Great News! Animal Planet's "Pit Bulls and Parolees" (PB&P) has been renewed for its Seventh Season! (/snark)
Get the "great" news here.
I have never seen the show. I tend to dislike "reality TV" (Pawn Stars a notable exception). I estimate it's primarily feel good propaganda created to feed the bottom tier of the Dogocracy. I also estimate, given is notable cast, that LOTS of footage winds up on the cutting room floor. Watching these dogs behave dangerously would be a sure buzzkill for the Canine-ocratic proletariat. Or, maybe not? Perhaps most/all of them are watching in hopes of an impromptu pit killing spree?
There is now a petition going to have the show cancelled.
For the record, I do not support the petition. Pit Bulls and Parolees should stay on the air as long as it has an audience. Does anybody really think the Pit Bull Pyramid scheme (or any part of the canine supremacy movement) will collapse without this little piece of fluff? Indeed, cancellation may just feed their persecution complex. Thanks to 21st century technology, if AP were to cease production and remove PB&P from the air, past episodes will live on in YouTube, DVR's, bootleg DVD's and the like. This is not going away.
Moreover, this trash is aimed directly at a target audience that won't be swayed by a mere absence of their feel good TV show. Does anybody really think that PB&P has an audience other than pit/dog nutter degenerates?
I agree with the show's critics that the show is at best in very bad taste, and at worst dangerous propaganda that may get people hurt. However, the producers have a right to air this garbage and the lumpen proletariat that crave this stuff have a right to consume it. What do you watch that promotes bad behavior? Do you want that taken off the air? Unless you consume nothing but Disney material produced prior to, say, 1970 then supporting this petition is rather hypocritical. If you do not like the show, do not watch it.
Here, here and here I wrote that censorship is the ultimate fail. By attempting to get the show off the air, you have just admitted that you have no point.
Indeed, "our" side has LOTS of good points. It is our adversaries that are ethically and intellectually bankrupt. See, we need to get OUR word out, and that is going to be impossible in an environment of censorship.
So, what to do? In my opinion, the best way to move forward would be to have a show of our own that shows the downsides of pet ownership generally, and pit bull ownership specifically.
I am contemplating a hosted newsy type show with video clips of recent, relevant news events; interviews with victims, activists, and experts; Etc... A show that is hard hitting and delightfully gruesome would be a BIG hit. President Obama recently said "If it bleeds, it leads" and this show would be a real "leader"!
As we all know, the nuts would try to get the show pulled, but hey: We let them have THEIR show, they let us have OUR show. Equal protection, bitchez!
With all of that said, if the petition is actually successful (I really don't think it will be), I will likely have a colossal case of Schadenfreude as the primary censors themselves are now censored! Hoist by their own PETARDS. Can't say anything nice about Pit Bulls on TV, petunias!
I watch the show every week . Last night was a real peach showing old TMT getting in the way of AC picking up an abandoned pit bull left in a crate. The dog was impounded and ultimately destroyed when after a week it was found to be dangerous by dog handlers at the shelter.
ReplyDeleteThere was some great footage of old TMT lovingly setting up the nursery in anticipation of getting the dog and adding it to her personal collection of dogs so maladjusted and dangerous only she can handle them. And her heartbreaking diatribe about AC destroying the dog before it had a chance .
As someone involved in animal rescue most of my adult life she is the last person I would hand any dog off to. She is a hoarder with a storefront.
What sort of rescue do you do?
DeletePrimary with horses. That leads to contact with all livestock along with other domestic pets. As a horse trainer I've had some very unpleasant encounters with many breeds of dogs. They are the same ones you see in the news shredding humans and less destructive pets on a daily basis now. I also worked training dogs for field trials along with a few cattle and sheep dogs used for herding.
DeleteIf we don't like this show, we should stop spending our money with its advertisers.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you on publicizing the downsides of pet ownership. As I keep saying, it's OKAY to be pet-free.
ReplyDeleteWhile I appreciate your opinion it's not that simple. It's like people saying "if you don't like pit bulls don't get one". Many times a pit bull invades a neighbors yard and kills their pets-or kid. This idiotic show encourages pit bulls as pets to the detriment of us all. Yes all dogs suck-pit bulls are just the worst of them. The other problem is that victims don't have a similar voice in public media balancing the pit bull industrial complex lopsided view.
