http://www.dogsbite.org/
my comment soon:
from the dogsbite blog:
"This blog has one goal: to expose the lies created by pit bull
advocates and repeated to such an extent that they become regarded as
truth. This propaganda strategy is known as Proof of Assertion and it is
a favored tactic employed by the well organized pit bull apologia as it
requires no critical thinking skills, only strength in numbers. The pit
bull apologia's measure of success is even more simple. The
Machiavellian like army of pit nutters need only drown out the
opposition, regardless of the fact that their arguments completely lack
any substance or merit. The pit bulls' army is made up of a handful of
elite pit bull advocates like the sinister Jane Berkey, Ledy Vankavage,
Cydney Cross, Karen Delise, Donna Reynolds, Dawn Capp and Diane Jessup
2
who orchestrate the campaign for thousands of dedicated gullible drones
that perform the grunt work; infecting the internet with the rote
memorization of fabricated talking points. As their insane and baseless
rantings begin to leach outside of the cult like bubble they live in and
infect normal citizens, humane societies and law makers, it is critical
that their lies be exposed."
2012 dog bite chart.
Breeder Pushes ‘Pit to Home’
Chas. Werner, and his pit bull terrier, Brindle Breaker, The Dog Fancier, 1911
New Orleans, LA - In this
1911 Dog Fancier advertisement,
pit bull breeder Chas. Werner reflects how Americans feel about the
breed: "Our Ideal Dog the Outcast American" (note handwriting on dog
photo). "Outcast" is intended as a pitying label and also represents two
other issues. One, by 1911, pit bulls were feared by the public due to
their dangerous fighting traits and two, Werner claims that fighting pit
bulls play a dual role in "pit" and "home" environments.
In the one hundred years that have passed since 1911, DogsBite.org would
like to announce that very little has changed concerning the pit bull
terrier and how its extreme advocates
distort the truth about the breed's purpose:
to fight to the death in a pit.
Also in this announcement is evidence that pit bull fanciers
(dogfighters of that period) had to victimize the pit bull by
associating it to outcasts by 1911 due to the breed's widely recognized
reputation of being violent.
Werner's "Outcast American" label has its roots in that time period. In
1911, the groups now termed "underprivileged" and "disenfranchised" were
called "
social outcasts." Just like pro-pit bull groups do today, Werner attempts to depict the pit bull as an anthropomorphized victim in 1911.
1 Modern victimizing terms include
misunderstood,
the most abused breed and
pit bulls have a bad rap, of which BAD RAP, a recipient of the
Michael Vick dogs, based their name on.
2
A New Market for Pit Bull Terriers?
In the same 1911 Dog Fancier volume, Werner puts in a "good word for the
pit dog" in a letter to the editor. It must be noted that Werner is a
fighting dog breeder and understands that dogfighting as a legal
activity has a limited future. To continue breeding pit bulls, there
must be a new market for them, which according to Werner is inside the
American home. Thus the name of his kennel, Pit to Home, and his attempt
to alter the public's perception about this dangerous breed.
A Good Word for the Pit Dog
To the Editor of The Dog Fancier:
For
the last ten years, continuously I have been the owner of Pit Bull
Terriers and can truthfully say that I have, by practice, done what
others advocate by preaching to the impart to the public in this city
the fact that our noble dog does not need to be classified as a fighting dog
pure and simple, useless for any practical purposes, but have tried to
convince through my dogs and through those which I bred and sold that the much feared Pit Bull Terrier is one of the most intelligent as well as most loyal dogs that any man could ever own.
I pointed out, and that with considerable pride, that the gameness and fighting qualities
of my own dogs always made them so much more valuable as protectors for
my home and family during my absence and I have succeeded in overcoming prejudice of those who know me to be sincere in the argument that a real thorough bred Pit Bull Terrier was never known to be treacherous to those who treated him with kindness.
- Chas. Werner, New Orleans, La. (Dog Fancier, April 1911, Page 13).
The Much Feared Pit Bull Terrier
Why, by 1911, does the American public believe the pit bull terrier to be an
outlaw dog breed and deservedly feared? From 1859 to 1911, nearly 30 people in the U.S. were
mauled to death by pit bull type dogs (fatalpitbullattacks.com). This is what we know by searching newspaper archives today, including the
Library of Congress.
This number excludes deaths still undiscovered and the many destructive
bulldog and bull terrier maulings that ended in lifelong injury.
For over a century now, the public has distrusted the pit bull breed and
for good reason: continuous maimings and fatal maulings.
In the June Dog Fancier issue, Werner further pleads his case that the
"outlaw breed" ought to have a place in the American home. Werner tries
to achieve this by twisting the recognized dangerous reputation of the
breed into the "Standard Dog of America" that is suitable for all
American homes. Thanks to Werner, we now know that the pit bull
community has been
distorting the truth about the pit bull breed for at least 100 years because there has been a
dire need to.
