I think it's more complicated. Blaming and killing the dog is partially victim blaming. As you stated the dog may not be the issue, but what the owners do with it, or sometimes just the history of the breed regardless of the individual dog's dimeaner. Child trafficking is a problem in some countries but I don't think we should punish the children.
Granted, some dogs are unfortunately bred to be monsters and that's diffrent. But for other dogs,
I think the issue is (or should be) more around Breeding and intent to breed and/or fight. Neutered pits (even pure breds) are a whole different story than a male unneutered pit. Then when you throw in the genetic hybridity of some mixes it becomes even less of an issue.
More to the point however, the grey area around the "Type" policy is what's alarming because mix-dogs are in vague unprotected zone. And as you stated, the dog might be as loving as the day is long. Does this dog really deserve to be put down (or barred from entry) just because she may have some phenotype of a pit and people might want to steal her? And would they really want to steal her if she's so passive?
I think it should come down to enforcement on fighting rings and responsibility of owners (maybe stricter dog licensing for aggressive breeds), not excluding (and especially not killing!) harmless dogs that happen to have brindle stripes.
Blaming and killing the dog is indeed punishing the victim in many cases, but I don't go along with the child trafficking analogy, in my experience (and I have quite a bit in this area) most trafficked children do not pose any risk to hurting, maiming or killing other children.
Anyway, back to topic, you are also right that the issue should be more around breeding (yeah, good luck with that, people like me have fought for years to promote safe and respectable breeding), but whilst there is a lucrative industry for what is now considered a disposable possession, nothing will change.
The only difference neuturing will make is perhaps in a dog/dog situation, it won't make any difference in a dog/child/adult situation.
To my knowledge, no-one puts down a breed based on their coat type, I didn't understand the brindle stripe comment? Licensing was abolished in this country many years ago- a big mistake, as were the rules for breeding b*tches and how many people kept, but again, when the payoff is so lucrative and you have some governments actively encouraging their people to breed dogs for added income (Ireland) and local authorities that provide grants for "puppy farmers" (Welsh Assembly) and aggressive breeds (Pit Bull) are made fashionable by influential hip-hop cultural icons (thanks Big Boi et al)as well as dogs in general being touted around by the likes of Paris Hiltonscum et al and dog fighting is considered a "sport", it will never change.
I have personally had an English B.T latch on to an elderly dog of mine many years ago, I have seen many fatal bait injuries at first hand, you come tell me when you have seen that that an unneutered animal makes any difference and then we will talk, and talk and talk, this is one of my most emotive subjects- I make no apologies for that. The clue is in "BULL", these dogs are strong enough to take down bulls and kill them, that's the point.
People will just have to come up with another alternative for their dogs. For me, my dog was so important to me, I chose to stay 6 years longer in this country because I didn't want to uproot my own dog and put her at risk on a flight, I would not consider bringing a dog here who would be subject to this law and it does happen to be an enforceable law- one of the few we have these days and as a start, I support it.
