Post by bamapitbullmom on Dec 29, 2008 4:43:49 GMT -5
Forgive me if this has been posted before:
www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2844
Pit bull policy assailed
Group launches Web site, buys billboards saying ‘Denver kills dogs’
Peter Marcus, DDN Staff Writer
Thursday, December 25, 2008
MILITARY TO THE RESCUE — Army Staff Sgt. Heidi J. Tufto had to have her pit bull, Lumpy, left, flown by military helicopter to Oregon after Lumpy was seized in Denver. Tufto’s other dog, Nigel, is to the right. Nigel is not a pit bull. Photos courtesy of
Denver kills dogs.
That’s the message being spread by ROVERlution, a California-based group working to overturn breed-specific legislation in cities like Denver. The Mile High City in May 2005 placed a ban on pit bulls, which has resulted in a backlash from dog lovers across the globe and hundreds of dead dogs.
A new Web site, DenverKillsDogs.com, and companion billboards across the city aim at informing the public that Denver is currently killing family dogs, according to backers of the campaign. The Web site features an image of a fireplace with photos of pit bulls and their families plastered across the mantel.
“Denver wants family dogs executed or exiled,” states the Web site.
The billboards ask, “Which dog will Denver kill next?” and feature a baby rolling on the floor with an adorable looking pit bull. The idea is to motivate people to continue hammering city officials to repeal the breed ban. The posters can be found at the Pepsi Center, the Convention Center and at Coors Field.
In fact, Denver had killed 1,918 pit bulls as of October since the breed ban was reenacted. David Edelstein, founder of ROVERlution, said as many as 3,100 pit bulls may have been killed when taking into account private shelters that are contracted by the city when city shelters are full.
No certainty
Animal Control Director Doug Kelley could not say yesterday with any certainty that the ban on pit bulls has made Denver a safer city.
“It’s a hard question to answer,” Kelley told the Denver Daily News. “We have not had a severe mauling or fatality involving a pit bull since its gone into effect. But then again, we continue to get more pit bulls every year … it depends on how you define success.”
There has actually not been a serious pit bull attack in Denver since the 1989 mauling of Rev. Wilbur Billingsley, who was left with more than 70 bites and two broken legs. The incident resulted in the City Council banning pit bulls from the city. In 2004, Gov. Bill Owens signed a bill prohibiting local municipalities from enacting breed-specific legislation. Denver challenged the statute and enforcement resumed in May 2005.
That year, the city impounded 1,011 pit bulls; in 2006, 952; 2007, 459; 2008, 315. Kelley added, however, that there’s likely hundreds of others throughout the city. Animal Control usually does not know about a pit bull in the city until a neighbor complains.
Hoping to change the world
ROVERlution is hoping to convince the public that pit bulls have gotten a bad name because of negative media coverage and misinformation.
“We’re not trying to burn anyone at the stake,” said Edelstein. “What we’re trying to do is bring about positive change.”
Edelstein rescued Forrest the dog back in August after the pit bull was picked up twice and subsequently condemned to death. The story made national headlines because Forrest did not actually live in Denver, but instead wandered away from his Adams County yard and across city lines into Denver. Since the Forrest incident, Animal Control has changed its policy to work with rescue groups to find a safe home for pit bulls picked up twice. The dogs must leave the state to be trusted with a new owner.
The tidal wave of pit bull negativity, however, could be turning on the national level. Take “Sports Illustrated,” for example. In 1987 the magazine ran a cover photo of a vicious pit bull with the headline, “Beware of this dog.” But the magazine’s Christmas Eve issue features a cute photo of Sweet Jasmine, one of the pit bulls rescued from former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation.
The ‘gestapo?’
Meanwhile, Army Staff Sgt. Heidi J. Tufto is focusing solely at the local level. She was left with a bad taste in her mouth about Denver politics when in 2001, just days after moving to Denver, a white van rolled up on her while she was walking her pit bull, Lumpy, and two other dogs in Riverfront Park.
As animal control officers grabbed Lumpy’s leash, allowing Tufto’s other two dogs to run loose into traffic around the park, Denver police officers rushed to the scene to assist. With guns drawn, Tufto was ordered to the ground. Lumpy was thrown in the van and driven away.
Tufto is used to guns and violence — she dealt with it all the time serving America in Iraq — but she couldn’t handle watching her beloved Lumpy taken from her grasp. Lumpy happens to be a certified therapy dog and an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen.
An elderly immigrant from Germany who witnessed the incident equated it to the “gestapo,” said Tufto.
