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Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon
Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon | Bronwen Dickey
The hugely illuminating story of how a popular breed of dog became the most demonized and supposedly the most dangerous of dogs and what role humans have played in the transformation. When Bronwen Dickey brought her new dog home, she saw no traces of the infamous viciousness in her affectionate, timid pit bull. Which made her wonder: How had the breed beloved by Teddy Roosevelt, Helen Keller, and Hollywood s Little Rascals come to be known as a brutal fighter? Her search for answers takes her from nineteenth-century New York City dogfighting pits the cruelty of which drew the attention of the recently formed ASPCA to early twentieth century movie sets, where pit bulls cavorted with Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton; from the battlefields of Gettysburg and the Marne, where pit bulls earned presidential recognition, to desolate urban neighborhoods where the dogs were loved, prized and sometimes brutalized. Whether through love or fear, hatred or devotion, humans are bound to the history of the pit bull. With unfailing thoughtfulness, compassion, and a firm grasp of scientific fact, Dickey offers us a clear-eyed portrait of this extraordinary breed, and an insightful view of Americans relationship with their dogs."
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LibraryCin
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This was really interesting and I was impressed how, with very little information she was able to dig deeper, particularly into statistics, to find that most of the stats in the media accounts are flawed. That is, one of the first peer reviewed articles (which, of course, was then cited in later peer reviewed articles) that did find that pit bulls caused the most deaths was based on flawed stats. Cont in comments...

LibraryCin I‘m impressed with this book and the amount of research that went into it. 2y
8 likes1 comment
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ChrisBohjalian
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Bedtime reading with my Jesse. Good-night.

Reagan That looks like a great reading buddy. 3y
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Chelsie_shot
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emelendez
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kiminreverse
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And here's my awesomely comfortable dress from last night, and my date. Toban was rescued a few years ago from a house where the people had left and didn't take the dogs with them. Several other dogs had died, but this guy managed to barely survive. (http://bit.ly/2oMGtZa) He was adopted out through a local shelter but his mom volunteers with us and he comes to our events now.

Tanzy13 🐶 8y
8 likes1 comment
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jennwangster
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Pickpick

Amazing book!

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kendrastephaniekaryn
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I have to take a break from this #audiobook. It just isn't holding my attention. ☹ #audible

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Copwithabook
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My #bestoffebruary was Pit Bull by Bronwen Dickey and Real Food/Fake Food by Larry Olmsted. Both non-fiction, go figure. It's slowly pulling me toward the dark side. #readon

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kendrastephaniekaryn
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So far so interesting! #audible #audiobook

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keithmalek

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that he does not become a monster.
--Frederick Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

JoeStalksBeck Love Nietzsche 8y
3 likes1 comment
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Copwithabook
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Trying to finish up this daily deal from Audible. I love pit bull dogs so this has been really informative as to why people became so afraid of them. #audible #audiobook #listenup

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Lindy
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When I heard that my niece was getting a Staffordshire bull terrier, I disapproved. If I had listened to this audiobook beforehand, however, it would have dispelled my negative preconceived notions about pit bull types. I am much better informed now. Bronwen Dickey writes engagingly about history, changing social attitudes, and dog-human relations. A very interesting book.

8little_paws I really want to read this. I don't have a dog, but pits are the main dog that come through the shelter system here. 8y
Lindy @8little_paws Yes, I think you will like this. I'm interested to hear your take on it, because there's quite a bit about the shelter system. 8y
Ashley_Nicoletto When I chose to get a pit bull puppy a lot of my friends and family disapproved. Now after four years they're convinced she's the sweetest, snuggliest, pup ever. Anything that gives them a better rep I'm a fan of. 8y
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8little_paws @lindy for the record, I really like pits and wish I could have one ☺ 8y
ReadingEnvy Such sweet dogs!! 8y
Lindy @Ashley_Nicoletto my niece's dog is a charmer too. 😊 8y
Lindy @8little_paws Apparently, the most recent breed to come under fire is the chihuahua. Dickey documents the cycles of prejudice and the underlying fears. 8y
Lindy @ReadingEnvy Indeed. 😀 8y
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Lindy
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What is it about pit bulls that ignites such strong feelings, and what does that mean for us as a society? The mascot came to be viewed as a monster not because dogs changed, but because we did.

Tanzy13 🐶💟 8y
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Lindy
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My current audiobook. It's reminding me of Susan Orlean's Rin Tin Tin. 👍

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itsabbe
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This week's #funfridayphoto is supposed to be something that makes us happy. This pit bull is at the top of my list. #dogsoflitsy

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Dvmheather
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People, I tell you, this book is giving me feelings. I don't know if I've ever cried so much or gotten so frustrated/angry in the same book. I'm considering buying a kindle version so I can highlight the heck out of it. This copy needs to go back to the library.

