I've read the story at least 4 times and here's my opinion.

First of all, the girls were on the owner's property visiting (whether it was with the resident's permission or not was not specified in the story).

The dogs were in their own environment minding their own business, guarding their owner's property.

Could it have been that the dogs were protecting their pups?

There is far too much information missing from this story. Where were the girls' parents at the time of the attack? Have the dogs bitten before? Were the dogs in their own fenced in yard and the girls entered?

I think it was unfair that all the dogs were euthanized. It seems to me that they were only protecting their home and babies.

While I realize that the mother was distraught and thought only 2 years was not enough time for the dog's owner to serve, I think she needs to take part of the responsibility as well for not teaching her daughter how to behave around strange animals.