My point is that hunting is a valid conservation tool.
At one time in our past we were hunters; the progression and survival of our species depended on it. By hunting, we also played a part in animal population control. We were a link in the food chain, and helped a balance.
We are actually the fiercest predators on the face of the planet, not because we are strong or fast or have amazing senses, but because of our ingenuity and fine motor skills. Unfortunately our ingenuity allowed us to increase or hunting prowess at a ridiculous pace.
Our techniques and apparatuses progressed quicker than our foresight. No more passenger pigeons, very few bison, very few fish. On the other end, our successful idea to raise and domesticate animals for mass consumption also means an increase in wild animals we might have considered prey in the past. This may be throwing the balance off, or maybe it is just redistributing the weight.
We are in this ecosystem, and, try as we might to live without impacting our fragile biosphere, nature will adapt to the way we live. Fish are actually getting smaller, because we can only keep the large ones. Bears are becoming acclimated to our cities; trash cans make for easy eats. It's all to easy to forget that sooner or later cougars and the like will start to find themselves good reason to be in our backyards and unafraid of their bipedal neighbors.
I'm guessing that pit bull looks mighty tasty to a mountain lion.
On the subject of pit bulls; considering they were bred to fight, I think it is insane that they are considered for family pets. You have decades of genetics in them; the right demeanor, the right body, the right amount of hatred for other canines and anything else perceived as a threat.
I also have a problem with dobermans, rottweilers, and other dogs bred for a purpose and end up, now, being confined in a house or backyard with some gnawing need to do something they are not being utilized for. A guard dog with nothing to guard. An attack dog with nothing to attack. Even a spaniel, bred for hunting, with nothing to hunt. Some sheep dogs go nuts and try to herd anything that moves, even their owners.
Dog breeding in general is kind of sick. It is the longest running human guided genetics experiment in history. Most breeds have only come about within the last 50 years or so. Look at the poor, little pug; bred for looks, we have allowed this creature to exist and they all have horrible upper respiratory problems because of the anatomy some breeder wanted it to have. This new "pocket dog" trend is also alarming. Maybe there will be a pocket pit bull soon.
Great, bloody violent Paris Hilton can fit in her Gucci bag!
Regardless of how violent a dog is, most breeds listen to their master. With proper training and behavior modifications, even the meanest pit bull won't do anything to anyone. Just like children, their parents are to blame.
I once got told not to pet a pit bull puppy outside of a store because the owner "didn't want him to like or trust people." That disgusted me. Way to raise a maiming killer...