September 19, 2007
Pit Bull Attacks - Why the Media should be Ashamed
If I here one more “expert” say there is an epidemic of fatal dog attacks or even dog attacks I think I will snap like an over stretched rubber band.
First, let’s look at what an epidemic is…
The definition of an epidemic is: “extremely prevalent; widespread“, or “a rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something“.
I have been dealing with the back lash of media reports for years. Many Pit Bull owners have and will continue to suffer because of the media’s biased, flat out low down, reporting.
We are not having an epidemic. If you consider the number of dogs plus the number of owners and non-owners out there the amount of dog attacks, especially fatal dog attacks is so puny it is amazing to me why we are in such a “crisis” over the topic.
The media should be ashamed. Let me give you an example (one of hundreds by the way) of biased reporting…
On August 18th 2007 a Labrador attacked a 70 year old man sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Police officers arrived at the scene and shot and killed the dog after it charged the officers. This event was reported in a local paper with a single article.
Compare that to the 59 year old woman who was attacked in her home by two roaming Pit Bulls. The event was covered by major news stations like CNN, MSNBC, Fox and was written about in over two hundred and thirty articles.
The woman even had a press conference!
Local governments base their laws on media reports. A mistaken report said that two Pit Bulls killed a 4 year old in Texas. The media identified the dogs as Pit bulls the day of the attack. Despite every single animal expert that actually handled the dogs stating they were not in anyway Pit Bulls. The local government had a meeting to discuss banning Pit Bulls shortly after that. Their decision was 100% based on media reports. I mean if all the experts were saying the dogs were not Pit Bulls then how did they come to that meeting with Pit Bulls as the topic?
I feel for dog attack victims I really do. We are not in a state of emergency here about these things. We are in a media induced hysteria. They feed fear and death into the television because it captures readers and viewers. Not because they care about our lives.
If you think breeds (American Pit Bull Terriers and related breeds to be specific) are to blame for these attacks I will leave you with this…
“The dog in Saturday’s horrible killing was, yes as almost always, a German Shepherd, commonly called a police dog…..Yet, we go on permitting this dangerous, slinky breed to multiple and to run at large. Think twice before buying a police dog. Keep a rattlesanke instead. It will give a warning at least.” (The Progress, February 11, 1947 )
Sound familiar?
My suggestion? Leave me and my dogs alone. We are not bothering you, mind your own business and mind your own life. Pit Bull owners are not evil thugs. The majority of us are law abiding, respectable, loving citizens who happen to care for a breed of dog. We are no different than Golden Retriever fanciers or Pug Fanciers or any dog breed fancier.
For more information about the real situation visit The National Canine Research Council
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
Founder/owner PitBullLovers.com
The Most Complete Pit Bull Information Site Online
Filed by Jason Mann at 1:39 pm under Pit Bull Blog
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