A Remedy for Commissioner Philbrook

Revised: November 25, 2014; 13:30 GMT

Commissioner Jane Philbrook thinks there's a better way to protect people from dangerous dogs; instead of focusing on a specific breed, focus on homeowners whose dogs have a history of aggression.

It makes them more responsible, My heart goes out to [the victims]. But, the whole idea of this change is to get all the vicious dogs off the street.
-- Commissioner Philbrook (KSHB41; Nov. 18, 2014)

* * * * *

This has been tried before.

On July 30, 1987 Ohio enacted state-wide Breed Specific Legislation (BSL). Pit bulls, legislators argued, are the most likely breed to attack without provocation.  The BSL defined pit bulls as inherently vicious and required owners to buy insurance. As a result of the legislation shelters no longer adopted out pit bulls in Ohio.

In 2012 a group of determined Toledo-area pit bull advocates prevailed upon the legislature to revoke the BSL. The number of attacks by pit bulls soared in 2013 and 2014, and legislators are once again discussing how to reign in pit bull attacks. For many the attack that came to symbolize 2014 was the attack on Zainabou Drame in Cincinnati. The officers who responded were interviewed this week:

Officer Kyle Strunk said he'll never forget the image of that as they pulled up, seeing grown men and women vomiting on the street, reacting to what they had just witnessed.

"That's not a sight you see very often, you know, adults can't even look. They had to look away based on the violence of it,” Strunk said.

"When you see a child being slung in the air by two animals, it almost doesn't look real when you see it in person," Strunk said. "You couldn't believe it. When you pull up, you expect kind of maybe to see the dogs running away. But they were continuing to attack her, like she was a toy. That's how bad it looked. How effortless it was for the dogs to move her around. That is something, like I said, that I'll never forget.¹

Six-year old Zainabou was in an induced coma for weeks, but survived. No charges have been brought against the owner of the pit bulls that mauled her. He is protected by the revised, breed-neutral dog ordinance.

Zainabou is among the fortunate. There have been at least 29 fatal pit bull attacks already in 2014 -- there is a human being killed by a pit bull every twelve days. But even that detail doesn't reveal how many people, like Zainabou, have been attacked and survive with life-altering injuries.

The number of people who have been maimed by pit bulls has quadrupled in the last five years, from less than a hundred in 2009 to 422 in 2013. In 2014 we were already approaching the 2013 record by the end of October.

* * * * *

In 2012 Ohio pit bull advocates argued, like Commissioner Philbrook, that the new breed-neutral laws would make Ohio safer. Like Commissioner Philbrook they claimed the new legislation targeted vicious dogs before they attacked.

It's not really just about 'pit bulls,' it's about improving safety in our community from all dangerous dogs.²

We feel that this is not only more fair to the dogs, but also makes our state safer since the new law gives dog wardens tools to go after dangerous dogs of all breeds.³

It didn't work out that way. Ohio has had over thirty pit bull attacks this year that we know of, and at least three fatal pit bull attacks. This July, after a wave of devastating attacks, an unrepentant Ms Keating continued to insist that the revocation of Ohio's BSL is working:

[The new law] is much more proactive. It identifies dangerous dogs before they hurt people. That's where our focus needs to be: identifying these dogs long before these incidents occur.⁴

There is a remedy for people who continue to insist that breed-neutral laws reduce attacks: they must be unfortunate enough to witness a pit bull attack.

We offer an easier remedy. We guarantee that within ten days our remedy will change their lives, or yours. It takes only minutes a day. Here's our special offer:

http://goo.gl/j9GqZO

The link above is a shortcut to the Google news search for current pit bull attacks -- today's and the last few days. The news isn't perfect -- many attacks are suppressed or go unreported. But anyone who clicks on the link (or types it into their url address bar) and looks at the news for just a few minutes a day will never again consider revoking BSL.

This exercise will also be useful for legislators who are charged with insuring the public safety of their citizens and their communities. Some people might consider it a civic duty to use this research tool; others, like Ms Keating, may continue to avert their eyes.


Next:
Pit bull advocates claim that Breed Specific Legislation is expensive, it is ineffective, and it is difficult to enforce. Are these claims true?

* * * * *

Notes:
¹   Officer recounts day he, 3 others saved girl from pit bull mauling
²   Jean Keating, Lucas County Pit Crew
     Pit bull advocates to mark change to vicious dog law
     Toledo Blade, May 18, 2012
³   John Dinon, HSUS;
     Former Exec. Director Toledo Area Humane Society
     House axes 25-year-old 'pit bull' law
     Toledo Blade, February 9, 2012
⁴   Jean Keating, Lucas County Pit Crew
     Pitbull attacks spark debate about change in state law
     July 23, 2014; WNWO NBC

SRUV uses the definition of "pit bull" as found in the Omaha Municipal Code Section 6-163.


