Dangerous dogs and their owners have become the bane of the police, who have to seize thousands of illegal pets every year.
There is also an increase in the number of banned breeds, used for status by owners keen on intimidating others.
Channel 5's 'Dangerous Dog Owners and Proud' goes behind the headlines of small children being mauled to meet the people who want to keep these dogs as pets, sometimes illegally, and who want to train them to be vicious.
Prepare to squirm - we have an exclusive, relatively benign clip, above.
Nick is 19, and lives in Eltham, south east London. He was stabbed last year, and has no hesitation about putting his red-nose pit bull terrier Sergeant between him and his next assailant.
"If anyone tries it with me, my dog is going before I do," he says. "He's the front-liner, the pawn."
Over in Nuneaton, Tracey Dunn has trained her Staffordshire bull terriers to be vicious in order to protect her home and her son. All these dog owners have their reasons, it turns out. Whether you agree with their methods is a different matter.
'Dangerous Dog Owners and Proud' is on Channel 5 tonight at 9pm.