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Forrest the dog gets new lease on life, but it'll be adios to Denver

By Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 28, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Forrest will be allowed to live, but won't be returned to owner Chris McGahey after being picked up twice in Denver.

Photo by Joshua Duplechian / Special To The Rocky

Forrest will be allowed to live, but won't be returned to owner Chris McGahey after being picked up twice in Denver.

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It appears that a better fate awaits Forrest, the mixed-breed dog whose capture and ordered execution raised outcries locally and across the country.

A compromise was reached Tuesday between Denver's Municipal Animal Control and Forrest's owner, Chris McGahey. The dog, it was decided, will live.

After being picked up twice on the streets of Denver and declared similar in appearance to the banned pit bull breed, Forrest was condemned to join the more than 1,600 dogs euthanized in the past three years under the so- called pit bull ordinance, on the city books since 1989.

Doug Kelley, director of Denver Animal Care and Control, said Wednesday that he was "ecstatic" at the tentative agreement. The plan calls for Forrest to be transferred to the Utah-based Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.

Under the arrangement, McGahey permanently would relinquish his ownership. Best Friends would transport the dog to another shelter, the St. Louis- based Stray Rescue, where Forrest would be put up for adoption.

Kelley said the arrangement was "pretty much a done deal." Neither McGahey nor his lawyer, Karen Breslin, could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Despite a wave of protests from animal rights groups, Kelley stressed that Forrest would not be returned to his owner. He noted that two other dogs owned by McGahey and his Denver girlfriend had escaped on Friday and were captured by animal control.

The law is clear, Kelley said.

"But we're not here to judge, and we're certainly not here simply to euthanize dogs. Our job is to protect the public safety," he said.

"We understand that Mr. McGahey is not abusive and that Forrest has posed no danger. But the dog got out twice, and that's a violation of the ordinance."

Enacted in 1989 - but unenforced in 2004 and 2005 when jurisdictional issues were being resolved - the ordinance bans, within Denver, various pit bull breeds or dogs bearing their characteristics. Three constitutional challenges spanning 1990-2008 failed to overturn the law.

Kelley said that the total number of euthanizations dropped significantly in 2007 when 355 dogs were picked up - a 50 percent decrease from previous years.

"And there have been no deaths or maulings (by pit bulls) since the ordinance went into effect," he said.

Plans remain to have Forrest handed over to the Best Friends Sanctuary on Friday for the trip to St. Louis. Kelley and Breslin expect that McGahey will be present to bid farewell to the dog he has referred to as "my son."

shulgoldm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5296

Comments

  • August 28, 2008

    1:18 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jax writes:

    At least he lives...may the force be with you, little dude.

    He's probably been scared to death wondering why he's being punished for talking a walk.

    He didn't bite anyone, he didn't hurt anyone...these are Humans in their ugliest form. I wish we could ban them. Put them in a shelter, give them something to relate to.

    Wonder which breed they will ban next? Anyone wanna place bets?

  • August 28, 2008

    3:35 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    happymike44 writes:

    I look at forrest the dog and know that he is not a biter.
    This poor dog has been the victim of animal control.
    Well I guess who turned in forrest was not a dog owner.
    Forrest you are more then welcome to live in my neighborhood.
    To all the dog haters shame on you for the evil you do.

  • August 28, 2008

    9:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Heidi writes:

    Run Forrest, run!

    He looks so sad....

  • August 29, 2008

    11:10 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    PibbleDawg writes:

    [quote]Wonder which breed they will ban next? Anyone wanna place bets?[/quote]

    You don`t have to wonder for long.
    Here is a list of Breeds targeted across the U.S.
    Check for your Breed of Choice, Breed Ban supporters.
    Coming soon to a Town near you!
    http://www.povn.com/rdows/banned%20br...

    [quote]Despite a wave of protests from animal rights groups..[/quote]

    It`s NOT Animal Rights groups that want Forrest to live and for BSL to end!
    It`s Animal Welfare Groups and individuals who believe in Presumption of innocence for ALL citizens regardless of the shape of their dog.

    Extremist Animal Rights Groups like PeTA attempt to fund raise off the backs of dogs like Forrest or the dogs abused by Vick but they have no interest in saving Forrest or ANY other companion animals!
    Take the time to read up on PeTA.
    http://nathanwinograd.blogspot.com/se...

    If you want to continue having Companion animals in your life...rethink your donation to Extremist Animal Rights Groups such as PeTA.

    BSL will be defeated in Denver and elsewhere.
    People that truly understand the issues are NOT going to allow this to continue.

    Chris should have been fined and there should be a sliding scale for repeat offenders BUT there is NO reason that this dog needs to go to another State with the restriction of Chris never owning him again!

    Is Denver restricting and killing ALL the Breeds* that have caused a fatality in Colorado?
    http://www.nationalcanineresearchcoun...

    That would be 9 Denver!***
    [quote]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.[/quote]

    It`s the Owner not the Dog,Denver!
    http://www.nationalcanineresearchcoun...

    Start listening to the Experts!
    They don`t support Breed Bans as a solution.
    http://www.avma.org/public_health/dog...