July 2008

Verizon Airs Distasteful Commercial

Paws Down!

To Verizon Wireless for airing a commercial depicting the already over-vilified pit bull breed in a particularly foul light. 

The commercial, advertising Verizon Wireless’ latest mobile phone, features a man breaking into a junkyard to touch the phone. He encounters two pit bulls, wearing metal choke collars and tethered with heavy chains, who lunge at him in an attempt to bite.  The man comes within inches of the dogs, but escapes safely.

The National Humane Education Society feels this commercial is distasteful on many levels, as it promotes chaining dogs and improper collar use. More importantly, it perpetuates the popular notion that all pit bulls are ferocious and should be feared.  With dog fighting still in the limelight as a hot button issue, the reputation of the pit bull is becoming increasingly tarnished. This appalling commercial only perpetuates this myth and does no service to the breed.