Lumpy was saved — flown to Oregon on a CH-47 Chinook military helicopter.
Still bitter
But Tufto remains bitter, wanting desperately to change the minds of city officials.
“What citizens want is an effective piece of legislation to protect everyone and that’s proven to work,” she said, pointing to cities that have beefed-up their dangerous dog ordinances to hold dog owners both criminally and civilly liable.
Kelley himself agreed that on a personal level he would like to see more stringent dangerous dog ordinances. He said before overturning the ban, city officials would first need to look at that aspect of its code.
Sonya Dias, lead proponent in Denver for overturning the ban, said she has been fighting for three and a half years to have officials hold owners responsible over their dogs. While she has found herself pinned up against several walls during the fight — including a complicated lawsuit to overturn the ordinance — she promises to never stop fighting.
In fact, Dias is in the process of launching a new campaign that will reward towns and cities like Lakewood and Englewood for choosing not to impose breed-specific legislation. The campaign will bring veterinarians into the municipalities to spay and neuter pit bulls that have graciously been allowed to live and breathe.
“For some reason, I just keep going and don’t stop, I don’t know why,” she said. “I may change my direction, but I won’t stop.”
Comments:
OurPack @ 2008-12-24 13:22:46 Breed bans don't work and never will but this does.www.ourpack.org
Zach @ 2008-12-24 13:48:36 Calgary Alberta Canada has a world renowned working Responsible Ownership Program. 90+% licensing compliance. Great results with NO BSL or mandatory Spay Neuter. They enforce their generic law and they have severe fines for non compliance for owners of ALL dogs. content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Animal+and+Bylaw+Services/Animal+Services/index.htm Places like Denver Colorado and Ontario Canada and other jurisdictions with BSL need to be brought to their knees financially over their Breed Bans. Responsible pet owners are not going to stand by and let this continue. That says it all and that`s not to compare dogs to humans but to compare the tactics being used to turn the majority against a minority. Please do NOT support ANY community that has BSL on their books. These are the "dangerous" dogs that Denver and Ontario are killing. server.inalbum.com/show/jodipreis/Message_to_the_Media2.html?296033009
We support Bully Owners @ 2008-12-24 13:57:51 Wake up Denver and other areas with BSL. Wake up HOUSTON! The dogs are speaking for themselves now! badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/sports-illus-home-run-for-pit-bulls.html
David Edelstein @ 2008-12-24 15:11:50 My name is David Edelstein. I am a "member" of Roverlution.org. The Founder is Dr. Paula Terifah DVM. We created DenverKillsDogs.com to raise local awareness of the Breed Ban in Denver, to persuade City officials to consider/ negotiate a Blanketing Dangerous Dog Law that makes sense without breed specific discrimination, and to bring to the public the TRUTH about this breed. I personally own three of these Dogs (Forrest, Kane, and Daze) and can testify that NOT EVERY Pit Bull is vicious or aggressive or a time bomb waiting to go off. If you want to place a ban on a social group... ban drug dealers, gang bangers, thugs and the odd welfare recipient... where the problem with "some" Pit Bulls originates.
David @ 2008-12-24 19:06:56 It sounds reasonable to me.
Toni Phillips/Mariah's Promise @ 2008-12-24 19:09:07 Great article. Mariah's Promise has taken in over 300 pit bulls since 2005 and I can way attest these dogs are NOT what they've been sensationalized to be!! Not by a far cry. So can the hundreds of thousands people who have chosen a pit bull to be apart of their lives. The Netherlands repealed their 35 yr ban on pit bulls because it didn't do anything except kill innocent dogs!! BSL does nothing for public safety - just tears families apart, An ordinance which covers ALL BREEDS makes much more sense and is truly effective. Talk to the other major cities who decided against BSL in favor of such ordinance. Those cities aren't getting slammed in fact they are models of how it should be, while Denver is a model of what NOT to be. Thanks for the great article, Mr. Marcus!!
