Comments on: Vick and Cultural Change http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/12/vick-and-cultural-change/ a friendly voice - an expansive view Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:47:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: MaryHaight http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/12/vick-and-cultural-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1714 MaryHaight Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:17:59 +0000 http://www.dancingdogblog.com/?p=2840#comment-1714 Recent but spotty good press coupled with organizing to stop the Breed Specific Legislation train from running away across the country is good, but it's going to take so much more education. Repurposing pit talents to positive use for an image makeover would certainly go a long way to disuading those whose fear makes them reach for solutions that are expedient rather than effective. And then there's us. We can make our own problems by pointing fingers while doing not enough to get inside the culture that needs to work to stop this from the inside. And many may take this wrongly. Not saying we shouldn't make sure the message of shame is heaped on MV, but at what point does that become counterproductive? HSUS took the Vick gamble because they know at its core America is all about second chances, comebacks...not endless punishment. This is a really intricate problem, and should probably be another blog. Recent but spotty good press coupled with organizing to stop the Breed Specific Legislation train from running away across the country is good, but it's going to take so much more education. Repurposing pit talents to positive use for an image makeover would certainly go a long way to disuading those whose fear makes them reach for solutions that are expedient rather than effective. And then there's us. We can make our own problems by pointing fingers while doing not enough to get inside the culture that needs to work to stop this from the inside. And many may take this wrongly. Not saying we shouldn't make sure the message of shame is heaped on MV, but at what point does that become counterproductive? HSUS took the Vick gamble because they know at its core America is all about second chances, comebacks…not endless punishment. This is a really intricate problem, and should probably be another blog.

]]> By: MaryHaight http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/12/vick-and-cultural-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1711 MaryHaight Sun, 20 Dec 2009 09:30:33 +0000 http://www.dancingdogblog.com/?p=2840#comment-1711 When people apply these stereotypes to pits, others accept it as fact without thinking and this faulty thinking is based on the tasks pits have been trained for by humans. A logic exercise similar to dogs chasing their tails... When people apply these stereotypes to pits, others accept it as fact without thinking and this faulty thinking is based on the tasks pits have been trained for by humans. A logic exercise similar to dogs chasing their tails…

]]> By: MaryHaight http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/12/vick-and-cultural-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1673 MaryHaight Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:06:52 +0000 http://www.dancingdogblog.com/?p=2840#comment-1673 Thanks for sharing, Janet! Thanks for sharing, Janet!

]]> By: Stephanie Feldstein http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/12/vick-and-cultural-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1666 Stephanie Feldstein Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:53:04 +0000 http://www.dancingdogblog.com/?p=2840#comment-1666 There are also a handful of programs around the country (I believe originally modeled after Sue Sternberg's old Lug Nuts program) that set up weight pull competitions in at-risk areas to direct the sense of competition to a nonviolent sport. I think it also helps that pit bulls have been in the spotlight for the past couple of years as victims, as heroes, and as family pets. That helps take away the image of a fighter, both for people who fear these dogs and for those who want them for the tough guy image. There are also a handful of programs around the country (I believe originally modeled after Sue Sternberg's old Lug Nuts program) that set up weight pull competitions in at-risk areas to direct the sense of competition to a nonviolent sport.

I think it also helps that pit bulls have been in the spotlight for the past couple of years as victims, as heroes, and as family pets. That helps take away the image of a fighter, both for people who fear these dogs and for those who want them for the tough guy image.

]]> By: JanetMo http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/12/vick-and-cultural-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1664 JanetMo Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:16:02 +0000 http://www.dancingdogblog.com/?p=2840#comment-1664 Don't forget about the Knock Out Dog Fighting program <a href="http://www.KnockOutDogFighting.org" target="_blank">http://www.KnockOutDogFighting.org</a> They address the underlying reasons kids are fighting dogs. Don't forget about the Knock Out Dog Fighting program http://www.KnockOutDogFighting.org They address the underlying reasons kids are fighting dogs.

]]> By: egoebelbecker http://www.dancingdogblog.com/2009/12/vick-and-cultural-change/comment-page-1/#comment-1663 egoebelbecker Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:17:16 +0000 http://www.dancingdogblog.com/?p=2840#comment-1663 I wonder how much of the resistance to cultural change is rooted in the belief that these dogs are "bad" and "meant to fight?" Is it easier to accept dogfighting when you see some dogs as inherently vicious? I didn't know about the Safe Humane Chicago program. Cross-reporting the animal cruelty and domestic violence is really huge. That's great work. I wonder how much of the resistance to cultural change is rooted in the belief that these dogs are "bad" and "meant to fight?" Is it easier to accept dogfighting when you see some dogs as inherently vicious?

I didn't know about the Safe Humane Chicago program. Cross-reporting the animal cruelty and domestic violence is really huge. That's great work.

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