ReplyDelete"The other problem is that victims don't have a similar voice in public media balancing the pit bull industrial complex lopsided view. "
DeleteExactly.
It's very hard to find anything left on the Internet that hasn't been cleansed by Pit Bull nutters. You almost have to admire the level of spin doctoring on the history and origin of the breed.
DeletePersonally I detest all dogs. Which blows the theory that dogs can tell out of the water. Pouch full of liver treats is the real ' unconditional love' dogs offer.
The need to own a pet that is allowed to bite, foul and pollute out homes with their nonstop barking is out of control. Pit Bull owners have taken this to a new level where it's now acceptable for the dog to make a boo-boo and kill someone giving CPR. The kicker is unless you follow pit attacks most of these stories are not front page. The only way to combat this is to learn to be as loud and obnoxious as the owners of these portable meat grinders.
You've got that right, Eileen. The "unconditional love" that so many pet owners think they see is nothing more than ingratiation.
Delete"It's very hard to find anything left on the Internet that hasn't been cleansed by Pit Bull nutters."
DeleteIts interesting you should say that. I've wanted to do a write up on "Gus" the supermauler - Gus mauled Amber Rickles in 2013, was spared euthanasia, went on to bite another dog and eventually mauled a nurse in FL who now no longer has use of her left hand. I'm pretty sure, but not positive, that Gus has finally been given a long overdue dirt nap.
I've been having much difficulty putting together a statement of facts/history of these events due to the events being deliberately distorted (in my opinion) by dog fanatics in the press. It seems like every article lies by omission, tosses out red herrings and indulges in victim blaming.
Its almost impossible to obtain real "news".
Eileen, for me the highlight of last night was the way Tania and The one guy's girlfriend acted like the beagles established in the home might eat the one that couple wanted to adopt. I'm sure dog introductions can be tricky, but I'm also fairly sure beagles don't go around killing other dogs. I watch it off and on, and I agree that she is a hoarder. I'm sure that AC office comes across more than enough dangerous dogs to make the right call. It's a wonder one of them, or one of the crew hasn't been killed by one of the pits she chooses to keep.
ReplyDeleteThat's a tall order you've got.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to discourage your endeavor, I'm just not sure how you'd pull it off. Would you try to get it on air, or would it be a YouTube series? The former would be very difficult, as I don't know what channels would accept this sort of show.
Though currently petless I would be happy owning rats and cats (indoors). However, there does appear to be a societal pressure to keep pets even when you don't have the resources, time or inclination. It's just that dogs are by far, by far the most pushed upon us. You have a good concept going, the trick would be to make it work.
This new show would have to be backed and produced by an entity with better resources and more skill than I.
DeleteSo, I misspoke - I should have said, rather than get PB&P kicked off the air, we should lend support to a show that is better aligned with our interests. Again, someone with a lot more resources than I is going to have to be the point person for that, though.
DeleteThe problem with this is that there is no profit in victims whereas there is huge money in being part of the pit bull industrial complex.
Delete"The problem with this is that there is no profit in victims whereas there is huge money in being part of the pit bull industrial complex. "
DeleteIf the show has sufficient ratings, there will be profit.
The comments sections on pit attacks are shifting. Even dog nuts are questioning the breed. Public shaming of the charities and pet food companies that sponsor these pit shows may soon be ripe for the picking. Pit attacks are now daily news but under reported or the breed called a mix. The only show that would work is one based on the victims struggles after an attack with all the aspects from the dogs being returned to the owners through the financial struggles from a death or mauling for the medial costs along with the impact on the family and community as a whole. It's not like the show will run out of material
DeleteThe idea is to raise public disgust over these attacks higher than the media hype of the misunderstood pitbull.
AP won't touch this but the right person pitching to Discovery Life or similar might tick a box that they think would bring in ratings.
Eileen - agreed, AP would not run a show like that, but I'm sure at least one of the 100's of cable channels out there would.
DeleteThe societal pressure is coming courtesy of the pet industry. After all, the more pressure they apply, the more they sell.
DeleteAfter all, you don't think that terms like "pet parent" just appeared, now do you? Uh-uh. That's what PetsMart calls its human customers.
PetSmart is now down in the gutter calling pet owners Parents and children.
