Sun columnist Dan Rodricks badmouths pit bulls, gets mauled by readers
Baltimore Sun columnist Dan Rodricks doesn’t believe pit bulls should be allowed in public.
“They have a reputation for vicious mauling,” he says in the first paragraph of his Monday column, written after serving as a judge in a costume contest that was part of last weekend’s Maryland SPCA March for the Animals.
That makes me wonder — not just about the SPCA’s choice in judges, but whether The Sun has changed its slogan. I’ve been away. Is it “Light for Some” now? “Light for Purebreds?” “Light for erroneous stereotypes?”
First off, if I may shed some light for all, it’s the news media (always so easy to blame) that accounts, in large part, for the pit bull’s undeserved bad reputation — along with fear mongering politicians.
Rodricks further trashes that reputation, calling pit bulls, among other things, “four-legged time bombs” — and at a time when much of the country, with exceptions like the Maryland Court of Appeals, is waking up to how wrong that stereotype is.
Rodricks
“Until they are banned outright, pit bulls should not be allowed in public, and their ownership should bear heavy, legal responsibility,” Rodricks wrote, adding that he was “pleased” with the Maryland Court of Appeals ruling declaring pit bulls and pit bull mixes “inherently dangerous.”
Rodricks talked about his admiration for the Maryland SPCA and its efforts to shelter and find home for dogs. And he praised the annual March for the Animals, saying the spectacle of people walking their pets around Druid Lake was “inspiring — city life at its top.”
If only there weren’t pit bulls in the crowd:
“The pit bulls make it weird … Of course, the pit bulls are all tethered or chained to their owners, and, given the nature of the event, you generally assume that the men and women who participate are responsible and educated pet owners; altruistic, too. Many adopted these animals to provide them a home and train them toward good behavior. They believe mistreatment of the pit bull by ignorant humans is the problem, not the breed itself.”
He then conveys the following misinformation:
“The evidence shows clearly that such attacks are disproportionate to the number of pit bulls in society, that they inflict far more damage than other dogs, and that their attacks are associated with a higher risk of death. Pit bull jaws are three times stronger than those of a German (shepherd).”
The appeals court ruling — delving as it does into pit bull attacks over history, or at least attacks police attributed to pit bulls — “makes clear, if it wasn’t already, that pit bulls are four-legged time bombs,” Rodricks says
As you might expect, Rodricks is now getting the vicious mauling he feared might occur if he got too close to a pit bull — from readers.
You can find their comments here.
(Photo: From TheBullyBreedBlog.com)
Posted by jwoestendiek April 30th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animals, baltimore, baltimore sun, ban, breed-specific, breeds, columnist, costume contest, dan rodricks, dangerous, discrimination, dogs, images, inherent, judge, March for the Animals, maryland, maryland court of appeals, maryland spca, news media, pets, pit bull, pit bulls, pitbull, pitbulls, reputation, restrict, ruling, stereotypes
Comments
Comment from nancy
Time May 1, 2012 at 11:14 am
Please make this writer and article go viral with your comments !!!
Comment from Jess DeLeon
Time May 1, 2012 at 11:24 am
I wish he would show his face at Pits on Parade in May…
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time May 1, 2012 at 12:19 pm
The readers tore him a new one as they rightly should have. It’s one thing for your average everyday schmoe to spout that kinda crap, it’s another thing entirely when a person who has the public ear does it. Obviously, the reporter did ZERO research on the subject and just spewed the “company line” without regard to the damage he was causing. Obviously also, Mr. Rodericks has no personal experience with a “Pit Bull”. Maybe he should have opened up his laptop and dug around a little before spouting off in such a hateful way. Has he been living under a rock since the Michael Vick incident? Has he never heard of “Best Friends”? Unbelievable!
Hey! Mr. Rodericks: http://www.dontbullymybreed.com/
Check it out dude, you might just learn something.
Comment from michele
Time May 1, 2012 at 2:36 pm
wow, what a misinformed man and to walk with the SPCA, then write such vile things, sad..so very sad.
Comment from Blendena Dormer
Time May 1, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Stupid is…as Stupid does!
Comment from Dee Alvis
Time May 1, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Well Dan Rodricks, based on your logic, I think we should ban YOU and all other irresponsible journalists of your ilk. Because there are few things that are more dangerous than a hatemongering journalist.
