I don't know a huge deal about bull breeds of any description - as I have never owned them, and probably don't plan to either - becasue they're just not my thing (although I do LOVE bullmastiffs). However, I think it is chronically wrong to call them all killers just because they have been branded so by media moguls. No, I may not know a lot about these breeds (except that they are breeds commonly desired by the less desirable of this society - and thus given a miserable existance, and not socialised, bred or trained properly), but I do know a LOT about media, as I am currently doing a degree in Media and English - specialising in a topic called 'moral panics and the media'.

That's what this is. It is a moral panic. It is called thus because it's a morality issue (not a legal one - pure ethics) and it causes mass panic in the media using public - or most of them at least. 90% of what you read and see in the media is untrue. 90% of it is scare-mongering and designed to keep the public under 'Mr Media's' watchful gaze. You see - it's a method of keeping us all where the government wants us. We are afraid (not us personally) of bull breeds because the government and media say so. We are afraid because it suits them for us to be. When we are afraid, we consume more media, in order to know more about these 'terrible tragedies'. The people writing the stories know that bad ownership and bad breeding is at fault - but let's be honest:

STAFFY KILLS CHILD is far more obvious and alluring to most people than:
Owner of dog found guilty of not training it properly


just a thought.

xx

said it yourself!

You don't appear to know a great deal on the subject - so better off leaving it to those who do, yeah?

xx

oh yeah she make me shiver! lol!

poor saffy!

fantastic post russ

Super post tehg!

Sarah

very true! I mean i didnt know what bandogge was once, but i defo knew that the dog wasnt a banned dog!

Thanks Sarah ~ I'm a strong proponent of countering unfounded, uncomfirmed, and misinforned stereotypes or absolutes - especially when it comes to dog breeds and/or respective BSL (breed specific legislation).

I blame sensational media for spinning panic and fear (as Zoundz so aptly describes), an uninformed public, and disingenuous breeders for these modern day dog breed witch hunts. This triangle of bad elements generates unifying negative stereotypes (of some rather odd bedfellows, no less) aimed at exterminating an entire sub-class of the Molosser breeds.

I feel quite strongly about opinions stemming from emotional reactions when unfortunate events happen...placing blame often will not resolve the issue at hand (if at all), although it might provide momentary relief from all the unpleasantness under the guise of progress towards resolution. Blaming a breed will not reverse what happened to the little boy or Alicia Clark...it will not prevent future accidental deaths, although breed bans and legislative action may remove the present breeds involved from further blame as unfortunate deadly accidents shift to yet other "dangerous" breeds.

Public perception is powerful...in my area, if a Lab bites (without breaking skin) it may not be considered dangerous, although caution should surely be exercised...the issue is deconstructed into individual elements that seem harmless on their own...now, if any dog that somewhat resembles a pitbull does the same thing, it quickly escalates into a slippery slope of infinite deathly dangers.

Richard, who believes the American Bulldog breed was and is solely created to fight as nothing more or less than a killing machine, obviously subscribes to the media frenzy bandwagon. To be clear, this isn't a judgement - it's an observation. For me to read this without offering a counter-perspective is akin to silent, passive complicity in its perpetuation.

Richard - wake up....bull breed are no more dangerous than any other...all the hard work bull breed owners are doing to make the public realise this would go to pot if you had your opinion in public.....do some research before you sl*g off a breed.

Hi, I don't know a lot about bull breeds but I do know that it is the way they are bred and the way they are brought up and it's the same as any breed! Like others have said, any breed can turn and attack if provoked. Doesn't mean they should all be tarred with the same brush.

Just want to show you an ex boyfriends "killing machine"

ROFL at Graeme...hiding under my desk terrified of that photo