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A study by the National Canine Research Council reveals
biased reporting by the media,its devastating consequences
for dogs and the toll it takes on public safety.
Consider how the media reported four incidents that happened
between August 18th and August 21st:
- August 18, 2007 - A Labrador mix attacked a
70-year-old man sending him to the hospitalin critical
condition. Police officers arrived at the scene and the
dog was shot after charging the officers. This
incident was reported in one article and only in the
local paper.
- August 19, 2007 - A 16-month old child received
fatal head and neck injuries after being attacked by a
mixed breed dog. This attack was reported two times
by the local paper only.
- August 20, 2007 - A 6-year-old boy was hospitalized
after having his ear torn off and receiving severe bites
to the head by a medium-sized mixed breed dog. This
attack was reported in one article and only in the local
paper.
- August 21, 2007 - A 59-year-old woman was attacked
in her home by two Pit bulls and was hospitalized with
severe injuries. This attack was reported in over two
hundred and thirty articles in national and
international newspapers, as well as major television
news networks, including CNN, MSNBC and FOX.
“Clearly a fatal dog attack by an
unremarkable breed
is not as newsworthy as a non-fatal attack by a pit bull”
says Karen Delise, researcher
for the National Canine Research Council.
People routinely cite media coverage as “proof” that pit
bulls are more dangerous than other dogs. Costly and
ineffective public policy decisions are being made on the
basis of such “proof”. While this biased reporting is not
only lethal to an entire population of dogs; sensationalized
media coverage endangers the public by misleading them about
the real factors in canine aggression.
www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com |
The
Humane Society for Hamilton County proudly announces a new adoption
program--Pets Healing Vets--pairing shelter animals with qualifying
Indiana veterans at no charge. The program is designed to help
rehabilitate veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) through the healing power of pets.
