Only African-Americans & Latinos Like Pit Bulls, Right? Wrong.

Screenshot/KCAL9

Would you think anything of an animal shelter banner depicting children playing with pit bulls? What about African-American and Latino children playing with said canines? Phyllis Daugherty of the Animal Issues Movement does.

The banners in question are those at the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter. These newly installed banners, which exist to help encourage pet adoptions, depict African-American and Latino children playing with pit bulls. Daugherty reportedly told KCAL9 that the banners portray a stereotype that minorities are prone to liking pit bulls.

L.A. Animal Service's General Manager Brenda Barnette disagrees.

“The thing that was depicted for me in the picture was the all-American family dog, I mean think about ‘Spanky and Our Gang,’ that was a pit bull running with kids in the neighborhood. So I don’t think there’s anything in that that it had any kind of profiling, I mean I think it’s actually a little ridiculous to even suggest that,” she said.

The banners at the West Los Angeles Animal Shelter show children playing with more "docile and loving" breeds, says CBS LA. “I don’t know where she got the idea that people here prefer pit bulls, there was no study done. The community was not involved. Why are there not pit bulls in North Central or West LA advertised on the banners?” asked Daugherty.

And don't forget the cherry. To spark further controversy, the banners read "South Central Animal Shelter," but the City of L.A. dubbed the area "South L.A." a long time ago. The name "South Central" tends to provoke images of gang violence and riots. Barnette has admitted the 'hood mistake, and the sign will be corrected.

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By Lauren Lloyd in News on September 21, 2011 11:40 AM

Comments [rss]

CP

has anyone stopped to consider that pits are the majority of animals available for adoption in shelters... EVERYWHERE and possibly (i don't mean this in a negative way) that perhaps blacks and latinos may be paid less/family and therefore won't pay for a dog that is bred (genrally worth thousands), yet a black or latino fam may be more apt to go to a shelter to get a pet and save some cash?

lfnfrtank

as a frequent visitor to the Van Nuys dog park, i can tell you that the headline is mostly true.Gang banger Latinos and black men are the Pit-Bull owners. The Pit Bull is the most playful and strongest dog at the park.Most of these Men have very little control of their dogs and they are very aggrersive. I got into a fist fighr with this cholo last week after i told him he should leash his dog as he is being very aggresive. he then got in my face, and pushed me. i grabed his armed and twisted it behind his back, he feel to the ground screaming,i gave him a quick kick to his face,and wished his other cholos friend would of come to his aid..i now go to the NOHO dog park, less cholos and pit bulls...

Spokker

You can't *gasp* SAY that!!!

And yeah, you're right, the NOHO dog park is way better, but your dog has to watch his ass if you know what I mean. And I think you do.

Well, I'm off to diversity class.

Michelle Hickey

The all-American family dog is obviously a Golden Retriever.

ValleyTrash

Most idiots crying about supposed racism are just looking for an easy way to feel like they're involved in a cause.

Honesty Helps

Kids in those neighborhoods don't want pit bulls, they are educated on what pits are and what they are used for. The good kids in those areas want a real pet, not a breed of dog bred to kill. The good kids in those areas know what happens to pits and what kind of kids want pits. It is disgusting to pimp pits into those areas and Breeder Barnette is about as disgusting as you get.

Frank TheTank

The majority of pit bull owners I know are white ... Then again the majority of my friends are white so that might have something to do with the put bull numbers :/

Spokker

White people who don't know any black people, don't want to be around black people, don't want to live with black people and moved away from black people are telling us that it's a horribly racist stereotype that black people might be disproportionately attracted to pit bulls.

FeelTheLightening

Sorry, but I think people are being entirely too sensitive. You want to appeal to the people who LIVE in that area (and I teach in it so I'm not apologizing for not having a single WHITE kid in any of the classes). When shelters are trying to get people to realize what good dogs pit bulls are, how is putting up pictures of a white family with a pit bull in a shelter located in South L.A. going to help? People would be screaming racism if they had done that. It was a no win situation. I teach in that area - they're appealing to the families who live there. I don't think this is racist at all when you're trying to appeal to the community and show them that FAMILIES choose to make this breed their pet.

Paul

If they had a banner of white people with a pit bull - then everyone would be complaining that the banner is not reflective of the community members.

People are always going to complain about something.