Bias against dogs
I would also like to comment on the lack of mention on the breeds of dogs that fatally killed this gentleman. The dogs were an American bulldog, Johnson bulldog, Border collie, and a Neapolitan mastiff. I find it interesting that when a pit bull bites someone, the breed is the headline. When it’s other breeds, they aren’t mentioned. This story is a perfect example of why breed-specific legislation is flawed. It would not have covered these breeds. I feel for the family members of the gentleman who was killed by these dogs; house arrest is not enough.
The American Bulldog is what Politically Incorrect Dog is and they are often called pit bulls by those not in the know. He’s a standard American Bulldog. The Johnson is another type of American Bulldog. So, maybe the press did it right. And Border Collie? That surprises me.
September 29th, 2006 at 10:08 pm
I agree with your post except for one thing, “When it’s other breeds, they aren’t mentioned”. I have two five-year-old Rottweilers, brother and sister, that are big babies. The Rottie rates second only to the pit bull in the media’s dog frenzy – and, if it’s big and black and tan, they call it a Rottweiler.
Only a fool allows an powerful breed to be unsupervised by a responsible adult, but it’s the dog that always gets the blame and pays with its life. Too many buy a Rott for protection, but, believe me, the owner is the one who has to protect his dog.
I read somewhere that the breed that bites most often is the Cocker Spaniel – little pansy dust mops.
http://home.comcast.net/~thehillonline/images/dawgs/dawgs.htm
September 29th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
yeah, rotties get a bad rap too. in the 70s, it was german shepherds and in the 80s it was dobermanns.
October 1st, 2006 at 12:47 pm
The Border Collie was probably acting as a member of the pack. Our collie is a nice dog most of the time, but he’s very eager to back up stronger dogs when they get in a fight. He doesn’t start trouble, but he will follow the lead of a more dominant dog. Also, Border Collie is high energy = very excitable.
October 1st, 2006 at 6:21 pm
You have American Bulldog confused with American Bull Terrier. American Bulldogs are similiar in shape and appearance but much larger, being in the mastiff category rather than the terrier category.
American Pit Bull Terrier: Weight: 30 – 60 lbs.
http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/americanpitbullterrier.html
American Bulldog Weight: Male: 75 – 125 lbs.; Female: 60 – 100 lbs.
http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/americanbulldog.html
I adopted a wonderful gentle stray who I think is mostly American Bulldog. She’s 108 lbs, but would be 90 if she were her proper weight (if I weren’t so softhearted and softheaded about feeding her, or she weren’t so arthritic and excercised more with the other dogs.)
Right about the press not mentioning the breeds. Kind of like how there’s ‘violence’ and ‘gun violence’.
October 1st, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Err, no i don’t. I know the difference. Both do actually share the same lineage. Of course, at some point all dogs do. But those two, more so.
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:04 am
Huh. I’ve often heard the terriers called pit bulls, but never the bulldogs.
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:55 am
THey’re typically included in the language of breed bans as pit bulls.
October 2nd, 2006 at 8:34 am
At some point all dogs share the same lineage as their fellow canines. There was legislation proposed decades back in Chicago which stated something to the effect that any dog descended from wolves which came to the attention of Animal Control was to be destroyed. This was long before DNA testing was available, and I maintained that as worded it was applicable to all dogs.