Bestuvall @ 2008-12-25 00:11:49 As I sit here on Christmas eve wiht my four "bully dogs" curled up at my feet I am saddend by the thought of "pit bulls" being KILLED in Denver.. maybe not tomorrow.. but surely the next day.. and the next.. and the next.. and why?? "Just Because of the way they look". We who have been fighitng this fight for a long time know very well who is involved in continuing to perpetrate this horredous waste of canine life for no reason .but no matter.. WE WILL WIN.. BSL is being withdrawn in the more intelligent sectors of the world like Holland and the bill is on the table to withdraw it in Britian as well.. Let's hope that in 2009 ALL "pit bulls" will be able to safely walk the streets ( leashed of course) of Denver and that their owners will not feel the "jackboots" of the gestapo like stories as the one above. The very fat that your dog can be sent to another state.. and taken from your home is bad enough.. but to be KILLED.. just because of their physical features.. can you even imagine if we did this to people.. Oh wait.. we did.. it was called " the concentration camp".. Peace on earth.. GOODWILL to all..canine and human regardelss of what they look like...
jan keith @ 2008-12-25 01:34:45 Thank you, Peter Marcus for your story featuring the dark side of Breed Specific Legislation. Public safety has never been improved by "racially" profiling dogs and railing against their existence. What BSL does manage to accomplish quite effectively, is the most egregious form of punishment against responsible dog lovers & owners. Your article exposes this ridiculous law for what it is...a convenient, politically expedient sham. It's time for Denver city officials to step up, do the right thing and REPEAL their cruel & ineffective ban----DMC 8-55.
MaryC @ 2008-12-25 13:15:25 I hope that this campaign wakes up the officials who enacted and continue to insist that BSL works. I would like to know what HAS happened to any other dog bites that have happened since the ban. I can't imagine there haven't been some. What happens to those dogs?
Patty @ 2008-12-25 15:30:22 It still amazes me that in this day and age the police can pound on your door or stop you while taking a walk and confiscate and kill your loving family pet with the only "reasoning" behind it is that your dog is a certain breed, breed mix or even that it has a certain look. ***Vicious dog laws should be based the same way human criminal laws should be based . . . on the actions of the dog or the person, not because of their mere existence.
Luke Thomas @ 2008-12-26 01:28:48 PITBULLS are the dog of choice for dog fighting because only pitbulls rip each other apart until they eviscerate each other to death. No other dog can keep on fighting even with half their face ripped off with eyeballs and skull exposed. Since DOG FIGHTING is a national epidemic and State felony laws are insufficient to control it, the only thing left is to ban and exterminate pitbulls. PITBULLS are top of the list of FATAL DOG ATTACKS against children and the elderly. DOG FIGHTING spreads violent crime due to the distribution of GUNS, and COCAINE to our young, and the guns-even military types-are used in ARMED ROBBERIES so these pit bulls basically patronize street gangs, thugs, and organized crime. The sooner we get rid of these vicious monsters, the better. By the way, pitbull bans work VERY effectively in Miami Dade and Ontario Canada where do fighting is suprisingly very rare in these HUGE minicipalities.. I wonder why..
Fayclis @ 2008-12-26 02:17:25 It amazes me how people like Luke think that these dogs should pay a price for with THEIR lives for what MAN has done to them. Raised in loving families these dog are virually "bomb PROOF" with kids and for Luke's information NEVER is CANADIAN HISTORY has a pit bull type dog EVER killed a child. As a matter of FACT since 1963 there has been 68 dog fatalities and ONE was by a pit bull type dog and it's owner was being attacked by a drunk wielding a bat. Maybe someone should tell Luke that these dogs are the choice of woman between the ages of 23 to 38 . However media coverage is not about the AVERAGE owner but about the criminal element. Luke! The Vicious Monsters are on the other end of the leash and like YOU walk on TWO legs. Oh and in Ontario Canada dog bites have NOT gone down since the ban but gone UP . If Luke wants the REAL story behind Ontario's ban Goggle "The BLACK PAPER" ! One more thing Luke, the reason why dog fighters chose these dogs is because it is one of the only dogs who will NOT turn on their masters in the ring. Oh and I have the book called "FATAL DOG ATTACKS" and more important, I have read it . I am sure however YOU have not or you wouldn't be spewing the garbage you do.
Zach @ 2008-12-26 12:13:15 Luke if you`re going to sort of cite "statistics",at least be honest. This is what the CDC says about Fatal Dog Attacks www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dogbites1.asp Vicious monsters??? You mean like these "vicious monsters" rescued from the abuse at BadNewz Kennel? badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/sports-illus-home-run-for-pit-bulls.html And Luke You don`t get off this easy any more. Stating something as FACT doesn`t make it FACT. Show us the numbers proving that Breed Bans have worked "VERY effectively" in Miami Dade and Ontario Canada (Ontario is a Province of Canada BTW) I`ll check back to see them.
