New ad featuring pit bulls causes controversy

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you know...this add is stupid for lots of reasons. First off - any wise thief would be stealing the very expensive purebred ear clipped buffed up Pitbulls that are probably uncut males over a little phone! They are worth way more!lol. NO yard I ever saw in Brooklyn and I lived there a long time in the most warehouse car scrap yard part of East Williamsburg - ever had a couple of fancy purebreds like that in it. They were all mutts and very dirty, sad and LOOSE in the yard. What's the point of a yard dog chained up??? The only purebreds I ever saw in yards were Rotties and German Shepherds and they were in places where they were carefully put away during the day in terrible handmade crates with tarps on them. Torture during the day in the heat. I did see a few yards where the hard working men were friendly to their yard mutts and actually trained them to stay inside the perimiter of the yards even with the doors open. But that was rare. Most were half starved and flea ridden and left to sleep under junk cars and filthy oil strewn concrete ground with dirty water dishes around them. And of course the worst part about this add is that
Pitbulls don't attack people by nature. They are friendly to people, and slobber all over most people with just a little kindness. ONLY those trained to be mean to people by isolation, abuse, starving, or purposeful breeding of fearful individuals will they be human aggressive. Shepherds, Dobbies, and Rotties are the good guard breeds and are the ones the yard folks really want, so they get mutts that are close genetically. Pitbulls can be naturally DOG aggressive as they are bred to be for the pits. But even there, it's not hard to train them not to be with any kind of patience and socialization, and they are very intelligent and want to please. They are easier to train than the Boxers and other dog aggressive breeds. This ad is extra terrible because it promotes the idea that pits are dangerous to people when they are already misunderstood and banned from many places and automatically euthanized by Animal Controls in many locations. This is a travesty.

I remember seeing this comercial for the first time and turning to my boyfriend and saying wow animal rights people are going to be all over this. And I was right. No breed should be betrayed in a negative manner. Dogs are not born bad, people make them that way. Also, what does it say too about the stereotype of people that own junk yards are areas that need guard dogs, it reflects negatively on that as well. It should outrage not only people that care about animals, but people that are tired of themselves being associated or stereotyped for owning that breed or being the "type" of person to own dogs used for fighting. The ad is terrible and shows poor marketing judgement, it makes other phone companies seem more upscale and classier..so thanks Verizon once again someone has managed to segregate the world, this time by the type of phone they have!!! RIDICULOUS!!!! But, I haven't seen the commerical air lately, maybe all this hype has helped stop the awful advertising.

Lindsey
Baton Rouge, La

Amanda hit the nail. Dobermans were almost always the dog of choice to depict the 'mean guard dog'. Remember Magnum P.I?? Pit owners are justifiably very sensitive about the 'mean dog' subject because THEY know it's all about instinct and training. Stereotypes are an example of ignorance. Unfortunately we can't win them all!!

Wow, I loved Verizon service, but now I am concerned about Verizon's advertising techniques and don't want to be a part of a company that exploits animals in this way.

Please remove this ad immediately! And publically apologize for the gross inappropriateness if this ad.

Stereotypes...we'll never be rid of them forever. I could care less about tv ads, mostly I hit the mute button when they come on. I pay for cable and then I have to pay to listen to all the commercials they put on the tv? I don't think so! Besides I don't want my bit bull to be offended as they should be. Not all pit bulls behave this way as no one breed should be shown in this light. Punish the trainer not the dog. If pitbulls or german shepards are trained to guard and protect hooked on chains, what other reaction would you expect from someone coming into their territory? It's all the hype about pitbulls and the people who use them . Not to mention the advertisers who can't see the light beyond the end of the nose and choose to use such an ad to benefit their bank accounts!

I'm embarrased that I use Verizon and plan to switch services if the pit bull commercial is not pulled off the air immediately. Are you kidding me, Verizon? After what has happened with the Vick case, you actually chose to use these poor animals as "advertising" in such an inhumane, sick way? Three of my rescued dogs are part pit bull. One was even used as "bait" for pit bull fights. After surgeries to remove the rusted, infected barbed wire embedded in his neck (used to teather him), he still loves and trusts us humans. All I can say is, "You have got to be kidding?" and "Verizon, exactly when do you plan to pull this tradegy off the air and apologize for your extreme lack of sensitivity and judgement?"

