The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression [Paperback]

Karen Delise (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 11, 2007

First it was the Bloodhound, sensationalized in the dramatizations of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Then it was the Doberman, symbol of the Nazi menace. Today, it is the Pit bull that is vilified for the depravity of his masters. Today, police chase down fleeing Pit bulls in the street, firing dozens of wild shots in response to media-fed rumors of supernatural Pit bull abilities. Politicians coach and nurture this fear with their own brand of rhetoric used to assist in the passing of quick and ineffective legislation created to pacify communities ignorant of the real cause for dog attacks. Hundreds of animal shelters throughout the country kill all unclaimed Pit bull-looking dogs, as they are deemed "unadoptable" solely on their physical appearance. This has occurred because the human/dog bond, the most complex and profound inter-species relationship in the history of mankind, has been reduced to a simple axiom: Breed of dog = degree of dangerousness. We have come to accept that hanging entire breeds of dogs in effigy for the sins of their owners is an acceptable solution to canine aggression because we have been placated by a Pit Bull Placebo. Like the pharmacologically inactive sugar pill dispensed to pacify a patient who supposes it to be medicine, eradication of the Pit bull is the placebo administered to ease the public's anxiety about dog attacks. The book, The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression, explores how our views and beliefs about canine aggression have changed over the last 150 years and how our perceptions about the nature and behavior of dogs has been influenced by persons and organizations who often times disseminate information about dog attacks which is tailored to further an agenda unrelated to the improvement of the human/dog bond. We are in the midst of a social hysteria about Pit bulls because we have abandoned centuries-old common-sense and have been duped by inaccurate reporting from the "Pit Bull Paparazzi" and by politicians who traffic in rumors, myths and pseudoscience in their efforts to pass legislation that demonizes dogs while exonerating criminal and abusive owners. If we truly believe that the extremely rare cases of fatal dog attacks merit extreme measures in the management of dogs, if our concern and shock is genuine, then we must be equally genuine and sincere in seeking out and addressing the real causes for these incidents. Only by stepping back from the swirl of present-day hysteria surrounding isolated cases of severe canine aggression and examining the problem from a broader and more objective perspective can we hope to understand and address the human and canine behaviors which contribute to these incidents.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Delise's exhaustively researched, often riveting account of how America's most respected dog became its most reviled takes us beyond the pitiable plight of the Pit bull. It goes to the heart of the storied bond between dogs and humans and the ways the latter often corrupts it for their own craven purposes. By dispelling common misperceptions about certain dog breeds, Delise successfully shifts the onus for problem dog behaviors back to where it should be: squarely on us." --Charles Siebert, author of Wickerby: An Urban Pastoral and Angus: A Novel

"Delise provides common-sense solutions for public safety and sheds light on current media bias involved in the reporting of dog attacks. A compelling and thorough analysis of reckless owners and dangerous dogs in America. A must-read for any public official concerned with increasing public safety." --Ledy VanKavage, Senior director of Legislation and Legal Training, ASPCA

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Anubis Publishing (June 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972191410
• ISBN-13: 978-0972191418
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #388,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent / Informative / Positive, October 18, 2007

By 

B. Hrnciar "For the love of Dogs" (Norwalk, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression (Paperback)

As a pitbull owner who has had to face the condemnation of my dog and myself a number of times this book was a welcome read. The details provided as well as the insight into the mind of the american public and the media over the centuries towards dogs and dog breeds was fascinating. In a way it gives hope to the bully breeds that someday their time of being hated and feared can sometime come to an end.
Read this book if you have ever owned a dog who is feared simply for its breed whether it be a pitbull, German Shepherd, Rottie, Doberman, Husky etc. etc.
The author has researched back to the 1800's to provide actual documented accounst of attacks by bloodhounds and bloodhound type dogs straight up to present time and more importantly examines the circumstances behind the attacks. The moral is as usual, there are no bad dogs just bad owners.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Book!, August 15, 2007

By 

Special Education Teacher (Palatine, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression (Paperback)

This book is very informative. During my years of fighting breed specific legislation, I thought I had heard it all but this book offered new and interesting facts and insights.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for All, August 9, 2007

By 

Steve Verdon "Steve Verdon" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression (Paperback)

Everybody should read this book as it would help reduce the level of ignorance out there. And not just about pit bulls, but about dog aggression in general and how it is reported by the media. All too frequently we hear about how the "family dog just snapped and mauled a child." The reality is that often times key information is not included in the article such as the reporductive status of the dog (a big factor in dog attacks), that a female just had puppies (another factor for female dogs) or that the dog was chained, emaciated, suffering from being in extreme heat, or taunted by a group of kids.

Further, the media seems to be completely unaware of the unwitting role they play in fostering fads amongst certain dogs percieved to be the new demon dog and the correlation between breed popularity and the number of fatal attacks. Like Homer Simpson the media blithely marches on almost gleefully publishing account after account of the current demon dog mauling someone and reaping the rewards for such yellow journalism. Delise even highlights one incident where a major magazine published such and article and provided a detailed description of how to turn a pit bull into a monster.

The level of detail of the information in this book is simply amazing. I'd highly recommend it for everyone.