City’s message: Real men don’t torture pets
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake tomorrow will kick off a campaign urging young people to “Show Your Soft Side” when it comes to cats and dogs.
The campaign was developed to combat the alarming incidence of animal cruelty in Baltimore, with most of the abuse being perpetrated by teens.
“Only a punk would hurt a cat or dog,” is one of its messages.
The campaign is one offshoot of the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, which examined ways to change the mindset of young people who often view the maiming and torturing of defenseless dogs and cats as a sign of “toughness” or “manhood.”
The campaign attempts to put forth the message that “being a man,” has many facets to it, including a “soft side” when it comes to animals.
Because research shows that kids who abuse animals often graduate to even more violent crimes, the campaigns goal is to reach children early.
The campaign will showcase several Baltimore men as role models, when it comes to animals, including Baltimore Oriole Adam Jones, MMA fighter John Rallo, and Baltimore Raven Jarret Johnson (pictured above with his dog, Tucker, in one of the campaign posters).
They will be appearing with their pets on billboards and print ads that make the point that ”only a punk” would hurt a cat or dog.
Pets are invited to the campaign’s launch, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday (Sept. 29) in the plaza outside City Hall, 100 N. Holliday Street.
The campaign is made possible by funding from Eddie’s of Roland Park, Fullmoon Marketing & Events, Kirk Designs, Inc. and Media Works, Ltd.
For more information, visit the campaign’s Facebook page.
Posted by jwoestendiek September 28th, 2011 under Muttsblog.
Tags: abuse, adam jones, ads, animal, animal cruelty, anti-animal abuse task force, baltimore mayor, baltimore orioles, baltimore ravens, billboards, campaign, cats, combat, cruelty, cruelty to animals, dogs, fighter, figures, hurt, jarret johnson, john rallo, launch, manhood, only a punk, pets, press conference, print, role models, show your soft side, soft side, sports, stephanie rawlings-blake, teens, torture, toughness, tucker, youth
Comments
Comment from debbie
Time September 28, 2011 at 11:49 am
Hmmm.. somehow I don’t think this campaign is going to go over very well in urban neighborhoods. I think that the young person who would do something evil like hurting an animal, just aren’t the’ listen to authority ‘type. For example remember the ‘just say no’ campaign? Many inner city kids thought that was a joke..
Sad as it may be, many of these young people are highly affected by celebrities and sports figures ( Michael Vick could be very influential, but alas I don’t think he is sincere about his “ it’s not cool to hurt animals speil) and many young people know insincerity when they ‘feel’ it. And perhaps they think..”he’s just sayin’ that because he was told to’.
The government calling a tough inner city Kid a ‘punk’ for abusing animals will serve more of a badge of defiance than if Michael Vick said the same thing..
I truly wish I knew the solution, I think the essence of ‘do unto others’ is that first and formost we have to love ourselves first. If we truly love ourselves we are more tolerate because we are at peace with our own world, and if we are at peace with our own world we respect others world(s)… both human and animal..
..
Comment from Sue
Time September 28, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I understand what Debbie is saying, but I still think this is fabulous. It needs to become totally unacceptable to hurt/maim/abuse animals in this country. Definitely think this campaign is contributing to social change. My hat is off to Baltimore.
Comment from baconpockets
Time December 2, 2011 at 8:36 pm
while the message is based on great intentions, I don’t think that the people behind this billboard understand just HOW OFFENDED the punkers who see this are right now. most of the punks I know (myself included) are animal lovers, and own and adore pets. the notion that punks are bad people is getting quite tiring. I mean, how would people have reacted if the billboard said something like, “only a Vietnamese would eat your dog?”
Comment from Kathleen
Time April 22, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Well, at least they’re trying. I would suggest showing the urban children graphic photos of dogs and cats that have been horribly abused. I know these kids are ‘immune’ to violence, but perhaps seeing the ‘end result’ of ‘a teenage prank gone horribly wrong’ and the resulting consequences might actually affect some measurable change in these ‘urban youts’. K
Comment from anon
Time September 28, 2011 at 9:03 am
Great posters all. Will print from facebook. The tuxedo cat looks the same as mine now deceased. Same markings and fierce look.