Protesters trying to protect canine from euthanasia
By Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 24, 2008 at 9:46 p.m.
Photo by Silvia Razgova / Special To The Rocky
Azelea Bullock of Denver, left, and Chris McGahey, of Commerce City, hold signs at Alameda Avenue and Jason Street on Sunday. Protesters are trying to keep Forrest - a dog that McGahey refers to as his son - from being put to death under Denver's pit bull ordinance. McGahey and his allies say the dog is not a pit bull.
City animal ordinance, section 8-55, bans the ownership of pit bulls within the city borders, defining the animal as "any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds."
Far from downtown's madding crowds, another group of passionate protesters lines Alameda Avenue near Jason Street. Just up the block sits a condemned prisoner they hope to set free.
Forrest the dog.
Holding signs imploring the city of Denver to save Forrest from euthanasia, a dozen or so animal lovers wave to motorists, many of whom honk in support of a cause that has generated a nationwide reaction.
"The furthest out we've heard from people has been Canada," said Chris McGahey, 25, a construction worker who refers to Forrest as his son.
The city, however, has labeled the dog as a violator of the 2005 ban on pit bulls, and has ordered his execution.
Despite the city's claims, McGahey and his allies insist that Forrest is not a pit bull. In fact, the dog's owner isn't sure what mix of breeds the animal is.
"I got him when he was 4 weeks old," McGahey said of Forrest, now 19 months old and residing at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter. "He's never hurt anyone." The dog is named for mild- mannered Forrest Gump.
Though not a purebred, the animal bears enough of a resemblance to a pit bull to send it to death row, according to the city's interpretation of the ordinance.
That fine line is only one of several reasons that dog lovers have rallied to Forrest's defense. Some have come from out of state, including Idaho resident Jeramie Dreyfuss. The former wife of actor Richard Dreyfuss flew in to join the protest.
Aside from his bloodline, a point of contention is that the dog and his owner are not even residents of Denver. "Chris lives in Adams County," said Paula Terifaj, a California-based supporter who stood at the entrance to the shelter. She was waving a placard for ROVERlution.org, which is fighting breed-specific legislation.
According to Terifaj, Forrest left his Commerce City home twice - the second infraction resulting in a death sentence. She and others have offered to take the dog with them to safety beyond Colorado's borders. McGahey said he has plans to move to Fort Collins.
Determined to save the dog, "even if it has to go to the Supreme Court," McGahey hired two lawyers. His side was stung by a ruling on Friday by hearing officer Ann Cisneros, confirming Forrest's genetic roots. Euthanizing the dog could be carried out any time.
Terifaj remains optimistic. "They haven't killed the dog yet. They don't want to back down, but they're feeling the heat."
McGahey plans to file an appeal this week. Attorney Karen Breslin said on Sunday that she aims to confirm her reading of the City Charter that Cisneros' decision is appealable. "This is a pretty extreme use of government power - to be able to knock on someone's door, take their dog away and kill it, just because of its breed," Breslin said.
"The chances (of success) are 99 to 1," McGahey admitted. "But in my mind, it's 50-50. Whatever I have to do to save my son."
Should the city's ruling be reversed, he suggested he might consider leaving Colorado. "I'm too scared to have Forrest anywhere in this state," he said.
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A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production
August 24, 2008
11:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
mytwosense writes:
Let me get this straight. There are people willing to take this dog - who has never harmed anyone, but simply got loose a couple of times - out of Colorado...and the powers that be still refuse to release it?
--shakes head--
August 24, 2008
11:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
jax writes:
Yes, mytwosense, that would be Denver trying to "prove a point" at the animals expense.
-shaking my head with you-
AND wondering what the h3ll is wrong with people today? Bunch of flippin' morons. They should be euthanized...ya know, solely based on their SUSPECTED breed which is IGNORANT.
The guy doesn't even live in Denver..."City animal ordinance, section 8-55, bans the OWNERSHIP OF PIT BULLS WITHIN THE CITY BORDERS..." They can't even follow their own ordinance. Idiots, all of them. BAN THEM ALL...
August 25, 2008
12:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
Jazzwoman53 writes:
A neighbor's child declared that my cat had bit her. No one told me anything about it until an Animal Control Agent, with no identifying patches on his uniform, waited down the block watching for my husband to leave for work, then tried to force his way into my home with my two small children screaming hysterically. I damaged his arm by slamming the door on him. He called the police. As he had no warrant, nor any paperwork of any kind, the cop told him to just issue me a ticket - as he should have done in the first place. Additionally, the van that this agent was driving was new and did not have any City decals on it.