Notafraidofwords Gosh. I'm staying away. My boyfriend adopted a pot about 3 years ago and I love him so much. 8y
Dvmheather @Notafraidofwords The book is very pro-dog. It is just that some people aren't. 8y
Notafraidofwords @Dvmheather ugh I see it everyday. Some people are really turned off by pits. 8y
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Dvmheather
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This is so much of what goes wrong in our society.
This book does a great job of looking at the sociological elements that combined to change the narratives around pit bulls from being cherished American icons to menaces to society.

BookishMarginalia Truth. Like the fixation on "stranger danger" when most abductions are conducted by an adult known to the child. 8y
Dvmheather @BookishMarginalia Exactly, that was one of the examples given. Also, increased fear of crime although crime rates are falling. 8y
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Dvmheather
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Once a horse person, always a horse person. I read that paragraph and laughed even though the main reason I don't ride now is because of my injuries. 🐴 We laugh in the face of danger....

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Dvmheather
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This is a hard read for a dog lover but full of good info

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Dvmheather
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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT - Do not attempt to read this book in public when you are hormonal. You will embarrass yourself.

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Dvmheather
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The problem is that I can never decide what to read first.

Redwritinghood I know that feeling. 8y
Dvmheather @Redwritinghood I end up reading nothing for a while because I'm paralyzed by the choice. 😁 8y
WOCreads Can so relate😁 Still haven't read The Long Way, but it sounds really amazing. 8y
4 likes3 comments
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Jokila
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Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon is an interesting read for those who consider themselves a breed champion, or a dog lover in general. Bronwen Dickey goes into the origins of the pit bull and some of the misconceptions surrounding them, the differing ways the dogs have been perceived over time as American culture as demographics changed, and the profiles of people working to help them in sometimes-contradictory ways.

KarenUK So beautiful 💗 8y
Simona 🐶❤️❣️ 8y
rachellayown 💚💛💜 8y
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Jokila
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My scary little lap monster 💕

MrBook 😻 8y
8 likes1 comment
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StephBengtson
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My favorite place to read is at my cabin. I love the quiet and yummy air. A close second would be lounging on my deck while my puppy tears around the yard. 🌲🐶 #augustofpages #bookphotochallenge

Yournewfriendsams Looks perfect 😍 8y
MrBook You have the same tablecover as me and @BookBabe ! 😎👍🏻 8y
18 likes2 comments
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megoc
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I just read about the terrible experience the author is having with Pit Bull fear groups and it made me so sad. This is my dog, the sweetest girl in the world.

MrBook Cute! 😁👍🏻 8y
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Hooked_on_books
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Pickpick

Great read! This is a very thorough, well-rounded, interesting look at the pit bull from the historical, scientific, sociological, and psychological standpoints. She uses primary sources and explores the shocking flaws of media reports. Greta approves and promises not to fear pitties.

MrBook 😹👍🏻 8y
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Hooked_on_books
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This paragraph is a great summation of this entire book. The whole thing is definitely eye-opening.

Notafraidofwords Yes yes yes yes yes 8y
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Hooked_on_books
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I am very interested in animal welfare, particularly for dogs, so I'm excited to learn from this. Especially after a hampered night of firework-sleep and fraidy dogs. No, really, I don't need any space in the bed.

KrisConstantReader That looks like a great book! I love dogs, but must admit that I'm terrified of pit bulls, my father was once brutally attacked by one. 8y
Notafraidofwords Looking forward to see what you think of this one. My boyfriend rescued a pit about two years ago and I love him so much. He's so sweet, but scared of everything. 8y
Hooked_on_books @KrisConstantReader Sounds like this would be a great book for you then! My mom also loves dogs but was afraid of pitties (though without your reason) until she met an incredibly sweet, shy one. Maybe you can turn your fears around. 😊 8y
KrisConstantReader I agree, I think if I were around them more I could get over it. I adore dogs, my doggy is my life. 8y
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StephBengtson
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Here's to being a childless messy dog mom. ❤️

zembla Pitties absolutely are Peter Pans! What a great comparison 🐶 8y
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StephBengtson
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"There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them." - Andrè Gide, Les Nouvelles Nourritures

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byJMS
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Djangies is excited to learn more about his people from Bronwen Dickey's new non-fiction book. He is hoping to understand why people are so afraid of him, and where that prejudice comes from.

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JennRidgway
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Pickpick

An interesting look at the history of Pit Bulls that is even-handed. As the author concludes, "A pit bull is just...a dog." The author investigates the history of dog fighting, our relationships with dogs, genetics, the animal rights response, and the current climate. More than just a dog book!

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JennRidgway
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"That's the difference between me and other people. I refuse to face an uncertain future with a f**king Labradoodle."

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