Yes, it’s unfortunate, but that really was a vicious dog. A nice dog is very nice, a bad dog is terrifying. The way he went after that kid was frightening, and quite frankly I’m not sure the mother would have been able to get the better of things if the cat hadn’t been there.
The surprising thing was the dog’s body language; it approached the child without apparent hostility, as though it just wanted to sniff him and, possibly, play with him. Then, when it got close enough, WHAM!!, it went into full wolf/predator mode. Never was a dog so deserving of its end as that one. BTW, I’m dog daddy to two big, friendly dogs, an 85 lb. Pitador and a 110 lb. Great Dane.
I have had 2 bad dogs. One was large and mean but managable. The other was a terrier mix. Sneaky and mean. It would be friendly and loving but jump on your lap. It then used it’s paw to get you to rub its chest.
If you stopped it would growl and use it’s paw again.
If you didn’t start again that was a snap...stop again it was a biting!
Bit my young son....put it down. Sad but no regrets.