The Standard Dog of America
The
American dog we see as a domestic in many of our homes today and who's
breeding shows him to be a pit bull terrier represents in true light the
mission of the dead game breed, namely, to be of true benefit to all
mankind. This, then, must be the most typical American dog for the
American public, for if the American Domestic Pit Bull Terrier is judged
by the American standard he most certainly will come up to all
requirements as requested by the American at home.
He
is known to be faithful and loyal, man's best friend and companion, and
shows that indomitable courage, by virtue of game breeding from the
gamest strains of fighting dogs which the grand old pit bull breed ever
produced, namely, the American. The sacrifice, which this heroic breed
suffered in the days when it fought for its existence in the pit, has not been in vain. Man has repented
-- true sentiment of sympathy for a dog willing enough to do battle to
death has naturally aroused his pride in the possession and in the savings of such a grand and noble breed for future generations. The future is not in the fighting game
where its existence can not be maintained, but its the brightest in
company with the fancier who realizes we are in an age of progress in
dog fancy when only true idealism in fancyism will bring to the highest
standard any living breed in great dogdom...
True dog lover's sentiment, practical application of broad human principals based on a sense of justice to eradicate the evil of prejudices
caused by the impression that the pit bull terrier is a fighting dog
only, must be held by those who have the interest of the pit bull dog at
heart. Only those who believe that he should not be any longer the
martyr, but place true value on his life, know the fine and noble traits
of character of the "outlaw" in his last retreat with us as our ideal
dog in the American home. Welcome "Outcast," from Pit to Home.
- Charles Werner, New Orleans, La. (Dog Fancier, June 1911, Page 15)
By 1911, pit bull breeder Chas. Werner and other fanciers like him (and
before him) had already created the fairy tale pro-pit bull propaganda
bible, whose pages are read from everyday by modern day pit bull
breeders, advocates and humane organizations, both local and national.
What startles us the most, however, is that Werner managed to pack in so
many distortion keywords into just a few paragraphs. We address some of
these distortions thematically below:
- The title, "The Standard Dog of America," speaks for itself. Werner
attempts to bring new meaning to the pit bull terrier by branding the
breed something other than a fighting dog. Werner even takes this a step
further by suggesting that the "dead game breed" be the standard
against what all pet dogs should be measured. At this time, pit bulls
have not even been admitted into the AKC.
- Just as modern pit bull advocates do, Werner wraps the dog in the
American flag to elevate its status by continuous uses of the words:
American, mankind, noble, faithful, loyal, courage, heroic, pride,
fought for its existence, battle to death and idealism. Werner also
co-opts civil rights language. By 1911, the "evil of prejudices" had
become a cornerstone of American beliefs. Modern co-opted civil rights
terms include canine racism and discriminatory legislation.
- By 1911, fighting dog breeders such as Werner had polished the
pro-pit bull rhetoric enough to be adoptable by humane groups of that
time3 who were working to stop the
cruel bloodsport. From "pit to home" likely would have been met with
open arms by humane organizations, as well as his bold declaration that,
"the future is not in the fighting game" and "man has repented."
- But had man repented? Werner uses past tense in this case: "the days
when it fought for its existence in a pit." The truth is, in 1911,
dogfighting flourished across the Midwest and into parts of Colorado and
California. Werner was actively breeding and selling fighting pit bulls
for the purpose of dogfighting at the same time that he penned this
piece as shown in his advertisements.4
- Lastly, Werner intended to save "a grand and noble breed
for future generations." Many modern pro-pit bull groups still use this
theme today, such as BAD RAP, who declares on each web page: "Securing
the future of the American Pit Bull Terrier as a cherished family
companion" and the Lone Star State APBT Club, "preserve the American Pit
Bull Terrier for future generations."
Results of the Century Old Debate
There are two aspects that Werner had correct in 1911: Dogfighting would
eventually meet an end and the only way to ensure the pit bull's
survival was to "repackage" it with a purpose other than dogfighting.
Werner and other pit bull fanciers needed to move fast too. Calls to
banish the breed, believing it to be "
more dangerous than a lion or tiger," were already occurring in America in 1911. By 1914, the City of Ogden, Utah has a
pit bulldog ordinance in place.
5
The same repackaging of the pit bull as the "Ideal American Dog" continues ad nauseam today, beefed up with slogans like, "
It's all in how you raise 'em" and "
It's the owner not the breed."
Of the 29 fatal dog attacks so far this year, pit bulls contributed to
69% (20). Of these, 30% involved a pet pit bull killing its owner and
55% involved a pet pit bull killing a family member. Is the breed really
the ideal dog as
Darla Napora -- a BAD RAP devotee -- was led to believe?
