Post by RealPitBull on Jul 14, 2009 16:15:35 GMT -5
FORWARDED MESSAGE
I'm Amy Calmann and I organize the NYC Pit Bull Group, which now has close to 700 members. Here is our site.. www.meetup.com/NYC-Pitbull/ Our group fights the stereotype of the pit bull breed, we try to get pits out of the shelters and into foster or permanent homes, and we meet every weekend at various parks throughout New York City's boroughs so we can socialize our dogs, and prevent people from giving up their pit bulls. I have planned, along with two other people, a BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) protest to take place on Thursday July 23rd at 6:00pm in Washington Square Park. We will meet at the arch (the north side) of the park. Many people from the group have already pledged their attendance, along with several rescue groups, and we have been networking like crazy to get lots of others involved. We also have people and rescue groups coming in from out of state - NJ, CT, PA, RI, etc. But we literally need HUNDREDS of people at the protest, to make a differ!
ence and to receive recognition. We are hoping to make this protest into a large-scale event, (with your help) of course! So far, we expect hundreds. Now this is where you come in.. I am writing to make you aware of the protest, and am hopeful that you and/or some of your staff or friends will be able to make it to the event. I wanted to ask if you might be able to advertise the protest by perhaps adding info about the event to your website?
The protest will revolve around the BSL laws that New York Housing Authority enforced upon pit bulls (and dobermans, rottweilers and tons of other breeds) just last month. Many elderly people in city-regulated housing are now in jeopardy of losing their pets because of this law, and I've received heartbreaking letters from people asking for help. I also hear stories everyday from people who can't get homeowners' insurance in NJ, PA, upstate NY, etc, because they own a pit bull. In addition, we are using an example of one particular pit bull Bruce, from Northern Ireland, who has been on death row for nearly two years, while the court decides if he should live or die. Bruce's fate will be decided within weeks, or possibly days. He will be our "poster-child" for the protest. You may already be aware of Bruce's plight. But just in case, here is Bruce's story...
Bruce was given a stay of execution last week, after an enormous effort on the part of thousands of people, but he still may be euthanized. We are hoping to get press to the park, to cover the story, so we can send video clips to the government in the UK, showing them that the U.S. disapproves of the animal cruelty of Bruce. And we are hoping to make New York aware that we will not stand for any BSL in our city. Unfortunately, the idea of BSL in New York City has come closer to a reality, ever since the New York Housing Authority was able to enact their new law. Miami, Detroit, Denver, and many other cities already have BSL laws in place. We need to make sure that New York knows that we will not stand for any BSL ordinance here. And we need to show the world that BSL will not be tolerated in any city, anywhere.
I am hopeful that you will pass this email on to others, so that the word will spread like quickly - and widely. I am also hopeful that animal lovers will want to try to get the media involved, to help advertise the event. So if you know of any news, writers, photographers that would be interested in helping get this story heard, please pass along this info to them or have them contact me. Thank you so much. I'm incredibly grateful for any help you can provide. Feel free to contact me regarding any further information, or for whatever you may need. Bring your friends, bring your dogs, bring your mom! Punish the deed, not the breed!
- Amy Calmann (and Patti Smith the pit bull)
I'm Amy Calmann and I organize the NYC Pit Bull Group, which now has close to 700 members. Here is our site.. www.meetup.com/NYC-Pitbull/ Our group fights the stereotype of the pit bull breed, we try to get pits out of the shelters and into foster or permanent homes, and we meet every weekend at various parks throughout New York City's boroughs so we can socialize our dogs, and prevent people from giving up their pit bulls. I have planned, along with two other people, a BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) protest to take place on Thursday July 23rd at 6:00pm in Washington Square Park. We will meet at the arch (the north side) of the park. Many people from the group have already pledged their attendance, along with several rescue groups, and we have been networking like crazy to get lots of others involved. We also have people and rescue groups coming in from out of state - NJ, CT, PA, RI, etc. But we literally need HUNDREDS of people at the protest, to make a differ!
ence and to receive recognition. We are hoping to make this protest into a large-scale event, (with your help) of course! So far, we expect hundreds. Now this is where you come in.. I am writing to make you aware of the protest, and am hopeful that you and/or some of your staff or friends will be able to make it to the event. I wanted to ask if you might be able to advertise the protest by perhaps adding info about the event to your website?
The protest will revolve around the BSL laws that New York Housing Authority enforced upon pit bulls (and dobermans, rottweilers and tons of other breeds) just last month. Many elderly people in city-regulated housing are now in jeopardy of losing their pets because of this law, and I've received heartbreaking letters from people asking for help. I also hear stories everyday from people who can't get homeowners' insurance in NJ, PA, upstate NY, etc, because they own a pit bull. In addition, we are using an example of one particular pit bull Bruce, from Northern Ireland, who has been on death row for nearly two years, while the court decides if he should live or die. Bruce's fate will be decided within weeks, or possibly days. He will be our "poster-child" for the protest. You may already be aware of Bruce's plight. But just in case, here is Bruce's story...
Bruce was given a stay of execution last week, after an enormous effort on the part of thousands of people, but he still may be euthanized. We are hoping to get press to the park, to cover the story, so we can send video clips to the government in the UK, showing them that the U.S. disapproves of the animal cruelty of Bruce. And we are hoping to make New York aware that we will not stand for any BSL in our city. Unfortunately, the idea of BSL in New York City has come closer to a reality, ever since the New York Housing Authority was able to enact their new law. Miami, Detroit, Denver, and many other cities already have BSL laws in place. We need to make sure that New York knows that we will not stand for any BSL ordinance here. And we need to show the world that BSL will not be tolerated in any city, anywhere.
I am hopeful that you will pass this email on to others, so that the word will spread like quickly - and widely. I am also hopeful that animal lovers will want to try to get the media involved, to help advertise the event. So if you know of any news, writers, photographers that would be interested in helping get this story heard, please pass along this info to them or have them contact me. Thank you so much. I'm incredibly grateful for any help you can provide. Feel free to contact me regarding any further information, or for whatever you may need. Bring your friends, bring your dogs, bring your mom! Punish the deed, not the breed!
- Amy Calmann (and Patti Smith the pit bull)