What should be done with dogs that kill children and are too unruly and vicious to be used in war? Here is an idea: the local police can take them for "keeping the streets safe." At least, that's how one city in Thailand is doing it.

A dad purchased two Rottweilers to "protect" his wife and their 2-year-old daughter. The dogs more or less immediately killed his girl. Not wanting to euthanize his pets -- after all, they probably were not getting enough love -- he attempted to give them to the Thai army.

The army unfortunately rejected the dogs, saying they "lack the qualities of military dogs." Translation: too violent for the battlefield. Undeterred from his humane objective, however, the dad turned to the local police force. Happily, they accepted them!

I am sure this dad feels safer already. (Read the story.)

The grandmother of a baby boy mauled to death by a Rottweiler took a massive overdose of painkillers to end her own life.

Paula Williamson, 42, of Yorkshire, Great Britain, was the grandmother of 13-month-old Archie-Lee Hirst. The boy's killing had made her distraught. She filled a number of prescriptions for Oxycodone over several months in a secret plan to take her own life.

Everything about Archie-Lee's death has revealed the worst about the people in his life. His 18-year-old mother had left him alone with his aunts, who were only 16 and 7 years old. This was in the home of the other grandmother, who owned the Rottweiler. The dog snatched the baby from the 7-year-old, and killed him on December 28, 2007.

One week later, an angry mob confronted the 18-year-old outside a bar, and beat and shoved her in retaliation for the child's death. She had to move out of her apartment. On April 12, 2008, his other grandmother ended her own life. (For details, see the stories about the suicide and the attack on the mother.)

Generally speaking, the term "service animals" is not currently limited by law, and therefore could refer to any animals that assist, support or provide service to persons with disabilities. A variety of animals have been trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. Among others, monkeys have been used because of their manual dexterity. However, the prevalent service animal is a dog.

However, there have been widespread abuses of the privileges given to service animals. Among other things, individuals have taken a number of questionable animals into restaurants, hospitals and other establishments, claiming that the animals were service animals. These included pigs, miniature horses, snakes and iguanas. (See Check your faux service dog at the door; see also the link in the next paragraph.)

The federal government therefore is considering limiting which animals can be considered "service animals." (Click here to go to Dog Bite Law and read the proposed law as of August 2008.)

On July 28, 2008, Zane Alen Earles, a 2-month-old boy, was killed by his parents' dog while the child was sitting in a swing, located inside their house. This happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is a strict liability state. (Click here to read the article.)

A 10-year-old boy's injuries were so severe following an attack by his family's pit-bull terrier Saturday morning that his right arm had to be amputated above the elbow. This happened in Antwerp Township, Michigan.

The boy was at home and in the care of his 23-year-old brother. The parents were on vacation. The older brother left the boy with the family pet, a 2-year-old male pit-bull terrier, for about 10 minutes to go to a bank. The dog was attacking the boy when the brother returned. (Click here to read the article.)

There is an ongoing controversy as to whether pit bulls should be banned. The arguments pro and con are summarized at Breed Specific Laws on Dog Bite Law.

To those who own pit bulls, I advise caution and being committed to courtesy. You must be cautious to properly socialize and train your dog, keep it in good health, and prevent children from getting into its face. These principles apply to all dogs, but are most important for those that are bigger and more powerful.

In the 1970s, Doberman breeders decided to produce less aggressive dogs. As a result, the Doberman is a better domestic animal and not feared as before. There is no reason why pit bull owners and breeders should not consider taking similar steps now.

On July 25, 2008, Addison Sonney, a one-year-old girl from Erie, Pennsylvania, was killed by her family's English Sheepdog mix. The toddler was with her parents at a cemetery, where her father worked. The reason for the attack is unknown. The girl's mother was hospitalized for injuries sustained as she tried to protect her daughter from the dog. (Click here to read the article.)

Pennsylvania is a strict liability state. The state's civil dog bite law is the result of the interaction of criminal statutes and case law. Victims are treated differently, based on a number of factors such as the nature and extent of the injury. (For details, see Pennsylvania on Dog Bite Law.)

This complexity is unnecessary and confusing. The state should enact a strict liability statute such as the Model Dog Bite Statute.