British Columbia Daily's Slip is Showng.

August 15:  On Wednesday, I scolded the second-string British Columbia print daily, The Province, for presenting misinformation to support their recent rabble-rousing campaign to ban dogs provincewide.  Government by media doesn't impress me and these days the tail is wagging the dog so hard we don't know whether he's coming or going.

We dog owners know that mass-market news outlets can be not only unreliable, but downright dishonest in their presentation of issues around dogs, dog breed/shapes and their owners.

As any self-respecting low-living, drug-dealing, heat-packing, dog-abusing gangsta would do, I contacted the city councillor named in the column to verify that he was indeed reopening Pandora's Box by pushing for a 'pit bull' ban in BC.

A friend in BC, who prefers to remain anonymous, was actively involved the last time this scheme was discussed in the greater Vancouver area.  She told me she'd posted a comment at the paper's site asking whether the statement was recent or had been dredged up from their files.  Interestingly, that comment was not displayed online.

Councillor Stevenson's message was framed this way in the Province editorial: 

"Vancouver Coun. Tim Stevenson, meanwhile, says it's time the B.C. government considered enacting provincewide legislation to ban pit-bull-type dogs, similar to that imposed three years ago in Ontario. (Owners there may keep pit bulls they already own, but must have them spayed or neutered, and leashed and muzzled at all times).

We agree with Stevenson: This is a serious enough issue that it shouldn't be left to every little B.C. municipality to come up with its own set of rules."

Well, that's all fine and dandy, but he says he didn't say that. 

This is the response I received from Stevenson (along with his permission to run it):

You will notice in the Province Editorial I was not quoted. That's because I have not, and I am not, advocating for a ban. I am advocating however for the Provincial Government find solutions to the issue of "dangerous dogs". Individual Municipalities cannot deal with the problem. We need Province wide regulations and laws. But thanks for verifying the Province story. Unfortunately most e-mails from pit bull owners haven't bothered checking but rather become very aggressive themselves in their e-mails to me. I don't pay any attention to that kind of correspondence. They seem to forget (unlike you), the press always has their own spin.

Sincerely,

Tim Stevenson, Councillor.

Oh, trust me, Councillor Stevenson, I never forget that the press has its own spin.  I just wonder who is wagging its tail.

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Note to dog owners who vent their frustation before having all the facts:  You're not f$#%ing helping!