabloids are to be believed, the uncle was alleged to be a drug dealer and the dog was used for protection (as many are in inner city areas) so presumably would have been encouraged to be aggressive towards humans.

The programme appears to have made a little bit of an impact here.  Several pit bulls (that have been used for fighting) in the Belfast have been seized as a result of tip-offs from members of the public since the programme aired.  The tip of the iceberg, I'm sure, but the public now know that it is going on on their doorstep and what the signs are.  Yes, it is regrettable that the poor dogs will have to be PTS but at least it is a humane and painless death...certainly not what would have been in store for them otherwise :(

QUOTE Lokis Mum:a pitbull puppy raised and trained by ellie lawrenson's family killed her

Well say no more.:rolleyes:
If trained and socialised properly,then they are no more likely to turn than any other breed.
Reuben never stood a chance of being a 'normal' well trained,well socialised pet.He was goaded as a 16 week old pup,to 'get' his neighbours dogs and from being an 8 month old pup was made to walk the streets dragging wagon tyres behind him.Ellies whole family knew what type of dog Reuben was and they bought him for protection.They were involved in selling heroin and a couple of months prior to getting Reuben they clashed with Gypsy's.That was when they decided to get the dog to protect them and their illegal stash.

Yes and they were not only poor dog trainers but had poor parenting skills too, resulting in tragedy.

As in previous cases no matter the breed it is the humans who have been at fault, with dogs mostly already considered to be dangerous and a past history of agression.

the court case by aquitting the grandmother is laying the blame on the animal not the humans where it belongs.

If this had been a goring by a bull, or mauling by a lion who would be blamed.