DeleteCardinal, rats are inexpensive to acquire but can be expensive to maintain. Buying them from a chain pet store is a huge gamble. I learned that after getting two very sweet girls. One only lived six months dying from unknown causes. Exotic vets are expensive, I was lucky and found one at a Banfield, who worked with exotic clinic when needed. That being said, I'll only go into petmsart if I HAVE to take one of my rats to the vet. They have way too many dogs in general in the store at any one time. Way, way too many idiotic pit bull owners being dragged around by their "babies". It's not a safe place for humans, and not a safe place for anyone who cares about their pets. If the vet I found wasn't a great one, I would never enter their doors. Also for the record, they may adopt cats, and hold adoption events for dogs, but they support rodent mills which are as bad as, if not worse than the puppy mills and factory farming. I don't buy anything from them, my animal's food comes from amazon, or other sites.
DeleteTrisha, I've owned several rats and know to be picky about where to acquire them. Rather than pet store vets, I find small animal clinics. After learning so much about pit bull propaganda and the pet industry's role in our current pet/dog crisis, it's hard for me to patronize pet stores. As for cats, I got one from a pet store and it was a huge mistake. Later I rescued a few off the street, and my last one was passed off to me.
DeleteGoing into pet stores is a "censor zone" for me. I usually go in to look at rats and reptiles, and don't let on how silly I think it is that the workers have to refer to me as a parent. I'll turn away from pit bulls without a word and with a quick scan of potential escape routes. It'd be self-defeating to protest. It's a pet store. When in Rome....keep your mouth shut, eh?
Your Quiet Neighbor, you nailed it with the pet industry. They aim for profit like any other company, and honed in big by playing with peoples' heartstrings. And as fond as I am of animals, the term "pet parent" is ridiculously condescending. We are owners, not parents. Last summer my cat got a disease and we went to a vet. In the back of my head I knew he'd have to be put down. The clinic was exceptionally maintained and the staff very nice, but when the vet approached me she asked if I was my cat's "family". Processing....play nice; don't frown, nod, she wants to help you.
I was kind of an asshole when my cat died.
Or rather, I was an asshole during that moment in the clinic--the vet wanted to help yet there I was inwardly scorning the Family term.
DeleteCardinal, I didn't have the $150 plus for the office visit and meds when my pet store rats first got sick. I had to use the Banfield office and found their exotic vet to be way better than I'd hoped. She has owned rats for years and doesn't buy from pet stores herself. With the one who passed, I think she fell while we were asleep upstairs and it caused spinal and brain injuries. The vet did try to help her but it just wasn't meant to be. The knowledge, distance, and cost makes her a good choice for more basic needs. I HATE the store she works in, and she told me she wouldn't bring any animal home from there, the conditions are horrible. I prefer to adopt, even in the small animals, or buy from a private breeder, or even rescue them from craigslist. Why support any part of the industry if you can avoid it? It's easy enough to find everything online and not shop in their stores. As for cats, every one I've ever had was free, usually dumped, and thanks to a working relationship with a caring local vet we were able to s/n them, get their shots, and any other medical care at reduced rates. Our town has many partially feral cats and way too many pit bulls. The vet was willing to do what he could to help until he passed away two years ago.
DeleteIf you look at Petsmaul's website their motto is 'A furrier version of parenthood'. I think more realistically it should be 'A furrier version of slavery'.
ReplyDeleteI would not touch anything including PS's website unless I waded in with irrigation boots, rubber gloves and heavly armed with a blacklight or UV to highlight the one or two places that have not been sprayed with dog urine. They have probably armed their website with virtual urine so that dog owners can feel at home. If what dog owners are touting as a form of parenting with their dogs I hope they are all sterile.
ReplyDeleteHave always thought that a show that portrays victims would be great. I don't believe for 1 minute that the pit nutters outnumber us. We found the silent majority in the two attempted Pit Bull Ban repeals in Miami/Dade County and Aurora, where they let the Voters decide if they wanted the current Ban repealed. They responded with a huger 67% "No Keep the Ban" The Silent Majority are those that are afraid to speak out against them, and who can blame them as The Bull Advocacy operates somewhat in Mafia fashion, publicly and privately insulting and threatening those that speak out against their "Sweet Pibbles" The only reason some areas to repeal Bans is because Animal farm foundation writes these laws and funds the passage of them via lobbyists, If people were allowed to vote on this issue, Pit Bulls would be banned everywhere. We need funding from someone who has the resources and sees the need for a show that represents the victims. Pit Bull Advocacy has Animal farm foundation headed by Jane Berkey and the 54 million her father, Joseph Saul, left her. They can pay for lobbyists, bribing lawmakers and millions on Propaganda promoting the Breed. Who do we have with 54 million dollars to help us?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure the majority of people even consider this a problem. Read the laws about dog bites and attacks. Even if a dog kills someone the owner may face nothing more than a slap on the wrist. No they aren't as a rule being charged with murder. Instead there is a FB page demading justice for the dog.
