Victims want breeds gone

Young Jack Hartigan, 12, had his face torn open when he was attacked by two American pit bull terriers in late 2010.

Jack, who was just six years old at the time, has since undergone almost 20 procedures to repair his shredded face and scalp.

Calling for tighter restrictions on dangerous dogs, Jack's father Patrick Hartigan said he could not understand why people kept certain breeds as pets.

"What are they good for?" he said.

"People in the bush might need them but not in the suburbs. They take them hunting and then lock them up when they get home and the dogs might not get out again for weeks."

Mr Hartigan said new laws, such as licensing or regulations on securing certain breeds, could help prevent future attacks. "I don't know what the answer is [and] I can't see anything happening in a hurry.

"There's always people who will break the rules and some laws will take forever to sink in, but you've got to start somewhere."

Daniel Meyers lost a finger, part of his hand, a chunk of his tricep and suffered nerve damage after he was set upon by two pit bulls in March last year. He said he previously loved all dogs and had felt sorry for the two pit bulls - which he said had not been been well cared for - before the attack.

But being mauled caused him to hate certain breeds and he said he hoped the ACT government would take action to protect the community.

"I just want them banned. I don't want anyone else to get hurt," Mr Meyers said.

"I only like caring dogs now."

Mr Meyers is suing the ACT government for allegedly failing to prevent the attack despite receiving repeated warnings from residents.

Documents filed in the ACT Supreme Court by Ken Cush & Associates on Mr Meyers' behalf allege the government failed to ensure residents were kept safe from the dogs.

Justice Hilary Penfold, who heard Mr Hartigan's case in July last year, has yet to hand down her findings.

The ACT government does not currently list specific breeds as dangerous but individual dogs can be declared dangerous depending on behaviour and history.