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Summit Attendees Discuss Ways to Stop Breed Bans

October 28, 2006, 12:0AM MT

By Michelle Buckalew

DENVER -- To prevent breed-specific laws, public education and, especially, a public relations plan are the keys to success.

DENVER -- To prevent breed-specific laws, public education and, especially, a public relations plan are the keys to success.

That’s what attendees discussed during the evening session at the first day of a Dangerous Dogs Summit in Denver, Colorado sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society.

Besides educating the public, lobbying lawmakers is just as important, said Kathy Deitsch of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, who is a member of the animal commission there. “I’m interested in seeing a model law, education in the community, and, more specifically, education of politicians,” she said.

But it will take more than lobbying lawmakers, others pointed out, to keep on top of the issue.

“I don’t think we need to just tell politicians,” said Cindee Carlson, an attorney who is one year away from becoming a veterinarian in Colefax, Washington. “I think we need to inform the public. Golden Retrievers bite more people than any other breed. Why doesn’t the public know that?”

And that’s where the breakdown was, said attendees, when the city of Denver passed an ordinance in 2004 banning specific breeds of dogs: The public was not made aware it was about to happen.

The Denver District Court in 2005 ruled that an ordinance city officials passed in April 2004 was legal, and about 200 people with pit bulls were notified by mail that they would have to turn over their dogs beginning in May 2005.

Tami Bishop, a volunteer at a Denver shelter where 38 pit bulls were euthanized soon after the ban was put in place, said the breakdown was simple: “My personal opinion is that we had seven council members who were making laws they had no input on.”

The breakdown, she said, was with the press. “I don’t think most people even know there’s a breed-specific ban,” Bishop said. After the law was passed, the pit bulls were euthanized, but one local paper reported the next day that just three were killed.

“These types of things should be in the public’s view,” she said.

Kathleen Stiny, who also lives in Denver, agreed.

“Ninety-nine percent of the people in Denver do not know that 2,000 pit bulls have been put to death by the city of Denver over the last year,” she said. “Those were not 2,000 fighting dogs. What went wrong was the (lack of) public relations.”

Molly Gibb, who has several pit bulls, including two rescued puppies from New Orleans, has been lobbying state officials in Oklahoma. “If there’s one thing my pit bulls have taught me,” Gibb said, “it’s to have courage.” And that includes speaking on the dogs’ behalf.

When Gibb lived in Denver, where she moved from a year-and-a-half ago, one major problem was the lack of communication with people who had pit bulls in their homes. “It was the same thing when I moved to Oklahoma,” she said. “People didn’t know a law was being passed to ban breeds.”

So she began a campaign. “I started grass roots lobbying in the halls of the Oklahoma capitol,” Gibb said. “It was a matter of spending time with politicians. I asked myself, ‘Why don’t they like my dogs?’”

In one case, Gibb introduced a lawmaker who was afraid of dogs to her pit bulls, to educate the politician and let him know that her pits, who are in a K-9 therapy program, are not dangerous.

Paul Berry, CEO of Best Friends, commented that it looked like the public relations campaign wasn’t lost in Denver when the ban went into effect . “It didn’t exist,” he said.

And that, most agreed, should never happen again.

Jane Berkey with the Animal Farm Foundation in Bangall, New York, pointed out, “It’s not simply pure bred dogs that are being targeted. You’re talking about mixed breeds too.”

When asked what the solution is, Berkey said, “We need to agree that we are the voice for animals and then determine possible solutions to implement.”

“What happened in Denver is the American Pit Bull got thrown over the side of the boat,” Berkey continued. “You have a public relations problem of a major order.”

And that, Berry noted, is why Best Friends organized the summit, to join together, understand the failures of the past, and work together toward common solutions.

“With all the people gathered here this weekend –- veterinarians, attorneys, responsible breeders, expert dog trainers, rescue groups, animal control officers -- something meaningful will come out of this,” he said.

Pictured: Kathy Deitsch of Wheat Ridge, Colorado joins in the discussion of solutions to banning specific breeds of dogs.

Story and photo by Cathy Scott.

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Comments

Posted October 30, 2006, 12:29PM by bullydog

I attended the summit this past weekend. I'm still puzzled over the "fact" that if 2,000 dogs were siezed from law-abiding families, why didn't the entire nation know about this? Were all of these families totally passive as ACO came and tore family pets from their arms? Many people mentioned that people in Denver were unaware this was happening. Yet, I also understand that people had time to form an "underground railroad" system for these dogs. Something just doesn't add up here. It's quite disturbing.

Posted October 31, 2006, 12:23PM by bullydog

I appreciate your comments, mariahspromise. I was very puzzed at the conference when I heard an overwhelming amount of "locals" say they didn't know anything or no one knew what was happening. I also looked online and saw all of this coverage, but didn't understand why so many responsible owners didn't rise up in protest of this lunacy.

Posted October 31, 2006, 6:38PM by sherylcatmom

Wow. It sounds like they should have been there if they weren't, as their message echoes what was expressed at the Summit.

Any Coloradoans here available to contact them and check in with them about the Summit?

Posted October 31, 2006, 9:22AM by mariahspromise

Speaking to the question of 'why the whole world didn't know', there was alot of press in Denver and coast to coast last year. If you 'Google' Denver Pit Bull Ban, you'll see it in every major newspaper, TV stations, CNN, several high profile animal sites and even in the Christian Science Monitor. It's a mystery why it didn't catch national attention and yet I have heard the same comment over and over ... what was even 'sadder' is when people from other states moved here with their beloved Bully's and were caught by surprise to find their beloveds weren't welcomed ... it's been a continuing tragedy for the past 18+ months. BUT!! for the first time since this travesty began, I feel there is HOPE!! I am so thankful that Best Friends held this Summit and I look forward to seeing a change!! God Bless you Best Friends and ALL who attended. It was an amazing event!!!!!!!

Posted October 31, 2006, 6:4PM by LaurelW

For those of us in Colorado, here is a group we should be working with: www.aaf-fd.org. They list some good resources to review, including "Model Elements for Your Community's Dangerous Dog Ordinance". I wonder whether a representative of the organization attended the Summit.

Posted October 31, 2006, 9:38PM by isabellasmom

What a great resource Laurel! I'll make sure BF's reaches out.

As to the knowledge of Denver citizens, I know there was some media coverage. Yet at the time, there were very few people without a Pit Bull in their family who got involved. Time and again over the last year and a half I've been shocked when I tell people what is going on and they don't know. Or people assume that the dogs being taken are aggressive. That left people living in Denver – with a Pit Bull to try and fight. At the end of the day would you fight, or keep quite and try to protect your dog?

As to those who have lost family members, I can’t speak for them. However, I believe the entire situation is so painful to many that they just don’t continue. At the candlelight vigil on the anniversary of the ban, one little boy stood bravely, holding a picture of him and his dog, while an organizer relayed his story of his dog who had been killed. So, there are families who are involved.

Unfortunately, those with the fewest resources are most likely to be unable to find help or rehome their dogs outside the area. However, like Mirah's, I feel some hope!

Posted November 12, 2006, 11:35PM by mikefry

Check out the YouTube video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtQJdhpsTCU&eurl=