How sad.

While I don't think the dog should have been shot, etc, I disagree that Belgians are friendly looking -- malinois being the variety that most would find least friendly-appearing. In a picture, a Belgian may appear quite nice, but in "real life," Belgians have a certain way of moving, and they have what is called the "Belgian stare" that sends alot of people on edge. I often have people ask me if my dogs are wolves.

Honestly the only plausable thing I can think of, though grasping for straws here -- is that the man was unable to reach his young son in the vehicle due to the dog's presence. It doesn't say how old the child was -- it could have been a baby for all we know. It could have been 40 degrees and the windows were rolled up. Perhaps he had run into the house because he'd forgotten something and left his son for one minute only to come back to find a dog in front of the vehicle. Now it may not give someone an excuse to shoot a dog, but we should give this man the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he had a good reason that the media is failing to admit (Remember -- the media?? The thing that ruined pit bulls?).

There are two sides to every story. It is a sad event and it could have been prevented but sometimes there is more than what there seems.