Nathan--could there be more direct evidence to prove your point about lazy journalism than the piece in the NY Times today about the petition to the Supreme Court. Somewhere the reporter and editor thought it irrelevant to let the readers know that the underlying biting incidents only took place when Bruce had no shelter of any kind. As a result, most of the comments to the NY Times were vitriolic about extremists supposedly worrying more about the life of a dog than the human victims. Lazy journalism indeed costs lives.
Although the book’s title escapes me, I once read a book about WWII and a British general’s conclusion that what made the Americans so effective was that we were serious people. I remember thinking at the time that this was a curious way to contrast us and why, for example, we could build an airstrip in the middle of nowhere in six hours and have planes landing on it by the early evening when the British were assuring everyone it would take at least six weeks.
But as I look around, I see clearly now that it hits the nail on the head. And it explains why we are no longer so effective. Where are the serious people?
When you step back and look at the media, the agencies involved, and the public’s response, at least as measured in the comments of the New York Times piece you reference, you see the exact same failure playing out across the board in a self-reinforcing loop of incompetence.
Both the Los Angeles Times piece about cat and kitten killing at Los Angeles Animal Services and the New York Times piece about Ventura County Animal Services’ killing of Bruce trade analysis, truth, and nuance for easy and lazy sensationalism, proving that the reporters and their editors aren’t serious about journalism or its real-world consequences.
Both LAAS and VCAS are run by bureaucrats who are far more interested in PR management and defending lethal practices than doing the serious work of actual reform and rescue.
And then there is the public: primed by bad reporting, they abandon critical thinking to eagerly swallow narratives that confirm their own bias and attack advocates as “extremists” who supposedly care more about dogs than humans.
When unserious journalists cover for unserious agency officials, and an unserious public cheers them on, we lose the truth. And when we are no longer dealing with the truth, we lose the ability to identify real problems and propose sober solutions anchored in reality.
Thank you, Nathan, for this excellent summary of this tragic case. We here in Ventura County are devastated by the senseless killing of Bruce. The complete lack of response from county supervisors and shelter leadership to our emails, calls and pleas, was appalling. They had a chance to do something heroic; to preserve life while assuring that Bruce was never again put in a position where he could potentially harm humans. Instead they chose to kill.
Dear Nathan, l am heartbroken and cried when l read your update today that “Bruce is dead “. What in the world has happened to humanity and decency and compassion and common sense?! Those evil people at VCAS who arbitrarily chose to kill innocent Bruce, in spite of obvious reasonable alternatives, should be brought up on charges of planned and intentional murder of a Sentient Being (who is entitled to the same rights and respect as a Human Being). It is sad and scary to think that such “mental cases “ as those at VCAS who killed Bruce exist in our society. They obviously lack the proper upbringing to feel Compassion and kindness and love for other living beings. What has happened in our society when legal technicalities override human life?! If those VCAS managers had been raised in a family that interacted with loving dogs and other animals, such as at Animal Study Programs and Schools, then their mental and emotional state would probably have been different and Bruce would be alive today. Let us pray in Bruce’s memory that our society will begin to understand and recognize that EACH AND EVERY LIFE MATTERS and that Humanity supersedes legal technicalities. Nathan, please continue to help us save the lives of the voiceless dogs and cats and other animals.❤️🐶😸🙏
I doubt his breed is German shepherd. It looks like Anatolian Shepherd. They are gentle with family and babysit children, yet are furce protectors of their flock.
The only time I saw my fifty pond Keeshond go after someone was a stranger bent over him, also my sister on the street started trying to aggravate him while we were walking, and when he got his leg caught in a folding chair.
And the small dog that ran across an open pool area to get at him barking all the way.
Dude barked in his face, and the dog ran back where he came from.
My dog had a sound mind very characteristic fir a Keeshond, as they were bred in Germany to be farm watchdogs and could dispatch vermin and play with children.
These dogs are not teddy bears. ANY dog can bite someone.
My dog was always going to bark if it was late at night when someone knocked vs the daytime.
He had his face right there for any stranger.
I can't imagine being homeless and what a dog would do to protect his owner. Some homeless have dogs for just that purpose, though.
Their "meta" goal is to kill anything we love, leaving us dehumanized and defeated. May those that gleefully (and yes, I imagine it was) killed someone's precious pet, rot in Hell.
This is heartbreaking not only because a sweet soul like Bruce was unable to survive people hell bent on killing him, but because there are other "Bruces" being treated like criminals when they are doing their genetic inclination to protect those they love. They murdered Bruce no matter what blood thirsty excuse those responsible at Ventura County Animal Services hide behind in their eagerness to kill him. They ignored the peaceful proposal to let Bruce live in a protected environment. WHY? Because murder in place of love and peaceful understanding is what our tax money is paid to workers supposedly charged to protect our 4 legged friends. VCAS is a danger to society. Every one responsible for this miscarriage of justice should be fired and shunned from any work near or with animals. They have murder in their hearts. Bring in people with love and compassion to help our vulnerable animals survive the fear and loneliness of being caged and so vulnerable. This is a wakeup call and sadly, Bruce is our symbol.
