No, It Isn't...

...but it'll get trotted out in the comments after every single report of another mauling:

The familiar saying “there’s no such thing as a bad dog, just a bad owner” isn’t helpful or true, says Westgarth.

“As an owner we can try to do all the ‘right’ things”, but the dog’s genetics and early experiences are beyond our control."

Try convincing the pitbull lovers of that... 

A general lack of data – about true figures for injuries, and about demographics of owners or breeds – means it is impossible to get a good picture, or to know what to do about it. Of the nine deaths this year, six involved a breed known as an American XL bully, a large muscular breed originating in the American pit bull terrier, but Tulloch says we don’t have the evidence to say it’s a dangerous breed.

I think six dead is evidence enough, surely? 

An earlier study found hospital admissions from dog bites were three times as likely in deprived areas of the country.

Is anyone really surprised at that?