Correcting incorrect stereotypes about pitbulls – the Majority Project

A dog advocacy group called Animal Farm Foundation has been collecting photos of everyday pitbull owners for its “Majority Project.”

These photos show that most pitbull dog owners – like all dog owners – are average people making valuable contributions to their communities.

Through the Majority Project, Animal Farm is showing that these “average” pitbull dog owners are not the exception but the rule.

“Everyday people are the majority,” Animal Farm says on its web site. “The Majority Project is designed to challenge incorrect stereotypes about ‘pit bull’ dog owners.”

Sometimes breed-specific legislation (BSL) has little to do with dogs, according to Animal Farm. Targeting the dogs is a way to profile or discriminate against people.

Through the Majority Project, Animal Farm wants people to know:

• Pitbull dog owners are no different than other dog owners.
• There are millions of pitbull owners who live peacefully and “unremarkably.”
• A small minority of all dog owners are reckless.
• When you discriminate against dogs, you are discriminating against people.
• BSL does not help achieve a common goal, which is public safety.

Have you ever caught yourself spreading incorrect stereotypes about pitbull owners?

I know I have, but that was before I knew better.

Ever catch yourself saying any of these?

• “It’s not the dogs, it’s the owners.”
• “Pitbulls can be really nice dogs. It’s how they’re raised.”
• “There are so many irresponsible pitbull owners.”

Hmm, really?

People making these statements may have good intentions, but the statements are obviously very false.

Just like the majority of pitbull dogs are good and average dogs, their owners are also good, average dog owners.

Like I’ve said before, I like to replace “beagle” or “black Lab” with “pitbull.” If it sounds like a ridiculous thing to say about a beagle, then why would you say something so ridiculous about a pitbull?

“Beagles can be nice dogs in the right hands.”

“It’s not the black Labs. It’s their owners.”

More about the Majority Project

The Majority Project is a photo collection illustrating the countless pitbull dog owners who are no different than other dog owners.

Animal Farm Foundation encourages pitbull dog owners to join the project by visiting TheMajorityProject.com and printing out and personalizing an “I am the MAJORITY” sign and submitting a photo with their dog. The video below shows a sampling of the photos so far.

Despite the stereotypes placed on them, the majority of pitbull dog owners (like all dog owners) love and care for their dogs responsibly.

Go here to submit your own photo. And, if you email it to me as well, I’ll add your pic to this post (Lindsay@ThatMutt.com).

Some of the photos from the Majority Project:

More blog posts about pitbull advocacy:

• 8 ways to advocate for pitbulls if you don’t own a pitbull
• How to get pitbulls adopted
• What if we dropped the term “bully” breeds?
• Are pitbull memes doing more harm than good?

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