In June 2011 I was contacted by the ABC to give comment for a story about the Cat Protection Society of Victoria. I agreed and they sent a reporter and camera operator out to to my place on the same day. About a month later I received an email to say the story would go to air on Friday 12 Aug.

Surprised to See RSPCA Vic Alongside LDH & CPS

I expected the story to be focused on claims the CPS had been misrepresenting its statistics to the public. The story ended up focusing largely on claims that the No Kill movement were “waging a cyber war” against the RSPCA, Lost Dogs Home and Cat Protection Society of Victoria. I was surprised to hear RSPCA Vic being lumped in with LDH and CPS when they are leagues apart.

Animal Advocates are Working With RSPCA Vic

The story incorrectly stated that animal advocates have been attacking RSPCA Victoria. The exact opposite is true for the simple reason that they are working steadily toward reducing their kill rates.

• Their annual reports (including statistics) have been available on their website for many years now
• Their foster care program saved over 600 lives in 2010
• They respond promptly to all (reasonable) questions on their Facebook page
• They emptied their catteries last year with an innovative ‘adoption fee waived’ promotion
• Their ‘Twilight Adoption’ extended hours make it easier for people to adopt
• They are open all day on weekends

"I see the No Kill activists as leading the way and that's the same with any social change."

Lost Dogs Home Are In The Doghouse

The Lost Dogs Home does not have many friends in animal welfare.

• They reported a live release rate of just 14.2% for cats in 2010 (compared to 40% at RSPCA)
• They won’t tell us how many animals were fostered in 2010
• Their annual reports (including statistics) were not made available to the public till 2010
• They remove reasonable questions from their Facebook page and ban people who ask them
• They close at lunchtime on Sundays and public holidays

"They are cyber bullies because they're on the Internet trying to create controversy."

My Comments Were Not Directed At RSPCA Vic

I was interviewed about CPS, not RSPCA Vic. I have assisted them over the last couple of years and just last week attended their annual Seminar. I have no idea who told the producer that “the No Kill movement” were attacking RSPCA. Could it have been one of the other two shelters mentioned? It wouldn’t be the first time they let a reporter say something incorrect.

"The problem with allowing these people to be the public face of animal welfare is that they're holding back change and they're keeping us stuck in a 20th century kill model."

Stay Tuned For More On Cat Protection Society

There’s a lot more to this story. Out of the 166,000 viewers on Friday night, many will know someone who has worked there and may be able to shed more light on what goes on there. Expect to hear more over coming months.

Reporting rarely includes the events that led to the attack, valuable information that might help us avoid similar incidents.  Instead we are led to believe that the pit bulls are simply unpredictable dangerous dogs. We frequently read headlines about Pit Bulls whose breed later turns out to be misidentified. We read about dogs turning on owners who later turn out to be someone minding the dog. We read about “family dogs” who later turn out to be simply “resident dogs” confined to a back yard.

We decided to investigate whether the Australian media shows a bias against Pit Bulls.

Two Attacks but Only One Reported

The first attack involved a couple walking their small dog home from the shops in Diamond Creek, Victoria. They encountered two roaming dogs, one of whom repeatedly bit their dog and the female owner. She received serious injuries to her hands and her dog received multiple wounds with possible fractures. Nillumbik council seized both roaming dogs. The dog who attacked them was not a Pit Bull. A week later we have not been able to find a single report of this incident in the media. Nothing. Not even a line in the local paper.

The second attack resulted in a man and a woman being hospitalised after receiving multiple bites from a dog in their backyard in Sydney. Initial reports claimed that the dog involved was a Pit Bull and the media went wild.

Just 12 hours after the incident, Google shows how the media respond to news of a 'pit bull' attack.

Media Reaction to Mention of ‘Pit Bull Attack’

• 3:40PM “Two People Attacked by Dog – St Clair“,  NSW Police Media release
• 3:45PM “Cops shoot pit-bull in dog attack“, The Daily Telegraph
• 3:51PM “Dog attack in St Clair puts two people in hospital“, Penrith City Star
• 3:56PM “Police shoot violent dog dead in St Clair“, Mt Druitt Standard
• 4:15PM “Crazed dog attacks couple, turns on police“, abc.net.au/news
• 4:41PM “Cop shoots dog after two mauled“, The Australian
• 4:54PM “Man and woman mauled by dog“, The Sydney Morning Herald
• 21:55PM “Man and woman mauled by dog“, SkyNews.com.au

Every single one of these stories reported that a Pit Bull was believed to have attacked it’s owner. While they focussed on the injuries caused and police shooting the dog, none of these stories gave any details on what led to this attack.

It Wasn’t a Pit Bull

Early reports suggested the dog in question may have been a pitbull terrier – a breed that has been banned in Australia since 2005.

But police last night confirmed the animal was a Staffordshire bull terrier.

news.com.au

Early reports suggested the dog in question may have been a pitbull terrier – a breed that has been banned in Australia since 2005.But police last night confirmed the animal was a Staffordshire bull terrier. Early reports suggested the dog in question may have been a pitbull terrier – a breed that has been banned in Australia since 2005. But police last night confirmed the animal was a Staffordshire bull terrier.

So What Led to This Attack?

At midnight, news.com.au published a story that gave details of what led to the attack.

Mr Edwards said both dogs were normally kept in the backyard. He said he understood his wife was in the backyard hanging out washing when her friend arrived and probably tried to gain access by cutting through the garage. The man, aged in his 50s, was attacked first, then Mrs Edwards, who is in her 40s, was bitten.

News.com.au

What We Want to See

This sort of sensationalized reporting only feeds people’s fears. We are not in the middle of a dog bite epidemic.

Australia has a canine population of about 4 million and over 40% of homes have a dog. However, fatalities are rare (less than one a year nationally) and just 1,400 people have injuries that are serious enough to send them to hospital. I say ‘just’ because the number of people hospitalised each year from tripping over – 18,970. While 1,439 people are hospitalised from ‘trampoline’ related incidents.

SavingPets.com.au

Misreporting and over reporting of attacks by ‘Pit Bulls’ has resulted in States enacting laws that target dogs based on their appearance. Victoria recently enacted laws that allow council officers to seize and kill family pets who look like they may have some ‘pit bull’ in them. There is no scientific evidence that one breed is more likely than another to injure a person. Media bias against certain dog breeds feed public fears but do nothing to make us safer.

The Australian Veterinary Association have spoken out against Breed Specific Legislation. The RSPCA also believes that the owner, not the dog is the issue. It’s time to stop feeding pit bull hysteria and do more to educate the public in how to be safe around dogs.