" the meanest, baddest' dogs in North American Pop Culture have been, without a doubt, pit bulls." Even though this stereotype exists, she challenges it by giving her own relation to pit bulls. "To me, Ahab, is a regular family dog: a joker and a couch potato, hungry for affection and table scraps, gentle and patient with ear-yanking children." She is able to state the real trouble and give information on what is being done to help the subject. "Currently, Canadian animal experts and organizations are lobbying for more comprehensive dangerous dog legislation something that holds owners of all breeds accountable and doesn't penalize responsible owners of maligned breeds." I feel George is rhetorically effective over all with it comes to her essay, "Pit Bull, Bum Rap?" She gets her position across and leaves you thinking about what can be done to solve the…
Thesis: Because of bad press, myths, and distorted facts, this breed has missed many privileges other breeds enjoy.…
According to statistical data posted on Barkpost.com, pit bulls are the #1 shelter intake dog and the #1 most frequently euthanized dog in shelters for no other reason than overcrowding. Each year, 1.2 million dogs are euthanized in this country and of those 1.2 million, approximately 40% of them are pit bulls (Moore). Only 1 in every 600 pit bulls in this country will find a loving home (Prasad). Advocates, rescue groups, shelters and animal rights groups like the ASPCA are likely unable to be completely objective when it comes to these dogs who they often see abused, mistreated and dumped at their shelters only to ultimately die due to overcrowding. The emotional toll these workers must endure is unimaginable. However, as a pit bull owner myself, I worry when an uninformed or neutral audience is not given the full picture on something like the responsibility of caring for such a controversial pet. I cringe when I see pit bull puppies intentionally misidentified as “easier” breeds such as Labrador retrievers or boxer mixes in an attempt to find homes for less adoptable puppies labeled as pit bulls. I myself, was led to believe by my rescue group that I was adopting a vizsla mix puppy. As the owner of a purebred vizsla, I…
The article begins with an anecdote that appears to have importance and credibility for their actions. The language used in the first paragraph, includes and appeal to equality amongst animals. Words that prove that the language used in the first sentence is emotive are words such as ‘freedom’, ‘liberation’ and ‘drastic’. The editor’s intended effect on the readers is that direct action is the only way to attract the people’s attention, therefore, justifying the violence in protests. The visual is about chickens being locked up in tiny cages. This supports the author’s contention of how poorly farmers and other people treat their livestock. This creates a shock effect on the viewers of the images used in the article.…
“Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) is, in simple terms, a statute or regulation that is directed toward one or more specific breeds of dogs. The majority of BSL is focused on breeds traditionally known as "dangerous," or those that have demonstrated particular propensities for aggression and violent behavior (Weiss, 2001)”. With the media sensationalizing dog attacks, especially those involving the Pit Bull, communities around the United States are moving to or have enacted BSL as a :knee jerk reaction in an effort to prevent bites and attacks.…
Did you know that for over one hundred years the Pit Bull was called the “Nanny Dog” by Americans, and was the breed that symbolized our country? One of the most famous Pit Bulls was Petey from The Little Rascals. For generations people got a Pit Bull to keep their children safe because these dogs were the most trustworthy of any breed with children and adults. Now the Nanny Dog is being persecuted by the media, and being called the hellion breed that frightens people. Even though plenty of other dogs bite people, they only publish stories about Pit Bulls. “Poodle bites man” is not a very eye catching headline. The media publicizes crazy myths, and they label any dog a Pit Bull even if it is not. The media also zeros in on the specifically negative and extreme incidents; they often do not provide the circumstance surrounding the incidents, and also neglect to mention important statistical information and comparisons to other similar incidents. Being a Pit Bull owner, and having many friends who own them as well, I know that the media is incorrect in their portrayal of the Pit Bull. They are the most loving and gentle breed I have ever known.…