I could have, would have, should have shot and killed this creep. I wish I would have owned a firearm on that day. And complaints to his supervisor and to county courts yielded no results. Even after I discovered him on my front porch, in his civilian clothes, after midnight one night.
He was trying to kidnap my cat on his personal time...and the City & County of Denver did nothing. I live in Westminster now.
August 25, 2008
12:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
SL10 writes:
I wish the protestors luck in securing parole for the puppy.
August 25, 2008
8:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
PibbleDawg writes:
Shame on Denver,Colorado
The World is watching!
Why don`t you listen to the Experts and do something constructive rather than destructive?
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcoun...
http://www.avma.org/public_health/dog...
What`s the REAL agenda Denver?
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcoun...
[quote]Are Dogs A Real Danger?
A National Canine Research Council Perspective Report
Over the past 43 years (1965 - 2007) there have been ten (10) fatal dog attacks in Colorado, or on average, one (1) fatality every four (4) years.
At least nine (9) different breeds/types of dogs have been identified as participating in the ten (10) fatal attacks in Colorado.
The victims were: 2 adults and 8 children.
In 1977, three loose roaming dogs killed a girl in Breckenridge. The owners and caretakers were charged with criminally negligent homicide for the reckless management of their dogs.
In 1983, a dog inflicted serious injuries to an 8-year-old Denver boy. The owner of the dog was sued, charged and placed on probation. Unable (or unwilling) to pay the medical expenses for this child, the civil suit against the owner was dropped. Undaunted by his inability to meet the financial and moral responsibility to the boy who was injured by one of his dogs, the owner proceeded to obtain additional dogs. In 1986, one of his newly acquired dogs, a Pit bull, kept chained in a carport, attacked and killed an unsupervised 3-year-old child who had wandered over to it.
Instead of instituting laws to severely penalize or punish owners such as this who repeatedly obtain dogs, breed these dogs, and maintain these animals in a condition in which they have the ability and opportunity to attack children, Denver opted to ban the breed of dog. Additionally, this was the first documented fatal attack by a Pit bull in the state of Colorado, yet banning a breed of dog - instead of addressing dangerous owners - was heralded by Denver as the "cure" for dog attacks.
....
Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
In 2005, twenty (20) Colorado children died as a result of maltreatment (abuse or neglect) in Colorado.
In a SINGLE YEAR, 2005, more than TWICE as many Colorado children died from maltreatment (abuse/neglect) than the TOTAL of ALL children killed by dogs in Colorado over the past 43 years.
So, are dogs a real danger? In fact, people in Colorado routinely accept far greater risks from ATVs, bicycles, and swimming pools than any that are associated with companion animals.[/quote]
August 25, 2008
8:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
mrsmoore writes:
What is happening to Denver? I too am shaking my head over this, how is it that these folks who are running Denver can get away with such behavior.There are people who are willing to take this dog to another state, far......far.....away from Denver and yet they are saying "NO", we want to make an example out of this. How utterly disgusted I am with Denver law-makers, the Mayor and all the rest of the people involved in making a decision here. And the sad thing is that it will probably d-r-a-g- on and on for months and there will be Forrest, stuck in a horrible kennel that is stressful and confusing for him. If you or I did that to our dog, we would be arrested for animal cruelty! Doug Kelley, concerned citizens are watching this,please make the "right" decision and get that dog Forrest out of your shelter and into a home, if that means a different more responsible home, then so be it, but don't let that dog go through months on end in that shelter. That is cruel. I say Run Forrest Run, as far away as you can from Denver and don't ever look back.
August 25, 2008
9:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
mrsmoore writes:
also, for those citizens who are wondering what they can do to help Forrest, you can go to this site and sign a petition.
http://www.dogster.com/forums/Dog_Law...
August 25, 2008
10:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
blacksho89 writes:
Wow. An online petition. That would scare ME, if I were ordered by the duly elected Mayor and City Council to either kill the dog or lose my job. Yeah.
People, if you want to do something, call the Mayor. Call your councilperson, at home if need be. Talk to them politely but firmly and get the law re-written. An online petition is not worth the paper it's written on.
