OH Yes, this was a very sad story indeed, I live right next to El Paso and this story made an uproar, everybody involved agrees it is unfair to tie the dog up, and neighbors all said the dog was not mean and often saw the owner out with the dog with no problems. And it turned on the babysitter who did not know for some time the baby was missing. Tragedy for all involved a little girl and a beautiful breed had to loose thier lives over lack of responsibilty on many peoples part.
BUT If any thing positive can be said it would be... that being a Rottweiler owner I have been able to change some minds of people who once feared the breed and ran the opposite direction with the site of one. My own mother is deathly afraid of any dog much less a Rotti, and upon hearing the story I am proud to say that buzz around the office is "its how you raise them and keep them" my own mother is standing up for the breed and acutally pets my girl and buys her gifts...big step for her....and anybody who knows my husband and I know we are responsible with such a smart and hard working breed, we are working on getting ready for her first obedience show I think my husband looks ready
It is sad that the media would protray them as vicious animals, they are no more protective than the small dogs, they just have the power and size behind them that people find intimidating...that is why the media is quick to slap that on the news...sad, sad, sad. But do know there are a lot of us who have them as our pets who work hard to be fair to this breed and will continue to do so for positive talk as I was able to get around the office after this sad story.