Author looking for suggestions

[TroyF]

I have a close friend who's nearing a stage of one rather daunting task. She's trying to put some 16 years of research into a book that will target the general public and will be specific to the fighting breeds with the focus on pit bulls. Much of it is an empirical study on behaviour so obviously there'll be some fairly dry sections but the scientific nature is what will set it apart. The information was originally being gathered for her thesis but with the university rules and copyrights she felt that the information's access would be too restricted so she withheld it and is going to put it in a book. Of course, downside is that it will not be peer reviewed but she feels the importance of one point out-weighs the other.

She'd like to know what topics you'd like to see covered in regards to the pit bull breeds. Be as specific as you can but also assume she'll understand what you're talking about and can question further if neccessary.

 

[SammiesDad]

how about the topic of public perception?

 

[TroyF]

I gotta bump this.

Sammies Dad, I'm sure the subject you've mentioned will be covered as it's basically the driving force behind the need for this book. The book essentially will deal with behaviours and disprove some of the myths using her research and scientific principles.

 

[casablanca1]

It sounds like quite a task, and I wish her well. I would like to see an unbiased examination of the issue of pit bull aggression, both human-aggression and dog-aggression, historically and today. While I don't consider the pit bulls monsters, I do have concerns that some of the pro-pit rhetoric ignores unwelcome facts about dogs in general and fighting breeds in particular. I'd also like to see some examination of how US law (I'm assuming she's American) historically deals with dog issues, especially the concept of dog as property. It's a crucial point in the pit bull story, because the sanctity of property in US law makes it difficult and time-consuming for communities to deal with the owners of dangerous dogs, which led to breed-specific legislation.

I'm not sure how much of the above can be dealt with scientifically, but I have hopes that your friend will approach her project with objectivity, as required by scientific principles.

 

[TroyF]

Casablanca1, she's Canadian eh. She did manage the SPCA in Salem, Oregon. I was on the phone with her just before I read your posts; I would have liked to have asked her about the legal points. You bring up some really interesting views. Thanks.