ReplyDeleteI bet Mickey's ears are burning.
The majority doesn't, from what I've seen. This is partly from the dog culture but also because it just isn't something people talk about. A lot of people would be surprised if you told them on average, pit bulls kill two Americans per month. I think the American populace is so used to dogs being treated like people that it doesn't stop to think about why that started, and what detriments it brings.
DeleteInteresting you should say that. It seems to me that almost everyone has some sort of "dog problem": Being bitten, harassed by a nuisance barker, dogs tearing up their property. All of this adds up to a BIG problem. Thing is, there is no "national conversation" about it. Its all VERY politely hushed up.... again, its TABOO to say anything bad about Fido or his owner.
DeleteDo you mean me, AU? Perhaps I'm luckily isolated. The apartment complex allows dogs but they MUST not be nuisance barkers, so I'm currently blessed with a quiet living situation. Even the dog on the house up the hill is rarely heard. I do remember endless nuisance barking in the city before going to college, drove me nuts inside.
DeleteI'm pretty young. Probably among the youngest in the blogosphere (21). So I wasn't around for a country that recognized dogs as animals. Maybe this is why I think the majority doesn't consider it a problem--I never witnessed the gradual shift from worker/companion to Doggie Jesus. The dog culture was already in full swing, so it was seen as acceptable for dogs to bark, bite, and tear up property.
Or it could be pessimism.
It also could be due to me watching myself when visiting family members. I have some who LOVE dogs and as stated, my family owns two dogs along with the one belonging to our tenant downstairs. To avoid conflict, home is a 100% censor zone. I lived directly with and around these family members for 6 years in a dog-filled city, which might have conditioned me to believe there was something wrong with...well, thinking something was wrong with America's view of dogs.
DeleteCardinal,
DeleteRE: Apartment complexes/buildings. Probably one of the best places to be to avoid dog related nuisances is an apartment complex. OK, a private island would be best but that blows the budget of most people.
Most landlords, if they allow dogs at all, will evict a malicious dog owner after receiving a few complaints. Its better for their bottom line to evict the one troublemaker as opposed to having other tenants withhold rent and/or move out because of the dog. Many rental agreements specifically prohibit that sort of bad behavior.
Not to say you'll never have a problem like that in an apartment, but they are less likely to occur in those places.
The worst problems are typically in suburban neighborhoods: You can't get your neighbor evicted if he owns the home. You usually have to escalate to a lawsuit before the dog owner will budge, and sometimes not even then.
Cardinal,
DeleteRE: Your age (21). I am a generation older than you (46) and while there was less dog mania when I was growing up, it was hardly the good old days.
During the 1970's/1980's, there were fewer dog owners, and most dog owners averaged fewer dogs then they have today. Every suburban block did not have a "rescue angel" with 12+ uncontrollable mutts. Pit Bulls and the like were rare. The worst dogs were German Shepherds and Dobermans, but they were way less dangerous and better controlled than today's pit population. It's my impression that, 30 years ago, dog owners did not have as much political capital, nor did they enjoy as many legal advantages as they do today.
Many folks loved their dogs, but did not see them as equal to, or better than, humans. The thought of a dog with a lawyer (i.e. "Mickey") in 1980 was ludicrous. Back then, the HUMAN OWNER had the lawyer, NOT the dog! The job of the city dog warden was to keep a lid on the local dog population, not advocate for it. Euthanizing, or even on the spot shooting, of a dog that tore up a kid was a no brainer, even for animal lovers.
However, YMMV.
Again, the above does not make the 1970's the good 'ol days. There weren't poop scoop laws in most places (not that they are ever enforced today, anyway) and there was dog crap all over. Many places also did not have leash laws, though the at-large dogs at the time were usually harmless mutts and everyone knew (including dog owners) that if the dog misbehaved, it would wind up in a trash barrel.