Nathan--could there be more direct evidence to prove your point about lazy journalism than the piece in the NY Times today about the petition to the Supreme Court. Somewhere the reporter and editor thought it irrelevant to let the readers know that the underlying biting incidents only took place when Bruce had no shelter of any kind. As a result, most of the comments to the NY Times were vitriolic about extremists supposedly worrying more about the life of a dog than the human victims. Lazy journalism indeed costs lives.
Although the book’s title escapes me, I once read a book about WWII and a British general’s conclusion that what made the Americans so effective was that we were serious people. I remember thinking at the time that this was a curious way to contrast us and why, for example, we could build an airstrip in the middle of nowhere in six hours and have planes landing on it by the early evening when the British were assuring everyone it would take at least six weeks.
But as I look around, I see clearly now that it hits the nail on the head. And it explains why we are no longer so effective. Where are the serious people?
When you step back and look at the media, the agencies involved, and the public’s response, at least as measured in the comments of the New York Times piece you reference, you see the exact same failure playing out across the board in a self-reinforcing loop of incompetence.
Both the Los Angeles Times piece about cat and kitten killing at Los Angeles Animal Services and the New York Times piece about Ventura County Animal Services’ killing of Bruce trade analysis, truth, and nuance for easy and lazy sensationalism, proving that the reporters and their editors aren’t serious about journalism or its real-world consequences.
Both LAAS and VCAS are run by bureaucrats who are far more interested in PR management and defending lethal practices than doing the serious work of actual reform and rescue.
And then there is the public: primed by bad reporting, they abandon critical thinking to eagerly swallow narratives that confirm their own bias and attack advocates as “extremists” who supposedly care more about dogs than humans.
When unserious journalists cover for unserious agency officials, and an unserious public cheers them on, we lose the truth. And when we are no longer dealing with the truth, we lose the ability to identify real problems and propose sober solutions anchored in reality.
Thank you, Nathan, for this excellent summary of this tragic case. We here in Ventura County are devastated by the senseless killing of Bruce. The complete lack of response from county supervisors and shelter leadership to our emails, calls and pleas, was appalling. They had a chance to do something heroic; to preserve life while assuring that Bruce was never again put in a position where he could potentially harm humans. Instead they chose to kill.
Dear Nathan, l am heartbroken and cried when l read your update today that “Bruce is dead “. What in the world has happened to humanity and decency and compassion and common sense?! Those evil people at VCAS who arbitrarily chose to kill innocent Bruce, in spite of obvious reasonable alternatives, should be brought up on charges of planned and intentional murder of a Sentient Being (who is entitled to the same rights and respect as a Human Being). It is sad and scary to think that such “mental cases “ as those at VCAS who killed Bruce exist in our society. They obviously lack the proper upbringing to feel Compassion and kindness and love for other living beings. What has happened in our society when legal technicalities override human life?! If those VCAS managers had been raised in a family that interacted with loving dogs and other animals, such as at Animal Study Programs and Schools, then their mental and emotional state would probably have been different and Bruce would be alive today. Let us pray in Bruce’s memory that our society will begin to understand and recognize that EACH AND EVERY LIFE MATTERS and that Humanity supersedes legal technicalities. Nathan, please continue to help us save the lives of the voiceless dogs and cats and other animals.❤️🐶😸🙏
I doubt his breed is German shepherd. It looks like Anatolian Shepherd. They are gentle with family and babysit children, yet are furce protectors of their flock.
The only time I saw my fifty pond Keeshond go after someone was a stranger bent over him, also my sister on the street started trying to aggravate him while we were walking, and when he got his leg caught in a folding chair.
And the small dog that ran across an open pool area to get at him barking all the way.
Dude barked in his face, and the dog ran back where he came from.
My dog had a sound mind very characteristic fir a Keeshond, as they were bred in Germany to be farm watchdogs and could dispatch vermin and play with children.
These dogs are not teddy bears. ANY dog can bite someone.
My dog was always going to bark if it was late at night when someone knocked vs the daytime.
He had his face right there for any stranger.
I can't imagine being homeless and what a dog would do to protect his owner. Some homeless have dogs for just that purpose, though.
Sorry for the typos.
Their "meta" goal is to kill anything we love, leaving us dehumanized and defeated. May those that gleefully (and yes, I imagine it was) killed someone's precious pet, rot in Hell.
This is heartbreaking not only because a sweet soul like Bruce was unable to survive people hell bent on killing him, but because there are other "Bruces" being treated like criminals when they are doing their genetic inclination to protect those they love. They murdered Bruce no matter what blood thirsty excuse those responsible at Ventura County Animal Services hide behind in their eagerness to kill him. They ignored the peaceful proposal to let Bruce live in a protected environment. WHY? Because murder in place of love and peaceful understanding is what our tax money is paid to workers supposedly charged to protect our 4 legged friends. VCAS is a danger to society. Every one responsible for this miscarriage of justice should be fired and shunned from any work near or with animals. They have murder in their hearts. Bring in people with love and compassion to help our vulnerable animals survive the fear and loneliness of being caged and so vulnerable. This is a wakeup call and sadly, Bruce is our symbol.