Zach @ 2008-12-26 13:51:11 Luke can you identify an APBT? www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v4.swf APBT is just one of the Breeds lumped under 'Pit Bull' when Jurisdictions target these dogs. The other 2 Breeds which are usually named in any Legislation are the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier and any dogs that share similar characteristics. The Media also likes to tag any mutt with a square head,short hair and a whip tail as a 'pit bull' regardless of it`s heritage. That would seem to be just one of the many major problems with BSL. Don`t you think? According to this Australian Study from the Journal of Veterinary Medicine Breed* identification is a major problem. www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(06)00012-8/fulltext The Study concludes:
Fayclis @ 2008-12-26 14:14:44 Media bias? It is horrific. Consider how the media reported four incidents that happened between August 18th and August 21st. August 18, 2007 - A Labrador mix attacked a 70-year-old man sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Police officers arrived at the scene and the dog was shot after charging the officers. This incident was reported in ONE (1) article and only in the local paper. August 19, 2007 - A 16-month old child received fatal head and neck injuries after being attacked by a mixed breed dog. This attack was reported TWO (2) times by the local paper only. August 20, 2007 - A 6-year-old boy is hospitalized after having his ear torn off and receiving severe bites to the head by a medium-sized mixed breed dog. This attack was reported in ONE (1) article and only in the local paper. August 21, 2007 - A 59-year-old woman was attacked in her home by two Pit bulls and was hospitalized with severe injuries. This attack was reported in over two hundred and thirty (230) articles in national and international newspapers, as well as major television news networks, including CNN, MSNBC and FOX. "Clearly a fatal attack by an unremarkable breed is not nearly as newsworthy as a non-fatal attack by a Pit bull," says Karen Delise, researcher for the National Canine Research Council. Bye the way Luke, In Canada there are about 7/8 serious dog attacks per year. There are OVER 147 THOUSAND reports on animal abuse a year. I's ALL the dogs fault right? My bet is if man were subjected to the same extend of cruelity there would be more than 7/8 serious attacks a year. For Pete's sake Ontario had that many shootings in ONE WEEK in Toronto alone and YOU want dogs slaughted at mass based only on their LOOKS? No wonder this world is in such a mess.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:25:53 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, but we don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scared for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:26:32 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, but we don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scared for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:29:59 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". Although I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, we certainly don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scarred for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:30:47 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". Although I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, we certainly don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scarred for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Zach @ 2008-12-27 12:55:31 That`s quite a leap isn`t it Aunt B. You have just generalized from 1 incident with a dog(Not sure what you mean by pit bull?) Was that a Staffordshire Bull Terrier? an AmStaff? an APBT? One of these look-a-likes www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v4.swf or would it be a Media tagged pit bull that bit? I don`t know anything about the circumstances of that bite so I won`t comment on that particular incident. There are many reasons a dog may bite.illness,approached when they don`t wish to be approached,resource(food,toys etc) guarding etc or it might simply be a dog with a poor temperament or it may be a human factor. But how you suddenly become an Expert on these "creatures" and feel qualified to make such a ludicrous statement as this is beyond me or any other rational person. Dogs are dogs. They are individuals just like people. If a Black person or a Mexican person or a Jewish person or a Caucasian person etc harms someone are you able to make that same leap. The way you prevent dog bites is education. Plus you look at the circumstances surrounding incidents in order to learn from them and hopefully prevent similar incidents. Surely you don`t think the only dogs that have ever bitten in this manner are the dogs you are calling 'pit bulls'? All dogs can bite and are very capable of inflicting severe injuries. Nips,bites,severe injuries and even the VERY rare fatalities are NOT Breed Specific and you don`t prevent them by carting away family pets and killing them. www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/canineaggression.asp You should know that by now C. Compassionate caring people should care about all dog bite victims not just certain dog bite victims. That says more about you than the 'pit bulls' on leash. Do you cross the street when you see certain people coming towards you also?
Zach @ 2008-12-27 13:10:48 Oh and Aunt B. Have you seen this article on the Pit Bulls that were abused and then rescued from Michael Vick. badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/sports-illus-home-run-for-pit-bulls.html There are 5 so far that are qualified as Therapy dogs out of a group of 47. Do you think we should or can generalize to millions of other dogs(as you have attempted to do) or should we just finally admit that dogs are individuals? The majority of dogs of all Breeds are great companions. They can all bite,many do for many reasons but very few of ANY Breed are truly dangerous.
www.thedenverdailynews.com/article.php?aID=2844
Pit bull policy assailed
Group launches Web site, buys billboards saying ‘Denver kills dogs’
Peter Marcus, DDN Staff Writer
Thursday, December 25, 2008
MILITARY TO THE RESCUE — Army Staff Sgt. Heidi J. Tufto had to have her pit bull, Lumpy, left, flown by military helicopter to Oregon after Lumpy was seized in Denver. Tufto’s other dog, Nigel, is to the right. Nigel is not a pit bull. Photos courtesy of
Denver kills dogs.