I recall, that there was a nascent dog cult movement in play at the time - in certain social circles, it was politically incorrect to dislike dogs and there was at least some social capital granted to dog owners and dog lovers. However, it was nothing like the virtual horde of foaming at the mouth ravers that you see today.
All of that said, the fanatical dog cult that we live under today seems to have evolved slowly over the last 50-60 years, and seems to have accelerated significantly over the past 10-15 years or so.
It would be interesting to get feedback from folks from various age groups to see what their impressions are, and if they mesh with mine.
Thanks for writing.
I should emphasize that, even at that time (1970's), you were expected to like dogs, generally. Again, not the over the top, apoplectic, dangerous dog worship you have today, but you were still expected to pay homage.
DeleteThanks for responding.
DeleteIt's interesting to see others ping back and describe the dog culture circa their childhoods. It does not surprise me that in the '70s it was expected to like dogs. Pets became integrated into American culture somewhere in the 1950s. It was a French influence, as they kept pets; in turn we went against our basic blueprint for survival and started bringing home "the most adorable parasites in the world." As pet sentiment grew, the pet industry found opportunity to profit exponentially. The easiest pets to anthropomorphize are dogs, so they're the main focus. (you can certainly argue a focus on cats as well but let's be real, it IS socially acceptable to say you hate cats, period.)
It was around the late '70s-early '80s, I believe, that bloodsport became a felony across the country. Heavy penalties hung over dogmens' heads, so if I have it right, they turned to pet culture and pretended to be regular dog owners and breeders to cover themselves. Thus the beginning of "it's all in how you raise them." Over time it snowballed into the pit crisis of modern day.
I must admit I'm fascinated by the concept of a dog. I think it's very interesting that humans made and diversified a creature to perform tasks, and what great variation in appearance, behavior, and work appears in these creatures in turn. But it would be absurd to get my own dog as a pet when I already know for me, the benefits do not outweigh the costs. Especially considering the vast majority of breeds I REALLY like aren't compatible with my lifestyle. It depresses me, sometimes, frustrates at the very least when people say all dogs are the same.
I recently went to a children's play museum with my kids. There were several pictures of pit bulls and a full size stuffed pit bull in the "vet center" for the kids to play with. This way children can feel that pit bulls are such friendly dogs, so loving and wonderful. The reality gives me a sick feeling, when these kids are hurt and killed by these dogs. I think its an awful thing to do to children.
ReplyDeleteSo many pit bulls...I want to say something to somebody, but I don't think it will be well received.
Still, I think I will write some letters.
Sounds familiar, s.smith. Pit bulls get slipped into media to make them appear safe. When animal rescue ads play on television, there's always a pit or pit mix. In larger pet store chains, it's not unusual for there to be more books and magazines about pits than any other animal. And as you have seen, pits are often marketed to kids, sometimes to the point of bringing real ones to summer camps of all places. It's a little thing but it does have an effect on the subconscious. Media advertising--it's scary business!
DeleteAnd if you're an American citizen, saying something bad about dogs period makes you poorly received. I'm not saying this as an attack against dog lovers. I like most dogs, even. But I DO have a very bitter resentment towards America's "dog culture" and how the country treats dogs as the most important living thing...ever. Pit bulls are taken to an astronomical level of holiness, which is ironic given how much they maul and kill. Writing letters sounds like a good effort but they would have to be written to the right people.
"...and a full size stuffed pit bull in the "vet center" ..."
DeleteWhen I first read that, I had a mental image of a stuffed hunting trophy, fresh from the taxidermy shop.
Shows where my head is at.
Animal Uncontrol, your head is in the right place. No mercy for pit bulls or their deranged owners. No mercy for any irresponsible dog owner. No mercy for any disruptive dog, bark, bite, or bathroom. They started it, we end it, permanently. Dogs and their owners take a mile when given an inch, so show no quarter. Everybody without morals are too busy feasting from the profits they're making off of this freak show. There are more victims than there are dog owners, so the time is now to starve the criminals of their "hard earned" cash. Stand together. We can play this game and win.
DeleteI will never own a coffee table). I love their big blocky heads, their wrinkly jowls, Pitbull
ReplyDelete