August 25, 2008
11:37 a.m.
Suggest removal
mrsmoore writes:
Step one: Contact Mayor John Hickenlooper: MileHighMayor@ci.Denver.co.us
Call these phone numbers to reach the Mayor and his staff:
303-206-4507
720-865-9090
720-865-9016
720-913-1311 PLEASE be respectful and polite when asking for the Mayor's help to have Forrest released to his owner.
Step Two Contact City Council members and people in Animal Control.
Take a deep breath and do not bash anyone! People listen to sincere requests and ignore angry demands.
Cut and paste these email addresses: Sue.Cobb@denvergov.org, Suzan.Moore@denvergov.org, Heather.Barry@denvergov.org, Dencc@denvergov.org, Nancy.Severson@ci.denver.co.us,
Doug.Kelley@ci.Denver.co.us, Rick.Garcia@DenverGov.org, Rita.Contreras@denvergov.org, Pat.Defra@denvergov.org, Jeanne.Fatz@ci.denver.co.us, Paul.Lopez@denvergov.org, Gia.Irlando@denvergov.org, Denise.Perez@ci.denver.co.us, Peggy.Lehmann@denvergov.org, Diane.Young@denvergov.org, Sunni.Rogers@denvergov.org, Marcia.Johnson@Denvergov.org, Lynn.Pressnal@denvergov.org, Sarah.Hader@denvergov.org, Charlie.Brown@Denvergov.org, Carol .Singer@denvergov.org, Meagan.Mercer@denvergov.org, Chris.Nevitt@denvergov.org, Jennifer .Redies@denvergov.org, Valerie.Kerns@denvergov.org, Carla.Madison@denvergov.org, Stephanie.Cross@Denvergov.org, Lynne.Lombard-Hunt@denvergov.org, Judy.Montero@denvergov.org, Stephanie.Syner@denvergov.org, Teresa.StPeter@Denvergov.org, Jeanne.Robb@ci.denver.co.us, Nora. Kim ball@ci.denver.co.us, Kathi.Anderson@ci.denver.co.us, Caitlin.Quander@ci.denver.co.us, Michael.Hancock@denvergov.org, Julia.Gayles@denvergov.org, Rosalind.Alston@denvergov.org, Carol .Boigon@denvergov.org, Lisa.Zoeller@denvergov.org, Rachel.Kurtz-Phelan@denvergov.org, LinkhartAtLarge@ci.denver.co.us, Felix.Ortiz@denvergov.org, Nancy.Severson@denvergov.org, Doug.Kelley@denvergov.org, U rsl a.Null@Denvergov.org
August 25, 2008
2:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
tedterroux writes:
It is accurate to compare specific breed bans to witch hunting and racial profiling. It is also accurate to state that some breeds have a greater capability of doing physical harm or exhibiting aggressive behavior than others. Another example of accuracy is that dogs raised by responsible and knowledgeable people don't become dangers to their families or communities regardless of the breed's tendencies or capabilities. It would also be accurate to say that even though I have spent over thirty five years professionally training over twenty thousand dogs, hundreds of whom were considered Pit Bulls, Bull Terriers or Staffordshire Terriers, that there is no way I could positively determine whether certain dogs are Pit Bulls or not - especially not to the extent that may result in that animals death. To think that someone who has far less experience than I has that capability would be ludicrous. It might surprise readers to hear that the breed I see the highest aggression ratio with right now is the Golden Retriever. While I am not a huge fan of the Pit Bull types - they're not a "breed" - I will forever defend the right for people who want to own them responsibly.
Forget punishing and killing innocent dogs. Forget profiling specific breeds or types. The City and County of Denver is proudly displaying their ignorance on a national scale in doing so. Who said that Denver is a dog friendly city?! Let's go hard and heavy on those irresponsible people who allow or encourage their dogs to become aggressive - those people who chain their dogs up or leave them outside for hours to develop aggressive patterns. Few people are aware that the more time a dog spends outdoors or at the windows of their homes, the greater the tendency for aggressive patterns to develop. Those are the causes of most of the aggression issues I see.
August 26, 2008
2:26 p.m.
Suggest removal
aneal2005 writes:
Hi. Can this news crew please find out why Forrest is not being released to his owner? The poor dog is probably going through enough stress as it is. There is no place like home for these loving pets. Thank you.