Over the past half-century, the reputation of pit bulls has grown gradually worse. The breed that once represented America’s dedication and determination on recruitment advertisements is now “a status symbol in drug and gang culture” (Reed, 2008). This trend can be traced back to the 1980s when dog-fighting attracted widespread media publicity. Since then, reports of pit bull attacks has significantly increased, and these breeds are labeled as vicious killers, restricted by the society’s stereotypes. As a result, this topic has stirred up controversy as to whether or not a pit bull ban is an effective way to reduce and prevent more dog attacks in a specific area.…
1. The most infamous dog that is considered dangerous is the ‘pit bull’, and these dogs are the targets of most, if not all BSL appeals…
People label Pit Bulls as "Killer Machines.” Breed Specific Legislation, or BSL, are a set of laws that restricts or completely bans the breeds of a dog from an area. Pit bulls have been given a bad reputation because of all the publicity pit bulls have received. Many states of the U.S. are stuck between whether or not to ban the breed of pit bulls. People who agree with the BSL may have had a bad experience with dogs, or may fear that they’ll encounter an aggressive dog. Everyone needs to come to the realization that dogs behave a certain way due to treatment from their owners. People need to understand that the BSL is a form of breed profiling, in this case it discriminates against pit bulls. They also need to see that the label of, “Killer…
“Most people have no idea that at many animal shelters across the country, any pit bull that comes through the front door doesn't go out the back door alive. From California to New York, many shelters have enacted policies requiring the automatic destruction of the huge and ever-growing number of "pits" they encounter. This news shocks and outrages the compassionate dog-lover. We (PETA) further encourage a ban on breeding pit bulls. Those who argue against a breeding ban and the shelter euthanasia policy for pit bulls are naive, as shown by the horrifying death of Nicholas Faibish, the San Francisco 12-year-old who was mauled by his family's pit bulls. People who genuinely care about dogs will not be affected by a ban on pit- bull breeding. They can go to the shelter and save one of the countless other breeds and lovable mutts sitting on death row. We can only stop killing pits if we stop creating new ones. Legislators, please take note.” (Newkirk, 2011)…
People say pit-bulls are dangerous and that they are monsters; however, humans are the real danger and the real monsters. Pit-bulls should not be blamed for their owners mistakes; therefore, people should not blame an entire dog breed for the few who have been trained to be aggressive and mean. The owners should be at fault, not the breed of the dog; the breed’s owners have raised them to be aggressive and mean. Although, in certain people’s opinions, they are mean to others, but they are actually great dogs to have as pets. Humans have always been the real monster in these situations, yet most people do not see it that way. Society sees only the worst, they will notice when pit-bulls fight with others dog’s or act aggressively towards a human; however, they never blame the owner. There are owners out there that train their dogs to protect them or be aggressively with others dog’s; thus, due to their idiotic move, society looks…
Delise, K. (2007). The pit bull placebo: The media, myths, and politics of canine aggression.…
Since the beginning of time, dogs have been man’s best friend. Dog’s know how to bring a smile to almost anyone’s face, and dogs’ are the best blanket to snuggle up with on a cold winter day. For all that dogs’ do for humankind, we should be treating them like royalty. Over time though, humankind started forgetting how wonderful dogs’ really are, and, along with many other things in society, started only seeing dollar signs. These poor defenseless creatures were thrown into slavery, in the form of a puppy mill.…
The Truth About Pit Bulls. (2013). Retrieved April 2013, from The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: aspca.org…
Hello. I am writing this letter addressing the problems of dog overpopulation and dog owners that abandon their dogs, whether it is to a shelter or on the streets. My wife and I currently have four dogs in our home that we treat like our own children. After living a life of abuse and fear, our oldest dog, Sophie, came to us from a rescue in northern Idaho in 2002. Our second and third dogs, Flutter and Karma, entered our family from another giving away a litter of puppies three years ago. The fourth dog, Rambina, has a rather unique story and her arrival into our family changed our lives forever. The love and understanding that my wife and I have for dogs is what caused us to bring the issue of maltreatment of dogs to your attention.…