DOG-Breath

No, I have not stopped my cancer research … it is still moving along nicely. Sorry, but part 4 won’t be out this week as promised — look for it next week. Last week I was called back for some urgent dog duty by several frantic emails. Duty calls. I had to put the books down and once again join forces with my fellow dog rebels. Get ready for some real fireworks…

Here is a short recap: The city of Denver, Colorado is out to kill another innocent dog. This time it’s a dog that does not even live within the deadly Denver city limits. A fact that does not concern Denver — since Forrest looks like he may carry some pit bull genes and no dog looking to be anything other than a poodle is safe in Denver ever since a breed ban on pit bulls and pit bull mixes was adopted by the city council in May of 2005.

Now they are out to execute a dog named Forrest belonging to Chris McGahey, resident of Adams County — whose dog happened to wander into the pit bull dead zone. Should be as simple as pay your fine and get your dog out of jail, right? Wrong. Not if you are in Denver. Not if your dog looks anything like the bully breed. Unfair and just plain wrong is too mild to express my feelings. I have better words for it, but they are not Internet appropriate. Some people might get the wrong idea — like I am one of those crazy pit bull lovers or just another weirdo animal rights activist. So, I will just keep a lid on my outrage and continue to fight the ignorant with knowledge. And I hope you will, too!

And remember this poem by Helen Keller — who owned the breed of dog now outlawed by Denver and a number of other cities around the country too numerous to list. America has gone so wrong…

Power of One

I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do

Invitation to join ROVERlution follows:

August 14th Denver, Colorado at the Denver Dog Jail

As of today, Wednesday August 14th, Forrest’s fate hangs in the balance. Volunteers at the Denver shelter report they have seen cases like this before. Now that Chris was able to plead his case, the decision to release him or kill Forrest (No, this is not euthanasia folks!) could be as soon as tomorrow or as late as next week. So, everyday counts — keep it coming!

Let’s set the record straight

And just for the record — Denver intends to justify the killing of Forrest because it was his owner’s second offense and they aren’t telling the truth, either.

Here is the statement from the Mayor’s office: “Chris was living INSIDE the city limits of Denver”. Not true. Chris and Forrest were NOT living inside the city limits of Denver when Forrest was picked-up by Denver Animal Control. In fact, since Chris had adopted Forrest, they never lived in Denver — they were in Adams County. Chris had apparently lived in Denver prior to having Forrest, but never after he got him. Unfortunately, he had not yet updated his driver’s license to show the new address in Adams County.

First offense: Forrest was stolen and eventually picked up by Denver Animal Control after Chris had moved out of Denver and relocated in nearby Adams County. Chris got off with a warning when he was finally able to prove he and Forrest were not living in Denver. He was told his dog would NOT be released if ever found in Denver again!

Second offense: And then one day, the worst happened. Chris was preparing to move to Fort Collins (a 1.5 hour drive away from Denver) when Forrest somehow got out of his yard. Who among us has not had that frightening lost dog experience? No, Chris was not one of those irresponsible dog owners as some people have been quick to judge. He loves Forrest the way we love our dogs. Chris is living a nightmare. He visits his dog at the shelter every day. Can you imagine that agony?

As if there is any justification to kill any dog simply because city government says so!

Thank You Denver

You have just handed us our breed ban poster child. Forrest tells a story that every dog owner across this country will sympathize with. We all have dogs that look like pit bulls or know dogs that look like pit bulls. They are not the monster dogs you fear and justify killing.

Our message to Denver Officials: It’s time to bring you out of the closet — you need not fear pit bulls any longer. Now you have the real deal. Our dogs can’t fight you, but we sure can! Lucky for you, dog lovers tend to be compassionate folks. We feel you need to be educated, after all, how can anyone judge the ignorant? Here is how we plan to help:

Mayor Hickenlooper, honorable city council members, Doug Kelly (Director of Animal Control) and Nancy Severson (Manager of the City’s Environmental Health department and most importantly Doug Kelly’s supervisor) will be paired up with their very own pen pals. Choose which Denver official you would like to help and send them a weekly email or letter. Could just be an article or story of a pit bull saving someone’s life, sniffing out drugs at the airport, finding a lost camper in a search and rescue mission. Or maybe something personal and special about the bully in your life!

Keep it short and to the point and do it once a week. Full details and contact information about our Denver Pen Pal campaign will start after Mission Forrest completed.

Hit Denver Targets Daily

Mayor John W. Hickenlooper
Phone: 720-913-1311
Fax: 720.865.8787
E-mail:

MileHighMayor@ci.denver.co.us

City and County Building
1437 Bannock Street, Suite 350
Denver, CO 80202

Director of Animal Control
Doug Kelly

Doug.Kelley@ci.Denver.co.us

Manager of the City’s Environmental Health Dept.
Nancy Severson (Doug Kelly’s supervisor)

Nancy.Severson@denvergov.org

Councilman Michael Hancock - President
4760 Oakland St., Suite 175
Denver, CO 80239
Phone: 303 331 3872

michael.hancock@denvergov.org

Fax: 303 331 3874

Contact them daily! Tell them to release Forrest!

Thanks Rovers!

I’ve been copied on more email letters than I could read in the last two days — but I am going to read them all. Why? Because YOU inspire me! I know that I am not one, but many. I know that breed discrimination is wrong. I know breed bans insult my intelligence. I know that irrational fear threatens a free society. I know our rights under the Constitution as Americans are in great jeopardy.

General Packleader www.roverlution.org

Join the ROVERlution!