Pembroke Pines Fl wants to ban vicious dogs (BSL)

While I do partially agree with you Dyan, the pit bull issue is a complicated one and it is important to look at it from all angles.  The media argument does help to open minds that were previously closed.  I know this because I personally experienced it.  When we first found Sally and realized that nobody was coming to claim her we had to decide whether or not we were going to keep her.  I did a buttload of pit bull research and as a news junkie, I media argument really hit home for me because of how the media does not paint an accuate picture of amny things (if you went by the news media only little white kids get kidnapped, and more kids die via gun accidents than pool accidents). 

The media has extremely long lasting effect on people--Dobermans still suffer from a bad image.  I have nhever met an aggressive Doberman but when DH and I were thinking about getting a Doberman as a second dog everyone we shared this with freaked out, telling stories of how their father's uncle's cousin's sister had one "turn on her."  For many people perception is reality and the only exposure that most people have concerning pit bulls has all come from the media (I meet many people who pet Sally and are surprised that she is a pit bull, or admitt that they do not even know what a pit bull really looks like, they've just heard about them on the news. 

I would totally and completely agree that we need to go after owners hardcore.  I have lately even begun to see the benifit of spay/neuter laws (even if they are breed specific, which I would rather avoid but would take over a ban any day).  I would love it if people whose dogs killed people were charged with a felony.  I would support laws that required micro chips to track a dog back to its owner AND breeder, so that a breeder breeding bad tempered animals can be stopped.  However, none of this is going to happen if people do not believe that dogs like pits and rots are worth saving in the first place, and part of that invovles advocating for the breed on some level.

 However, none of this is going to happen if people do not believe that dogs like pits and rots are worth saving in the first place, and part of that invovles advocating for the breed on some level.

 
While that is true... a big part of our society don't believe any dog is worth saving in the first place. So of course they are not going to like the dogs with the reputations.
No one is going to pay attention to people saying "that was NOT a pure PB" and that seems to be a major argument for the PB people. It doesn't matter. It is a bully type and that is a PB to most people.  No different than people saying this is a Rotty mix...etc. It just doesn't help the argument.  
Not that many years ago ( and of course it is more years than I care to think ) when I had a Pit Bull type...that is the first time I even heard of Pit Bull.  Now I am reading that people saying there is mostly PBs advertised for sale in their local newspaper. THIS is not getting better day by day,,, its getting really out of control.  The dogs in the shelters are likely the ones that will end up either dead or biting someone after their rough start, and its not their fault. BUT if there are more and more of them... how is it going to get better? There will be more and more stories in the news.
Advocating for the breed is good...but not helping things really.  Not unless you can get it out to the public that is not aware of anything except that another PB attacked someone or something.

ORIGINAL: dyan

 However, none of this is going to happen if people do not believe that dogs like pits and rots are worth saving in the first place, and part of that invovles advocating for the breed on some level.

Not unless you can get it out to the public that is not aware of anything except that another PB attacked someone or something.

That is a big part of the public--many people do not even know what a pit bull looks like really.  They know nothing of the breed except what the media says.  Reaching those people is important.  I get what you are saying and mostly agree with you.  However, if we are going to save this groups of breeds from extinction, the battle needs to be fought on multiple fronts.

However, if we are going to save this groups of breeds from extinction, the battle needs to be fought on multiple fronts.

 
I'm sure you are right!
I guess we all need to DO something about it, along with TALKING about it.  This is quickly getting out of hand.