That’s the message being spread by ROVERlution, a California-based group working to overturn breed-specific legislation in cities like Denver. The Mile High City in May 2005 placed a ban on pit bulls, which has resulted in a backlash from dog lovers across the globe and hundreds of dead dogs.
A new Web site, DenverKillsDogs.com, and companion billboards across the city aim at informing the public that Denver is currently killing family dogs, according to backers of the campaign. The Web site features an image of a fireplace with photos of pit bulls and their families plastered across the mantel.
“Denver wants family dogs executed or exiled,” states the Web site.
The billboards ask, “Which dog will Denver kill next?” and feature a baby rolling on the floor with an adorable looking pit bull. The idea is to motivate people to continue hammering city officials to repeal the breed ban. The posters can be found at the Pepsi Center, the Convention Center and at Coors Field.
In fact, Denver had killed 1,918 pit bulls as of October since the breed ban was reenacted. David Edelstein, founder of ROVERlution, said as many as 3,100 pit bulls may have been killed when taking into account private shelters that are contracted by the city when city shelters are full.
No certainty
Animal Control Director Doug Kelley could not say yesterday with any certainty that the ban on pit bulls has made Denver a safer city.
“It’s a hard question to answer,” Kelley told the Denver Daily News. “We have not had a severe mauling or fatality involving a pit bull since its gone into effect. But then again, we continue to get more pit bulls every year … it depends on how you define success.”
There has actually not been a serious pit bull attack in Denver since the 1989 mauling of Rev. Wilbur Billingsley, who was left with more than 70 bites and two broken legs. The incident resulted in the City Council banning pit bulls from the city. In 2004, Gov. Bill Owens signed a bill prohibiting local municipalities from enacting breed-specific legislation. Denver challenged the statute and enforcement resumed in May 2005.
That year, the city impounded 1,011 pit bulls; in 2006, 952; 2007, 459; 2008, 315. Kelley added, however, that there’s likely hundreds of others throughout the city. Animal Control usually does not know about a pit bull in the city until a neighbor complains.
Hoping to change the world
ROVERlution is hoping to convince the public that pit bulls have gotten a bad name because of negative media coverage and misinformation.
“We’re not trying to burn anyone at the stake,” said Edelstein. “What we’re trying to do is bring about positive change.”
Edelstein rescued Forrest the dog back in August after the pit bull was picked up twice and subsequently condemned to death. The story made national headlines because Forrest did not actually live in Denver, but instead wandered away from his Adams County yard and across city lines into Denver. Since the Forrest incident, Animal Control has changed its policy to work with rescue groups to find a safe home for pit bulls picked up twice. The dogs must leave the state to be trusted with a new owner.
The tidal wave of pit bull negativity, however, could be turning on the national level. Take “Sports Illustrated,” for example. In 1987 the magazine ran a cover photo of a vicious pit bull with the headline, “Beware of this dog.” But the magazine’s Christmas Eve issue features a cute photo of Sweet Jasmine, one of the pit bulls rescued from former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation.
The ‘gestapo?’
Meanwhile, Army Staff Sgt. Heidi J. Tufto is focusing solely at the local level. She was left with a bad taste in her mouth about Denver politics when in 2001, just days after moving to Denver, a white van rolled up on her while she was walking her pit bull, Lumpy, and two other dogs in Riverfront Park.
As animal control officers grabbed Lumpy’s leash, allowing Tufto’s other two dogs to run loose into traffic around the park, Denver police officers rushed to the scene to assist. With guns drawn, Tufto was ordered to the ground. Lumpy was thrown in the van and driven away.
Tufto is used to guns and violence — she dealt with it all the time serving America in Iraq — but she couldn’t handle watching her beloved Lumpy taken from her grasp. Lumpy happens to be a certified therapy dog and an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen.
An elderly immigrant from Germany who witnessed the incident equated it to the “gestapo,” said Tufto.
Lumpy was saved — flown to Oregon on a CH-47 Chinook military helicopter.
Still bitter
But Tufto remains bitter, wanting desperately to change the minds of city officials.
