Two people were injured in a dog attack in rural Buckner, MO today. KMBC-TV was on the scene to cover the dog attack story.
As the story goes, it turns out that a 100+ lbs Bull Mastiff attacked a woman and her husband before a caring neighbor brings out a knife and they kill the dog.
However, watch the video that ran on KMBC. As they are talking about the Bull Mastiff attack, not once, but twice they show a banner at the bottom that says "Pit Bull Attack". It may be the only dog attack banner that they have available.
It sounds like the dog has been a problem in the neighborhood for awhile and it's undoubtedly an owner issue - -but it's another case of why "pit bull people" get really upset by how the media continues to make efforts to single out pit bulls in their reporting -- and often innaccurately -- which leads to people believing things about the 'breed" that are simply not true.
Thanks for this, Brent. First, for the love of God, HOW and WHY does the media get away w/ banners like this, stating 'Pit Bull Attack', when it is blatently FALSE. As a dog owner, I really feel like suing them for slander.
Second, hmmmm.... note what a 'decent' (NOT) owner -did -- threatened reporters w/ a weapon.... Some jerk w/a gun gives dog owners a bad name. I wanna sue him too. I'm as sick of this BS as you. What do we do? (I'm calling the station on this one. Can we all please do the same?)
Posted by: Becky Dyer | September 18, 2007 at 01:59 AM
Channel 9 news is notorious for "yellow journalism". To contact them here's there link http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/index.html
On the left hand side scroll down to site tool / contact us/ select drop down box for general manager. Or you can call them 816-221-9999 or write them 6455 Winchester Ave, Kansas City, MO 64133.
Posted by: Cheryl | September 18, 2007 at 09:24 AM
Is there anything illegal about telling reporters/anybody to get the hell of your property and holding a shotgun while in your own home? Not to defend this guy specifically...just need to know for future reference.
As far as the rest goes - UGH!
Posted by: Michelled | September 18, 2007 at 09:37 AM
Wow, just spoke with Tim Holderby. That happened because the attack was reported to them as a pit bull attack. They set up the story and only found out during the newscast that it was a Bull Mastiff attack. WELL, they have since found out it was a FRENCH Mastiff attack. They reported the retraction on First News, he says. The video is still up. Haven't checked out related stories yet. Tim said to feel free to contact him at anytime if we have any more on the story, lol. If anyone does, please post - maybe we can convince Tim to do a story on what REALLY causes dog attacks! I know, I know...
Posted by: Michelled | September 18, 2007 at 02:10 PM
Interesting...the link to the video no longer works.
Posted by: swells | September 18, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Oops, nevermind. It's my computer that doesn't work. :)
Posted by: swells | September 18, 2007 at 02:59 PM
I sent them a nasty little letter...Thanks for keeping us posted on this stuff..
Posted by: Leigh | September 18, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Good god. This dog owner seems like a real winner. Letting the same dog that attacked a woman two years ago run free, then pulling a gun on a reporter? What ever happened to just not answering your door?
Posted by: MDog | September 19, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Kansas City should start banning pit bulls before it comes an issue.
How many people have to die for this cause
Posted by: ThePaintMan | September 19, 2007 at 10:48 AM
Great idea Paintman.
Let's ban everything that someone could potentially die from in the order of the most dangerous to the least dangerous.
Here's a partial list of things that kill more people than pit bulls in an average year -- you can doublecheck my numbers here:
http://www.nsc.org/lrs/statinfo/odds.htm
Automobiles
Motorcycles
Bikes
Bathtubs
Stairs (so gone are two-story houses)
Swimming Pools
Furniture
Using lakes
All power tools
Sharp objects
knives
Guns
Electricity
Fireworks
Anything pressurized
ladders
Scaffolding
Bed sheets
Cigarette lighters
Matches
Hot Tap Water
Alcohol
Manual Labor
Poisons
"Pit bulls" kill on average about 3 or 4 people a year -- compared to 66 people a year that get struck by lightning. The fear/danger surrounding pit bulls has been so completely overblown when in reality, your odds of getting killed by a pit bull are about 1 in 100 million. It's impossible to legislate for any accident that could happen -- nor would it be any fun to live without these things. But if public safety is really our concern, let's start with banning all automobiles and forcing people to only move using public transit. We'd save thousands of lives every year...
Posted by: Brent | September 19, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Oh Geez Brent! Don't dignify that idiot with a response. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS! He's banned on most other blogs as it is...
Posted by: Michelled | September 19, 2007 at 01:08 PM
Ignore the paintman he is just trash that likes to piss people off and needs to die and get a job you drunk!
Posted by: Tony | September 19, 2007 at 06:27 PM
Dont listen to them Brent sometimes I'll bring in a good arguement.
Apparently this isn't one of them.
Michelled I thought we were friends.
Posted by: ThePaintMan | September 19, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Keep up the good work Brent.
More people need to read this stuff!
I grew up around APBT'S and my family and I will never not own one, I would rather move!!!!!
Posted by: morgan | September 19, 2007 at 07:37 PM