In one of my other classes today, the topic of pit bulls was briefly mentioned. The professor of the class called them ugly dogs and implied negative things about them. Whenever I hear people talk like this about animals whose only fault is being portrayed negatively in the media, it makes me see how important dispelling the rumors about pit bulls are.
I think many people growing up were told about the dangers of pit bulls, but do not know what amazing animals they are. The comment about them being "ugly" goes along with the idea of pit bulls being a threat because, unlike many other family dogs, pit bulls do not carry the "cute" factor as much. They are beautiful dogs and are adorable (if seen through the right perspective), but they do not generally give people the same fluffy feelings as a breed like beagles might.
People have preconceived notions of how dogs should act based on how they look. I had a rescue basset hound years ago and could be a very aggressive dog, but because of the type of dog he was, people assumed he would be a like the goofy bassets they saw in cartoons. People would automatically reach down to pet him without asking for permission because they assumed he was a well behaved dog based on his breed. Depending on the mood he was in on the day, that could be the complete opposite. The sad truth is that people would generally feel more comfortable around my silly basset hound Fred, who actually had behavior problems and bit people, then they would have if there was also a pit bull in the picture.
I think people really need to learn to judge dogs based on each on they encounter and not on the breed as a whole. This is the method in which people are supposed to approach other people, and it should be the same for companion animals. Some pit bulls may bite, but the majority are good animals who haven't been given a fair chance, and it is so upsetting that so many good dogs go unadopted because of the false impressions people have of the breed.
Yes, there are strong correlations throughout all cultures and histories between beauty and the good, on the one hand, and ugliness and the bad, on the other. And so aesthetical values transfer into ethical values. Many people have observed that nonhuman animals that look/act "humanlike," or look/behave childlike, tend to garner more favor, whereas what looks/behaves most "other" is often more villified. But as Elaine Scarry notes: "Beauty always takes place in the particular," and particulars can only be experienced by careful observation versus stereotypes, abstractions, distractions, and inattention. Good observations, Carrie!
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