“What citizens want is an effective piece of legislation to protect everyone and that’s proven to work,” she said, pointing to cities that have beefed-up their dangerous dog ordinances to hold dog owners both criminally and civilly liable.
Kelley himself agreed that on a personal level he would like to see more stringent dangerous dog ordinances. He said before overturning the ban, city officials would first need to look at that aspect of its code.
Sonya Dias, lead proponent in Denver for overturning the ban, said she has been fighting for three and a half years to have officials hold owners responsible over their dogs. While she has found herself pinned up against several walls during the fight — including a complicated lawsuit to overturn the ordinance — she promises to never stop fighting.
In fact, Dias is in the process of launching a new campaign that will reward towns and cities like Lakewood and Englewood for choosing not to impose breed-specific legislation. The campaign will bring veterinarians into the municipalities to spay and neuter pit bulls that have graciously been allowed to live and breathe.
“For some reason, I just keep going and don’t stop, I don’t know why,” she said. “I may change my direction, but I won’t stop.”
Comments:
OurPack @ 2008-12-24 13:22:46 Breed bans don't work and never will but this does.www.ourpack.org
Zach @ 2008-12-24 13:48:36 Calgary Alberta Canada has a world renowned working Responsible Ownership Program. 90+% licensing compliance. Great results with NO BSL or mandatory Spay Neuter. They enforce their generic law and they have severe fines for non compliance for owners of ALL dogs. content.calgary.ca/CCA/City+Hall/Business+Units/Animal+and+Bylaw+Services/Animal+Services/index.htm Places like Denver Colorado and Ontario Canada and other jurisdictions with BSL need to be brought to their knees financially over their Breed Bans. Responsible pet owners are not going to stand by and let this continue.
An elderly immigrant from Germany who witnessed the incident equated it to the �gestapo,� said Tufto.
We support Bully Owners @ 2008-12-24 13:57:51 Wake up Denver and other areas with BSL. Wake up HOUSTON! The dogs are speaking for themselves now! badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/sports-illus-home-run-for-pit-bulls.html
David Edelstein @ 2008-12-24 15:11:50 My name is David Edelstein. I am a "member" of Roverlution.org. The Founder is Dr. Paula Terifah DVM. We created DenverKillsDogs.com to raise local awareness of the Breed Ban in Denver, to persuade City officials to consider/ negotiate a Blanketing Dangerous Dog Law that makes sense without breed specific discrimination, and to bring to the public the TRUTH about this breed. I personally own three of these Dogs (Forrest, Kane, and Daze) and can testify that NOT EVERY Pit Bull is vicious or aggressive or a time bomb waiting to go off. If you want to place a ban on a social group... ban drug dealers, gang bangers, thugs and the odd welfare recipient... where the problem with "some" Pit Bulls originates.
David @ 2008-12-24 19:06:56 It sounds reasonable to me.
Toni Phillips/Mariah's Promise @ 2008-12-24 19:09:07 Great article. Mariah's Promise has taken in over 300 pit bulls since 2005 and I can way attest these dogs are NOT what they've been sensationalized to be!! Not by a far cry. So can the hundreds of thousands people who have chosen a pit bull to be apart of their lives. The Netherlands repealed their 35 yr ban on pit bulls because it didn't do anything except kill innocent dogs!! BSL does nothing for public safety - just tears families apart, An ordinance which covers ALL BREEDS makes much more sense and is truly effective. Talk to the other major cities who decided against BSL in favor of such ordinance. Those cities aren't getting slammed in fact they are models of how it should be, while Denver is a model of what NOT to be. Thanks for the great article, Mr. Marcus!!
Bestuvall @ 2008-12-25 00:11:49 As I sit here on Christmas eve wiht my four "bully dogs" curled up at my feet I am saddend by the thought of "pit bulls" being KILLED in Denver.. maybe not tomorrow.. but surely the next day.. and the next.. and the next.. and why?? "Just Because of the way they look". We who have been fighitng this fight for a long time know very well who is involved in continuing to perpetrate this horredous waste of canine life for no reason .but no matter.. WE WILL WIN.. BSL is being withdrawn in the more intelligent sectors of the world like Holland and the bill is on the table to withdraw it in Britian as well.. Let's hope that in 2009 ALL "pit bulls" will be able to safely walk the streets ( leashed of course) of Denver and that their owners will not feel the "jackboots" of the gestapo like stories as the one above. The very fat that your dog can be sent to another state.. and taken from your home is bad enough.. but to be KILLED.. just because of their physical features.. can you even imagine if we did this to people.. Oh wait.. we did.. it was called " the concentration camp".. Peace on earth.. GOODWILL to all..canine and human regardelss of what they look like...
jan keith @ 2008-12-25 01:34:45 Thank you, Peter Marcus for your story featuring the dark side of Breed Specific Legislation. Public safety has never been improved by "racially" profiling dogs and railing against their existence. What BSL does manage to accomplish quite effectively, is the most egregious form of punishment against responsible dog lovers & owners. Your article exposes this ridiculous law for what it is...a convenient, politically expedient sham. It's time for Denver city officials to step up, do the right thing and REPEAL their cruel & ineffective ban----DMC 8-55.
