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CB Mailbag: “It is uninformed and uneducated dog people like you that cause the misidentification of dog breeds amongst the general public”
By Kyle Scott
Published:
It’s not hard to imagine the vitriol that gets directed toward Michael Vick. After all… dog people are a strange, and intense, breed.
I knew when I posted those photos last week that I would get a few unique emails, but this one is the winner.
An apparent dog trainer of some sort, Steph, took issue with the following paragraph from the post: A CB tipster, whose claims can be corroborated by several tweeters, sent along a few photos of Vick that were taken at a New Jersey PetSmart*, where Vick, his family and a bodyguard have been attending dog training classes for Angel, the Vick family’s young Belgian Malinois (a type of Shepherd).
This was our email exchange over the weekend. Totally sic’d, of course:
To whom it may concern,
It is uninformed and uneducated dog people like yourselves that cause the mid identification of dog breeds amongst the general public. The dog in that photo is most definitely a Belgian malinois but are not related to German shepherds. Its like saying that a Siberian husky is a type of Alaskan malamute. People like you infuriate me and make my job so much harder. Thanks so much for that.
Sincerely
Steph
And here I always thought the Alaskan Malamute was just a gay Husky. Silly little blogger.
Steph, of course, was wrong about the Belgian Malinois.
Just for fun:
Steph,
This is the most ridiculous email I have ever received. First, I never wrote that a Belgian Malinois was a German Shepherd, so I don't know why you are even emailing me. Second, according to Google and Wikipedia, the BM is known as a Belgian Shepherd. Third, THAT is the part of the post you take issue with? Not the dog killer owning a dog? But a parenthetical, and just about meaningless, aside about the type of dog? And how, exactly, does this make your job harder? Is there a rash if misinformed dog owners instantly gramming their BM's that has the animal community in a frenzy?
For real, what would make you even think to send that email? But congrats, it just made the website. Please step off your high horse, which is a type of Equus ferrus.
Sent from my iPhone
Steph:
I work with dogs and their misinformed owners everyday and classifying them is part of my job. A Belgian shepherd is a different dog then a malinois it said in the article that it was a type of shepherd. I think the article it self was stupid, no I don't like Micheal Vick or what he did but cudos for him for actually trying to raise a dog right for a change. And yes mid labeling breeds is z big deal to me so sorry to pick at your precious article but just because its on the net doesn't make it truth or law. As a reporter you suck, Wikipedia is not a source that should be used for anything. So sorry I insulted you lazy reporting.
Sincerely,
Steph
Picture response, from Google:
Or, perhaps she would have preferred the American Kennel Club.
Kyle Scott is the founder and editor of CrossingBroad.com. He has written for CBS Philly and Philly Voice, and been a panelist or contributor on NBC Sports Philly, FOX 29 and SNY TV, as well as a recurring guest on 97.5 The Fanatic, 94 WIP, 106.7 The Fan and other stations. He has more than 10 years experience running digital media properties and in online advertising and marketing.