FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Media Reports of Pit Bull Attacks
US and Canada – October 18, 2017 – National Pit Bull Victim Awareness marks its third anniversary on October 28, 2017 with a renewed call for action by journalists to address the critical issue of pit bull attacks. NPBVA tracks media reports of pit bull attacks in Canada and the United States on an interactive map. To date in 2017, more than 620 attacks involving people have been reported by the media. The majority are children and seniors.
A documentary produced by CBC’s Fifth Estate investigative team (September 22, 2017) is the first television program to examine the multi-million-dollar US lobbying effort to rebrand the pit bull as a family-friendly dog. “Pit Bulls Unleashed: Should They Be Banned?” addresses the trauma to victims and stresses the risks of pit bull adoption. It describes the mass export to Canada of US pit bulls on death row; investigates techniques used by shelters to hide the histories of dangerous pit bulls; and depicts neighborhoods where pit bulls are out of control in the United States.
A previous investigative piece by La Presse (August 13, 2016) examined links between the US pit bull lobby and its influence on veterinary doctors.
In addition to the toll placed on human safety, thousands of household pets are killed by pit bulls. In 2015, pit bulls killed 24,000 other dogs and 13,000 cats, as reported by Animals 24-7, a news organization that has logged fatal and disfiguring dog attacks for 35 years.
During the month of October, we honor victims of pit bull attacks and call attention to the severe injuries and deaths caused by pit bull-type dogs in the United States and Canada.
Partner organizations in the NPBVA initiative include Dogsbite.org, Daxton’s Friends (Wisconsin), PETA, Animals 24-7, Dangerous By Default (Maryland), Protect Children from Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs (California), Awareness for Victims of Canine Attack – AVOCA (Worldwide), and a new initiative for child victims SCARS Kids.
October 15, 2017 also marks the 10th anniversary of Dogsbite.org, the primary 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that champions the rights of victims through their research, education and advocacy. Dogsbite.org is a comprehensive resource containing the foremost studies and statistics regarding dog bite injuries, pit bull injuries, dog bite fatalities, dangerous dog breed ownership and more. Dogsbite.org is instrumental in tracking and supporting breed-specific legislation (BSL) for pit bull-type dogs.
About National Pit Bull Victim Awareness
National Pit Bull Victim Awareness advocates for more than 70 organizations and social media groups in the United States and Canada, including memorial and support pages for victims of pit bull attacks, breed-specific legislation, and non-profit organizations. View our Partners and Friends.
Interactive map of news reports on victim attacks
https://www.nationalpitbullvictimawareness.org/attacks/map-of-attacks-2017/
Daily reports of pit bull attacks and updates on victims
https://www.facebook.com/NationalPitBullVictimAwareness/
Website
https://www.nationalpitbullvictimawareness.org/
Contact
editor@nationalpitbullvictimawareness.org or partner organizations