MaryC @ 2008-12-25 13:15:25 I hope that this campaign wakes up the officials who enacted and continue to insist that BSL works. I would like to know what HAS happened to any other dog bites that have happened since the ban. I can't imagine there haven't been some. What happens to those dogs?
Patty @ 2008-12-25 15:30:22 It still amazes me that in this day and age the police can pound on your door or stop you while taking a walk and confiscate and kill your loving family pet with the only "reasoning" behind it is that your dog is a certain breed, breed mix or even that it has a certain look. ***Vicious dog laws should be based the same way human criminal laws should be based . . . on the actions of the dog or the person, not because of their mere existence.
Luke Thomas @ 2008-12-26 01:28:48 PITBULLS are the dog of choice for dog fighting because only pitbulls rip each other apart until they eviscerate each other to death. No other dog can keep on fighting even with half their face ripped off with eyeballs and skull exposed. Since DOG FIGHTING is a national epidemic and State felony laws are insufficient to control it, the only thing left is to ban and exterminate pitbulls. PITBULLS are top of the list of FATAL DOG ATTACKS against children and the elderly. DOG FIGHTING spreads violent crime due to the distribution of GUNS, and COCAINE to our young, and the guns-even military types-are used in ARMED ROBBERIES so these pit bulls basically patronize street gangs, thugs, and organized crime. The sooner we get rid of these vicious monsters, the better. By the way, pitbull bans work VERY effectively in Miami Dade and Ontario Canada where do fighting is suprisingly very rare in these HUGE minicipalities.. I wonder why..
Fayclis @ 2008-12-26 02:17:25 It amazes me how people like Luke think that these dogs should pay a price for with THEIR lives for what MAN has done to them. Raised in loving families these dog are virually "bomb PROOF" with kids and for Luke's information NEVER is CANADIAN HISTORY has a pit bull type dog EVER killed a child. As a matter of FACT since 1963 there has been 68 dog fatalities and ONE was by a pit bull type dog and it's owner was being attacked by a drunk wielding a bat. Maybe someone should tell Luke that these dogs are the choice of woman between the ages of 23 to 38 . However media coverage is not about the AVERAGE owner but about the criminal element. Luke! The Vicious Monsters are on the other end of the leash and like YOU walk on TWO legs. Oh and in Ontario Canada dog bites have NOT gone down since the ban but gone UP . If Luke wants the REAL story behind Ontario's ban Goggle "The BLACK PAPER" ! One more thing Luke, the reason why dog fighters chose these dogs is because it is one of the only dogs who will NOT turn on their masters in the ring. Oh and I have the book called "FATAL DOG ATTACKS" and more important, I have read it . I am sure however YOU have not or you wouldn't be spewing the garbage you do.
Zach @ 2008-12-26 12:13:15
PITBULLS are top of the list of FATAL DOG ATTACKS against children and the elderly.
The CDC no longer keeps track of dog bite fatalities by breed and has posted the following statement on their website: "A CDC study on fatal dog bites lists the breeds involved in fatal attacks over 20 years (Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998). It does not identify specific breeds that are most likely to bite or kill, and thus is not appropriate for policy-making decisions related to the topic. Each year, 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs. These bites result in approximately 16 fatalities; about 0.0002 percent of the total number of people bitten. These relatively few fatalities offer the only available information about breeds involved in dog bites. *** There is currently no accurate way to identify the number of dogs of a particular breed, and consequently no measure to determine which breeds are more likely to bite or kill." www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm ** The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) released statement on the erroneous use and conclusions of the CDC study:
The sooner we get rid of these vicious monsters, the better.
By the way, pitbull bans work VERY effectively in Miami Dade and Ontario Canada where do fighting is suprisingly very rare in these HUGE minicipalities.. I wonder why..