This is typical of ad companies. Hype the drama. Some of you say that you don't pay attention, that it's just "actors", well it's much more than that. Just ask a kid who saw Frankenstein or Dracula and had nightmares. This portrayal of Pitbulls perpetuates the myth. It's irresponsible and dangerous!! I work with rescue dogs and many of them are Pits. They can be the sweetest, most loving dogs alive. Let's keep them that way! They've had enough of a bad rap without commercials like this.
J.A. Sobel
Baja Animal Sanctuary
"On behalf of those who have no voice"

Verizon needs to unchain the pit bull dogs and make it a "fair" game. Personally they could have created a better and more positive ad not using the dogs at all. I plan to let Verizon know that I'm not happy with the ad at all!

Luckily, some of us realize that these dogs are actor dogs. Unfortunately, the pit haters out there may not realize this and use it to feed their bias.

personally, I didn't really give the ad a second thought. To me it's like when a black person gets mad because the guy robbing a store in an ad is black or the guy working in the store is Indian. We constantly watch ads that use stereotypes simply because we are so use to idea creating the stereo type that it makes it easier for you to know what the point is. The root of the problem isn't that the pitts were used it's the stereo typing in general in society that perpetuates the problems in general.

I also emailed brenda.raney@verizonwireless.com. I think it's an outrage how they show that commercial. My family owned a pit mix, she was a loveable part of the family, she loved babies and everyone that came into the house. I am looking to adopt a dog and if I was allowed to have a pit at my townhouse I would. Unfortunetly because of the reputation people give them they are not permited

There is also an Alltel ad with a Doberman (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRq6Q2MNyMs) that has sparked this same controversy. Alltel's response when contacted about the ad was:

Thank you for your message of concern about our current television
commercial that features a Doberman. We appreciate feedback from the
public and we share it with our advertising agency.

It is certainly not Alltel's intention to offend any particular breed of
dog and/or their owners. If this has happened we apologize. Our current
television ad features a well-behaved and highly trained animal actor
simply playing a fictional role, as has been done in movies and on
television for years. We view this no differently than human actors
playing roles opposite their true personality. Alltel continues to stand
behind its current advertising campaign.

Paul Sage
Marketing Communications
Alltel

I really believe that when companies are creating their ad campaigns things like this are not top of mind but should be. That is why it is so important to respond to these types of issues with public education to show people how they can be wonderful pets. I should know, I have a rottweiler/pitt bull mix who is an amazingly loving and loyal family member.

We are one of the very few animal rescue groups in the Phoenix, AZ area that value and love the pit bull breeds. I tell folks that next to poodles, pits are my second favor breed (the local poodle rescue group didn't like hearing that.) When we have people back away from our foster pits/pit mixes during adoptions, I remind them that if you take any breed of dog and torture it, you will have the same results. What happens when people are tortured?

I am a veterinary technician that proudly owns 3 pitbulls. I just want to say that if people would actually give the breed a chance and meet dogs like mine they would have a change of heart. I was a person who thought pitbulls were all vicious until I owned my first and now I realize that yes they need a certain kind of owner who knows how to train them but they are not a vicious animal and should not ever be portrayed that way. Any dog has the ability to attack. You just only hear about pitbulls doing it. This country needs to wake up and quit believing everything they read and putting animals and people into stereotypes. It is truly pathetic.

I'll be emailing brenda.ramey@verizonwireless.com to express my disgust and disappointment about this negative stereotype. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the negative pit bull image in this ad. Shame on verizon!

I dont see anything wrong. I liked it. I think people are just trying to read too much into it and being too touchy and sensitive.

Whoever ok'd this ad isn't doing the bully breeds any favors. They allready have a bad rap and this is going to help them how?????? I run a municiple animal shelter in rural OK, and even though I don't buy into"all" the Pit/pit mixes being viscious...we still struggle every day to find homes for these sweet dogs so we don't have to euthanize them. Sadly sometime that doesn't work, and this kind of publicity won't make it any easier.

I understand about the Bully breed myths, and that this commercial doesn't dispel any of them. But I wonder would the reaction be any different if Dobermans had been used.

Here is what I sent anybody with a verizonwireless.com email address.

Dear Verizon,

I have always been a loyal Verizon customer for a long time. I have
never had a problem with the service or the quality. However I do
have a problem with your new commercial featuring two chained up pit
bulls who are going to attack the guy who dares to touch the phone.

