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Dangerous Dogs

This column was written by CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.


So I'm walking down the street yesterday and I come to a corner where there's lots of people waiting for the light to change. And there's a guy with two pit bulls. The dogs weren't the biggest ones I've seen. They were though, untrained, tugging on the leash.

I got as far away from the dogs as possible, and wondered if the dogs' owner had any idea of the potential danger he was parading up Columbus Avenue.

I did my first pit bull story about twenty years ago. The victim said she didn't know what hit her when a neighborhood dog ran onto her porch and proceeded to take a portion of her leg off.

I've since heard the pleas of pit bull owners who say the attacks are the fault of bad owners, not the breed.

Still, I can't help but believe part of the allure of owning a pit bull is the danger. If it's not, then why bother? The issue has come to a head in dozens of cities across the country. Some towns have outright banned the breed.

You can keep your pit bull. Just keep him away form me.


Harry's daily commentary can be heard on manyCBS Radio News affiliates across the country.
By Harry Smith
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