Joey is a 4 month old Puppy rescued by the Chako Rescue Association in Sacramento. When Libby Sherrill, the filmmaker creating the documentary BEYOND THE MYTH, came out to California for an event, she met Joey and bonded with him. Joey is rambunctious and full of energy, though as happy go lucky as any pup could be. His energy level, however, makes him a harder placement because he needs a very active home. Thankfully, Libby is a very active woman and lives in the country in Knoxville, TN.

Well, Libby needed to fly home to TN, and she wanted to take Joey with her (in the Cargo hold of the Continental plane, with the little pup safely in a kennel). Continental, it turns out, doesn’t like Pit Bulls and won’t fly any Pit Bull over 6 months of age or over 20 lbs. Joey is about 4 months, but he just misses the weight limit at about 27 lbs.

Continental explains that “safety concerns” have led it to adopt this policy, which prohibits even “mixed” breed dogs that may be part Pit Bull (though their website says they allow “crossbreeds,” the representative on the phone told us that information is wrong and the website simply has not yet been updated).

So, Joey had to stay in Sacramento while Libby flew home, without him, to TN.

Continental’s policy is not driven by safety. What can a 4 month old puppy do that a 90 lb German Shepherd or Rottweiler could not do? Are they afraid that little Joey will break out of his kennel and damage the aircraft?

Well, I’d like you to meet this rescued German Shepherd from the bay area.

His name is Greylin, but it really should be Houdini. He’s busted out of three kennels (destroying them in the process), escaped an enclosed dog run, and sailed over a 7 foot privacy fence. Continental will fly him, no problem, in a standard plastic Vari-Kennel in the Cargo hold of its aircraft which would no doubt prove as ineffective a containment device as the other three kennels he managed to demolish.

And he is not alone. Take a visit to Captains Kennels (a boarding kennel) that declares on its website, “Escape proof kennels, specifically German Shephards. If you own a German Shepherd, you know what we mean.”

So maybe Continental should ban all Pit Bulls and German Shepherds. But wait! Border Collies are also often escape artists! “High intelligence does mean they learn quickly – but that includes how to do anything they set their minds to. They are master escape artists who can virtually pick the lock on your gate.” http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/bordercollies.html

And the list goes on. Jack Russell Terriers, Malinois, Akitas, Huskies, Malamutes and many other breeds are well known for their abilities to escape confinement — whether it be a fence, a crate, or an outside kennel; but for some reason, Continental has deemed a 4 month old Pit Bull pup weighing a mere 20-something pounds to be more of a menace than a high-drive, chew crazy, kennel-destroying German Shepherd about four times his size.

Apparently, it’s only a secret to Continental that many different breeds of dogs can get out of SOME kennels. In other words, if Continental was really concerned about safety, it would mandate that all dogs be transported in secure, escape-proof kennels. But, no, Continental has chosen to discriminate against Pit Bulls, even little pups confined securely in crates — even escape-proof crates — and blissfully allow all other breeds on its aircraft.

CHAKO says “Shame on Continental” and urges everyone to contact Continental airlines at 800.WE.CARE2 (800.932.2732)(Apparently, they don’t REALLY care — at least not about a little rescue puppy needing a lift to his new home)

See Joey’s story on the news at http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=69027AND Beyond The Myth’s site at http://www.beyondthemythmovie.com/

Author D. Capp holds an M.S. in medical science (biochemistry and genetics), a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and a law degree.

Donald Butler, a member of the Public Safety Committee for Horicon, Wisconsin, believes that Horicon should ban Pit Bulls. His rationale for wanting Pit Bulls out of Horicon is simple, if shockingly discriminatory.

“Horicon is not a ghetto. This is one breed of dogs we do not need.”

Many educated dog advocates, attorneys, and scholars have stated that breed discrimination is often a guise for classism. Never before, however, has a public official come right out and admitted such a thing!

We applaud Donald Butler for his bravery. It takes guts to admit that the sole motivation for wanting to get rid of Pit Bulls is because one believes that only “ghetto” people own Pit Bulls. Is it possible that Mr. Butler believes that, by banning Pit Bulls, all the people with darker skin will leave Horicon with their beloved Pit Bulls?

Mr. Butler, despite his bravery, made quite the ass of himself for such assumptions. Even if true, he has shown himself to be a racist, pure and simple. However, Mr. Butler’s belief that Pit Bulls are “ghetto” is, of course, erroneous. People like Helen Keller, Michael J. Fox, and John Stewart own Pit Bulls.

The author of this blog happens to hold three degrees and has authored several serious works, including a law review article, a scientific journal article, and a nonfiction book.

Well, if Pit Bulls are “ghetto,” then Pit Bulls sure have improved the “ghetto!”

Author D. Capp holds an M.S. in medical science (biochemistry and genetics), a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and a law degree.

Clinton Portis recently expressed regret that he’d made comments trivializing dog fighting.In a May 21 interview with WAVY-TV in Norfolk, Portis said of accused dog fighter Michael Vick, “It’s his property; it’s his dogs. If that’s what he wants to do, do it.”

After a firestorm of public criticism, Portis backtracked, stating, ” “I didn’t know it would affect that many people, didn’t think what I said was that offensive….I’ve never been into dogs, never dealt with dogs, don’t like playing with dogs. But at the same time, there’s a lot of people who are crazy over pets.”