Comment from Kyle Trojan Murphy
Time May 1, 2012 at 5:48 pm
He blocked me for this:
“A question… what has happened to the comments that were posted (outside of this thread) that were of a different opinion on the article written about why pit bulls are dangerous?
I’m asking because free speech is an amazing thing, and it seem like the desenting voices are being censored. As a journalist I’d assume you hold on to the idea that free speech is something to protect.”
I’m not sure how this was rude, or could be viewed as a personal attack
Comment from Kathy Quinn
Time May 1, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Wouldn’t it be great if so-called reporters would do a bit of research about what they are reporting on. You’ve written an article that may serve to hurt many of the wonderful, loving, intelligent pit bulls and their owners in Baltimore and now you don’t want to hear what they have to say in reply to your misinformed report. Shame on you, Dan Rodricks!!
Comment from Kathy Quinn
Time May 1, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Wouldn’t it be nice if so-called reporters actually did a bit of research on what they are reporting on. Obviously, Mr. Rodricks did none! He has managed to possibly hurt this wonderful breed — a loving, intelligent and loyal breed and their devoted owners. Yes, most of the people who own pitbulls are responsible people. Now he choose not to hear or read their replies to his uninformed article. Shame on you, Dan Rodricks!
Comment from Sharon Dorsch
Time May 1, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Can we ban assholes like Dan rodricks from being in public. I find his word are vicious, and incorrect.
Comment from Hope
Time May 1, 2012 at 10:16 pm
It is troubling that reporters are allowed to provide misinfomation and cannot back up thier statements with facts. IF Mr. Rodricks would have done just a little bit of research onthe breed he would see that these dogs are not the vicious man eaters he believes them to be. What ever happened to resposible journalism, to getting the facts and being able to back up statements. In addition, I was under the impression that profiling was illegal, or is that just for those who walk on two legs. Believe it or not, I trust my dogs and other Pit Bulls more than I trust my human neighbors.
Comment from Julie
Time May 2, 2012 at 10:44 am
He actually looks like a pitbull.
Comment from Cathy Overmeyer
Time May 2, 2012 at 12:05 pm
I’ve been reading Dan’s column and listening to him on NPR for years. I am sorry to find out that he would spout such junk. Ban stupid cruel owners.
Comment from Max
Time May 2, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Hate speech at its finest … And brought to us by
The Balto Sun and NPR… Disgusting and preposterous
Comment from gloria
Time May 3, 2012 at 12:42 pm
when will people learn it not the dog it is the stupid people.that make them mean.any dog can be mean if they are taught to be that way.
Comment from gloria
Time May 3, 2012 at 1:01 pm
when will people learn it not the dog it is the darn people that make them mean.
Comment from pissed of blonde bitch
Time May 11, 2012 at 4:09 pm
WHAT AN ASSHOLE!!!!!!!! Pitbulls are loving dogs and they are so sweet
Comment from pissed
Time May 15, 2012 at 8:22 pm
This is crap my friend was saved by his pitbull before. They are great dogs. It just has to do with stupid owners who don’t train their dog properly or abuse them.
Comment from jamie
Time June 4, 2012 at 9:10 pm
This guy is an idiot. I e-mailed him this: Just wondering if your logic on breeds of dogs also applies to races of people. Do you also advocate nationality bans or religious bans? Gender bans? Statistically, I’d say all men are inherently dangerous, so what do you propose we do? Do you think before you come up with this?” His response: “No — trust me — I’m one of the millions of Americans who actually make a distinction between human beings and dogs.” Ummmmm…. What? THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO REFORM EDUCATION. How can anyone be so illogical??
Comment from Mary
Time June 16, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Dan Rodericks is so biased against pitbulls, and he’s at it again. His radio address on June 15, 2012 was so prejudiced, and he allowed the anti-pitbull people to interrupt other guests. He belittles anyone who does not share his point of view. Check out his facebook posts on this issue.
Poor example of a journalist who uses sensationalism to drive up ratings.
Comment from baltimoregal
Time May 1, 2012 at 9:46 am
…and he is blocking people on twitter who disagree with him. coward. if you believe it, stand up for it. will he change his email next?