In todays local free paper there are 2 stories about dog attacks, however one story is splashed across the front page & the 2nd story is on page 9 in a small 3inch column. The story that's splashed all over front page is about a staffie attacking neighbours rabbit (upsetting yes) the 2nd story on page 9 in my eyes is more serious & should of been on front page, it reads like this "Family pet Labrador Lucas bites toddler in park, Lucas owners have said its totally out of character has Lucas is such an friendly dog" There's nothing in 2nd story on how the toddler is or how the parents are feeling, unlike the story that's splashed over front page, it goes in depth to explaining how the neighour saw the Staffie shake the rabbit & is now so scared to go outside incase the Staffie attacks her. So Staffie attacks rabbit & makes front page & Labrador bites toddler & only makes page 9 in a small 3inch column, I am going to sound very cruel now but a rabbit can be replace, but a toddler can't, it should of been the story about the Labrador splashed across the front page not the story about the Staffie
Of course they are. Look at how many cases that dogs are called a bully breed which are not, here in the us.
Staffie, American Bulldog, Cane Corso, Rottweiler and even Boxer become pit bull in journalism shorthand. I mean Golden or Dachshund biting isn't good press but if it's a pit well then obviously...even if it's something else entirely.
Yes of course, sensationalism sells papers, you also have to consider readership demographics when looking at priority given to this kind of story, we have entered into the age of "news as big business" after all. Its also worth noting that when scratching below the surface these stories become less about the dogs themselves as they do about the sort of people typecasted to own them. A bull and terrier has always been a dog with its roots in the working class, now its become stereotyped as the dog of the irresponsible and undeserving poor, it suits the neoliberal agenda to pigeonhole and divide us along these lines. I believe a few years ago a walker and their dog were killed here in the UK by some rich peoples pack of Kangals and this barely made the sidebar, Stafford gets in fight with some old biddys yappy little terrier however is a multi-page spread. Think about it y'all
Well yes they must certainly do. That's a given of course. Just as here it is Pits that they are biased against.
I got to this post late. The bully breeds get a bad rap all over the world. My grandson has the nicest pitbull you could ever want. Lucy is so laid back my daughter's 6 pound chi, Elvis, tells her what to do. She's 10 months old and the only time you see teeth is when she jumps up to catch the frizzbee. She's great with cats, other dogs and humans. What more could you ask from any breed.
