1987, I was managing a gas station with a mini mart for one of the major oil companies. Across the road was a used car lot that always had some nice cars. The owner of the lot came to the mini mart for coffee every morning walking his pit bull.
His dog attacked a woman walking inside to pay for her gas. The dog got ahold of her leg and she fell to the ground. While the dog was trying to pull her another customer did just what you suggested, pulled a big folder and stabbed the dog at the base of the skull. He must have severed the spinal cord because the dog just dropped.
I know the woman sued the car lot owner and she sued the oil company. I never found out whether she was successful against the oil company, but she was awarded a large judgment against the lot owner. He ended up closing up a year later and moved away.
Witnessing that event made me leery of pits after that. My oldest daughter has had a pit for 13 years and he’s always been a loving dog. It’s around cats and children and never a problem. He has Cushings disease and hip displasia and is on his last leg. They are putting him down Monday, she sent me a video of him scarfing a steak they grilled for him today.
I love dogs, but some can be scary, and as some have said, it’s usually due to dumb owners.