Good article on media reporting of 'pit bulls'

A lot of bad news to report on the blog so far this week, and I feel like the blog needs a pick-me-up. 

Earlier this week, Best Friends posted a great article on their website about the number of mis-reported bites and attacks that are reported by the media....including how stories about 'pit bulls' get a lot greater distribution vs bites by other breeds, and how often times the media will talk about 'pit bull attacks' on young children that end up with mere scratches.

The net result is an irrational fear of 'pit bulls' that is created by the media reporting.  The article is really well-written and a great read (and not just because it talks about me -- but because it provides a succinctness that I don't provide). 

Here's the start:

With the dog cowering in its kennel behind him, the reporter recounts a 'pit bull attack' that left a toddler in Redondo Beach, CA hospitalized. In an interview, police sergeant Phil Keenan describes the attack. "The child and the pit bull were in the living room. The child either touched the tail or grabbed the tail of the pit bull. The pit bull turned around and bit the child."

In the video, in just over two minutes, they repeat the term 'pit bull' about ten times.

The message is clear. This wasn't just a dog, presumably, like the viewers' dogs. It was a pit bull. This dog is different.

But the message falls apart when you see the dog in the video. It isn't a pit bull. It is a mixed breed dog. It could have some German Shepherd in it. Maybe some Lab. It might even have some of one of the pit bull breeds in it. As with most mixed breed dogs, it's hard to tell.

Read the rest here.

I'll be posting a bit more on this subject in the coming months....

Comments

[Julie]

I'd love to read the rest of that article but I can't get the link to work. Help?

[Brent Toellner]

Hmmm Julie. It appears to be down. I'll try to figure out what the deal is.

[Brent Toellner]

Ok, apparently Best Friends recently moved their site to a new server and have, on occassion, experienced technical difficulties. So try back at some point tomorrow and if it's not up, let me know and I'll contact them again...

I hope you get a chance to catch the article. Lisa did a great job with it.

[KC KS Kills Dogs]

I read the article before the server issues. Good job Brent!!! Way to go K C Dog Advocates!!

Somedays it seems like this battle will never end, but you just have to keep plugging along with fact and science.

[Brent Toellner]

The story does appear to be back up -- so read away!

Thanks KC KS KD

[Julie]

Great article!