I've got a weekend place up in East Texas. Many years ago, every time I pulled up to my gate, the dogs from a home across the highway ran over to harass me. I don't think they were full blood pit bulls, but were darn close... Anyway, over time, they got to where they got closer and closer each time they came up to the gate as I pulled up.
I pulled up one day, and the larger of the two literally nipped at my pants legs. My .45 Para came out of my holster, and I shot the dog in the face at about 7' as he was inching toward me in a second attempt to bite me. It toppled over where he was standing. The other dog ran to the other side of the road barking. I drug the dog to the side of the road by the bar ditch, and left it there.
The owners cared so much for that dog, that a week later he was still there (directly in their line of sight as they pulled out of their place) swollen and smelly with his collar still on. The stench was so bad that I had to go to the farm and ranch store, buy a bag of lime, and cover it up.
My ancestors did not climb to the top of the food chain so that I might *consider* animal rights over my own. Nope. Dead dog, every time.
My .02 cents.