Zach @ 2008-12-26 13:51:11 Luke can you identify an APBT? www.understand-a-bull.com/Findthebull/findpitbull_v4.swf APBT is just one of the Breeds lumped under 'Pit Bull' when Jurisdictions target these dogs. The other 2 Breeds which are usually named in any Legislation are the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier and any dogs that share similar characteristics. The Media also likes to tag any mutt with a square head,short hair and a whip tail as a 'pit bull' regardless of it`s heritage. That would seem to be just one of the many major problems with BSL. Don`t you think? According to this Australian Study from the Journal of Veterinary Medicine Breed* identification is a major problem. www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(06)00012-8/fulltext
Attack data are often seriously flawed with respect to collection, reporting, and analysis.In the United States, the term “pit bull†does not mean APBT: it is a generic term that includes all the bull and terrier breeds, and sometimes the other bull breeds such as boxers, bull mastiffs, American bulldogs (Rowan, 1987). Breed identification is seldom verified or consistent (Beck et al., 1975), *** and even experts cannot always tell whether a dog is a pit bull (Rowan, 1987). More seriously, breed identification often is based upon newspaper accounts.
The evidence does not sustain the view that this is a uniquely dangerous breed, and breed-specific laws aimed to control it have not been demonstrated by authorities to be justified by its attack record.
Fayclis @ 2008-12-26 14:14:44 Media bias? It is horrific. Consider how the media reported four incidents that happened between August 18th and August 21st. August 18, 2007 - A Labrador mix attacked a 70-year-old man sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Police officers arrived at the scene and the dog was shot after charging the officers. This incident was reported in ONE (1) article and only in the local paper. August 19, 2007 - A 16-month old child received fatal head and neck injuries after being attacked by a mixed breed dog. This attack was reported TWO (2) times by the local paper only. August 20, 2007 - A 6-year-old boy is hospitalized after having his ear torn off and receiving severe bites to the head by a medium-sized mixed breed dog. This attack was reported in ONE (1) article and only in the local paper. August 21, 2007 - A 59-year-old woman was attacked in her home by two Pit bulls and was hospitalized with severe injuries. This attack was reported in over two hundred and thirty (230) articles in national and international newspapers, as well as major television news networks, including CNN, MSNBC and FOX. "Clearly a fatal attack by an unremarkable breed is not nearly as newsworthy as a non-fatal attack by a Pit bull," says Karen Delise, researcher for the National Canine Research Council. Bye the way Luke, In Canada there are about 7/8 serious dog attacks per year. There are OVER 147 THOUSAND reports on animal abuse a year. I's ALL the dogs fault right? My bet is if man were subjected to the same extend of cruelity there would be more than 7/8 serious attacks a year. For Pete's sake Ontario had that many shootings in ONE WEEK in Toronto alone and YOU want dogs slaughted at mass based only on their LOOKS? No wonder this world is in such a mess.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:25:53 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, but we don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scared for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:26:32 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, but we don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scared for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:29:59 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". Although I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, we certainly don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scarred for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Aunt B @ 2008-12-27 12:30:47 While I certainly understand your stance in stopping the killing of such animals in Denver, I hardly can fathom the disposition of these so-called friendly animals. While leaning over to give a friendly love pat to a neighbor's pit bull who knew this gal's greetings, my friend's face was violently bitten and ripped away. After several plastic surgeries and more to take place in the future, my friend remains faceless because of this so-called "friendly animal". Although I don't believe in the killing of these animals as a reprocusion or deterent, we certainly don't need them walking on our streets amongst small children or the elderly. I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash. Sorry you had to be attacked by the "Gastapos" Dear Heidi, my niece, but you have to understand the stance others take against such creatures. My friend is scarred for life and must go through the pain of having further surgeries all because she merely wanted to greet your loving, friendly, nonattacking animal. I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame? Uncertain in California.
Zach @ 2008-12-27 12:55:31
I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame?
I just want to know why these animals turn on people and attack when they're supposedly so tame?
I've made it a point to never walk on the same side of the street where I see a pit bull on a leash.
Zach @ 2008-12-27 13:10:48 Oh and Aunt B. Have you seen this article on the Pit Bulls that were abused and then rescued from Michael Vick. badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2008/12/sports-illus-home-run-for-pit-bulls.html There are 5 so far that are qualified as Therapy dogs out of a group of 47. Do you think we should or can generalize to millions of other dogs(as you have attempted to do) or should we just finally admit that dogs are individuals? The majority of dogs of all Breeds are great companions. They can all bite,many do for many reasons but very few of ANY Breed are truly dangerous.