It seems Portis just doesn’t know how to spin very well. What he’s made clear by his latest comments is that he doesn’t find dog fighting offensive, but he’s sorry he opened his mouth because there are a lot of crazy pet lovers out there who found his comments offensive and said so. Portis has revealed the lesson he’s learned from all this.

“From now on, I don’t comment on nobody.”

You’re a stand-up guy, Portis. Just please stand far, far away from me

Author D. Capp holds an M.S. in medical science (biochemistry and genetics), a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and a law degree.

Is the media truly objective and unbiased? How media agencies report stories show their prejudices (and, no, we are not talking about FOX News!)

Let’s take this example –Pittsburgh Live! In this story, published May 12, 2007, about a dog attacking another dog, the headline reads: Pit bull attacks dog in Brackenridge (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_507284.html)

In the following story, dated July 25, 2008, the headline reads: Dog attack in Erie County kills toddler (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_579353.html)

At no time, in the second story, does the paper mention the breed of the dog. Other papers describe the dog (and include photos) as an Old English Sheepdog.

In April of 2005, News 10 of Sacramento reported a story where a Queensland Heeler and Pit Bull attacked another dog. (http://www.topix.net/forum/source/kxtv/TSVHC0RFNGIKUT9UI). The headline only referred to the PIT BULL. In response to this obvious bias in the reporting of the story, we sent the following email to News 10:

“Regarding this tragic story, we are almost as saddened by the bias displayed in the headline as we are by the horrible event itself. Why, if a Queensland Heeler AND a Pit Bull both attacked and killed the dogs was only the PIT BULL mentioned in the headline? That is akin to telling a news story about a white man and black man who rob a store together but having the headline read: Black man robs store.”

To News 10’s credit, they recognized the bias in the headline and responded as follows (in an internal email copied to us):

“The reader has a point. How about we change it to something like: Roseville Woman Mourns Pets Killed in Dog Attack?”

They subsequently changed the headline.

People who report the news are as subject to bias as the rest of society, but as the watchdogs of society, it is crucial that news professionals make a concerted effort to recognize their prejudices and report the news in as objective a fashion as possible. Bias in the media harms society by causing people to perceive issues in a certain way that may not represent reality, and these perceptions often find their way into laws that affect millions of people…and animals.

Author D. Capp holds an M.S. in medical science (biochemistry and genetics), a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, and a law degree.

For a year and a half, I have been dreading the inevitable: the criminalization of dog ownership.

At first, I approached the members of my German shepherd training club and asked them to support my pit bull friends by opposing SB 861. They would have no part of it. “It’s just THOSE dogs; it’ll never happen to our breed.” No matter what I wrote or said, such as “I guarantee that our dogs are next,” nobody would support me in my anti-BSL campaigning because nobody would bother with a bill that didn’t affect them personally.

Then, all of a sudden, the powers that be wanted to criminalize dog breeding in Sacramento County (with Sac City close behind), but this time it isn’t breed specific; it’s dogs of any breed. I spent quite a bit of time opposing that, too, but I couldn’t get any of my German shepherd buddies to support those efforts either. This time they said, “That law will never pass.” And of course it’s no surprise that it did. None of the dog people at those meetings would support each other; they just bickered in a “Well, why would I support poodle/spaniel/mutt breeders? Those dogs are useless anyway.” In other words, who cares about THOSE dogs, and who cares about the people who love them?

So now California wants mandatory spay and neuter laws statewide, which everybody says will never pass. It does not make exception for ranch dogs, unless they are registered AKC, which pretty much guarantees that they won’t work. All the people who swear by mutts will be out of luck forever. Breeders will have to pay fees. Breeders will have to get permits. Dogs will have to have paperwork about their shots, breeding, and residence addresses formally registered with the State. All of a sudden, again, no surprise, the German shepherd people are up in arms! Please, everyone, take action! They are going to make laws about breeding OUR dogs! Please help immediately! Fight this new bill!

But I for one do not care to participate any more. I have no sympathy for dog owners who don’t care a damn about other dog owners. Maybe the “Nazi” in German shepherd lineage has finally kicked in…well sure, make those dogs illegal, they are just show dogs or family pet mutts! Uh huh. Not the important kinds of dogs: OURS.

The ranchers with long lines of working dogs find them important, and so do people like me who have had a blessed experience with a mutt, and all the people who swear that their best dogs have been of indecipherable lineage and they’ll always adopt mutts from the shelter. It’s my opinion that MY dogs are important, as they are police K9 candidates (which may not matter to you if you’re a criminal). But it sure as heck is also my opinion that the State shouldn’t be determining what kinds of dogs THEY will let US find important. Who cares? It won’t be happening to MY dogs, because everybody wants my dogs. In fact, it just drives my puppy prices up, as they will be in demand when only Germans can breed them.

So the rest of the GSD people are out of luck, as far as finding support here. They let too many pit bulls go under the needle, so I no longer care about their rights to hobby breed. As far as I’m concerned, they’re on their own, like pit bull people have been for a long time. And I’ve learned a valuable lesson in modern self-centeredness.

Author: Jackie Marshall