With all the hype on how vicious pit bulls are suppose to be and most
are not, I can not believe you would stoop so low. I have two
wonderful pit bull mixes at my home. I am also the director of our
county animal shelter. It is media like yours that has helped in
giving pit bulls a bad rap.

I am sure you could have come up with other "daring" adventures to
touch a phone and pull this ad immediately.

I have to tell you that I am really upset by this ad to the point
that I am going to be looking into getting an I Phone if the ad
continues.

I know you might think losing one customer will not hurt much. But
it will be my goal to tell every single verizon customer my opinion
about your lack of respect for animals.

Sincerely,
Betty Peyton

-------

Here was the reply I got from one of the 50+ people I emailed at Verizon.

Betty -- To streamline things for folks who want to express their
comments, it's best they send it to Verizon Wireless, a unit of Verizon
that I don't represent so the contact information you've been provided
is not right.

I've already relayed your note, as I've done with others on this same
topic, to Brenda Raney, executive director of media relations for
Verizon Wireless. She's at brenda.raney@verizonwireless.com.

On behalf of our wireless unit, I know it regrets you found the
commercial disturbing and distasteful. It was absolutely not the unit's
intent to reflect a negative image with its advertisement, and I can
assure Verizon Wireless meant no purposed slander of American Pit Bull
Terriers in its commercial.

I do appreciate you taking time out of your day to express your
comments. They are in the right hands over at Verizon Wireless. -- Bill

Bill Kula, APR
Director-Media Relations
Verizon Communications Inc.
600 Hidden Ridge, HQEO4L37
Irving, TX 75038
972-718-6924 (o), 214-789-1644 (cell), 972-718-0184 (fax)
william.kula@verizon.com

Don't forget to send emails to LG too! Remember, it IS their product and they had to endorse that ad!

THAT AD IS DISGUSTING. HOW CAN ANYONE LOOK AT THAT POOR ANIMAL AND NOT WANT TO RESCUE HIM. PIT BULLS CAN BE WONDERFUL PETS.
I WILL SEND AN EMAIL TO VERIZON.

Well, I emailed the following to Verison, but then when I went back to show my daughter our comment, the site said the video was no longer Who, in your company, ACTUALLY made the decision to use pit bulls in an ad? My wife founded Topsail Humane Society, Inc. in Hampstead, NC and we have to fight the stereotype of this breed constantly in order to keep them from being euthanized. Our neighboring county, New Hanover will not even license an pitt bull. You are now allowed in that county to own a pitt bull due to the ignorance of the people who have trained this animals inappropriately. Our daughter owns a pitt bull dog and with normal training this nhow 7 y/o dog is loving member of our family. As a customer, I am ashamed. As a business person, I am disgusted with the lack of thought and/or compassion is such an ad.

I agree with Kim and took action by sending Verizon a message from their site about this new ad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7hiUrTy6vU

Don't just get mad. Take Action!

The Verizon Wireless Code of Conduct includes this lofty statement:

"We earn credibility with our customers, business providers and co-workers by keeping our commitments, acting with honesty and integrity, and pursuing our company goals solely through honorable conduct."

I have contacted VZWireless and let them know that their use of this ad is in, my opinion, "conduct unbecoming". It is offensive and shows a lack of integrity. This sort of negative sensationalism - which adds to the false, negative stereotypes being propagated about pitbulls - simply to sell a product shows both a lack of judgment and lack of a sense of honorable conduct.

You can send them an email letting them know how you feel from their website at http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/contact/index.jsp

This makes me embarassed to be a Verizon customer.

This makes me so mad. People don't realize this is a matter of life and death. I volunteer at a shelter where wonderful pit bulls are put to sleep every day because nobody wants them -- because of ads like this.

It occurred to me when I saw it that this ad wasn't doing much to dispel the pit bull stereotypes and bad rap. That said, it is remarkable how many pet friendly and cause related ads we do see these days and that trend seems to be growing. Maybe the messages of animal advocacy are starting to permeate the business and ad worlds slowly and we'll see less and less of these kinds of negative and insensitive portrayals? One can hope. Meanwhile I must say I don't really understand this ad campaign and it hasn't inspired me to buy this phone. It makes the ipone seem even classier and more upscale sophisticated.