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

by Karen Delise

Book Overview

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0972191410
• ISBN13: 9780972191418
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Anubis Publishing
• Length: 210 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 0.5" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

Excellent / Informative / Positive

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.

A Fantastic Book!

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.

A Must Read for All

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.

Promote Education and Tolerance

This book was a refreshing change from all the negative press about pit bulls. As a pit bull owner, I was more than presently surprised. It details the history of dog attacks related to dog popularity and shows that the more popular a dog breed is, the more instances of "attacks" there are just by sheer statistical necessity. Karen Delise has my undying devotion and appreciation for her portrayal of my family pet as a loving, intelligent animal and not a monster!

A terrific dose of truth and reality.

This is a must read for anyone interested in learning the truth behind the various stories hyped up by media. Delise identifies a pattern over the years of our human need for drama through particular targeted breeds. It is time to step back and look at the human element and intentions of choice of dog.