Other Sources:
Ohio reeling from pit bull attacks
Timeline of Ohio pit bull attacks.


Statistics:

2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities on Daxton's Friends
Index of canine fatalities  on Daxton's Friends

32 years of logging fatal & disfiguring dog attacks
   Animals 24-7; September 27, 2014

Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 30+ year, continuously updated Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada.
View or download the current PDF

This page may also include information from Dogsbite and Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

Google News: Today's pit bull attacks

Sources: Attack on Jimmie May McConnell:
Family of woman mauled by pit bull angry as commissioners decide on lifting ban
   KSHB41; November 18, 2014
Kansas City, KS Man found guilty in pit bull attack case (page archived)
   Kansas City Star; April 4, 2008
   (Original page removed; page now reprinted here)
 New Trial Starts in KCK Pit Bull Death
   WIBW.com; Apri 1, 2008
71-Year-Old Kansas City Woman Killed by Pit Bull
   ABC News; July 29, 2006

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BSL Is Disappearing

Revised: November 21, 2014; 05:36 GMT

Two recent news stories have bolstered the claims that Breed Specific Legislation is disappearing. These stories have been widely circulated in the pit bull blogosphere and have raised the hopes of advocates in the run-up to a critical meeting in Kansas City.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City will meet on December 4th to decide whether to reverse their decades old ban. The proposed animal control ordinance sailed through the Public Works & Safety committee on Nov 17.

The two articles which claim bans are disappearing appeared in quick succession, and there are likely more to come. The tri-state area has a powerful advocacy movement and it seems implausible that the articles could have been written without outreach from pit bull advocates.

Among the advocates mentioned in the articles are Bernie Toellner and Katie Bray Barnett. In 2010 Ms Barnett worked to revoke the ban in her home town of Topeka. And, no surprise, she also assisted in writing the new animal ordinance. Within two years, about the time it takes for an un-neutered male pit bull to fully mature, two year old Samantha Mae Edwards was killed in a Topeka suburb by a pit bull adopted under Ms Barnett's new regulations.

Samantha Mae Edwards, d. December 13, 2012

Commissioner Jane Winkler Philbrook proposed the new legislation, and it's fair to say that advocacy outreach is also behind her proposal. Ms Bray, Mr Toellner, and Melanie Coy would like nothing more than to convince us that BSL is a thing of the past. The authors of the "BSL is disappearing" stories adhered to advocacy talking points; had they looked further they would have found a long list of cities that recently defied the advocates and retained their BSL (see below).

The advocates know that their best chance of revoking BSL is to gain access to legislators; it may be their only chance. After years of complaints and protests by pit bull advocates the Aurora city council put the matter to a vote.

Advocates for pet, livestock, and human safety in Aurora, Colorado claimed a resounding win with the November 4, 2014 defeat of a well-funded attempt to repeal the nine-year-old Aurora pit bull bylaw.¹

It was a crushing defeat for the advocacy movement; by an overwhelming 2-1 majority Aurora citizens said they do not want to live next door to a pit bull. The same is true of the citizens in the Heart of America.


Two articles which claim that pit bull bans are disappearing:

In a quiet trend, pit bull bans are disappearing

   Kansas City Star, Nov 9, 2014
U.S. communities increasingly ditching pit bull bans
   USA Today; November 18, 2014

Twenty stories: a partial list of cities that have recently enacted, upheld, strengthened, or defended their BSL:

Pit bull ban stands in Camdenton, Missouri
   Lake News Online; November 19, 2014
Attempt to repeal pit bull ban crushed in Colorado
   Animals 24-7; November 5, 2014
Enumclaw City Council upholds city’s long-standing ban on pit bulls
   News-Tribune; October 14, 2014

KALB News Channel 5; Moreauville, LA
On October 13, the village passed an ordinance that states if you own a pit bull or a Rottweiler, you must get rid of it by December 1 or they will take it for "disposition."

Clay, Alabama to defend pit bull ban in court

   ABC3340.com; September 1, 2014
Fort Thomas mayor decides vote to keep pit bull ban
   Community Press; August 5, 2014
Reynoldsburg council refuses to repeal pit-bull ban

   Columbus Dispatch; July 29, 2014
Wellsville nips push to neuter pit bull ban
   Ottowa Herald; July 11, 2014
Parma City Council unlikely to remove pit bull ban anytime soon
   Cleveland.com; February 11, 2014
City Council upholds ban on pit bulls in Yakima

   Yakima Herald; December 4, 2013
Burnaby votes for new rules and higher fees for pitbulls and dogs deemed vicious

   Global News; September 30, 2013
BSL Ordinance enacted in Goodland, KS
   NWKS.com; July 16, 2013
Waterford Township Decides to Keep Pit Bull Ban in Place
   Oakland Press; June 11, 2013
City votes to keep pit bull ban
   Ogemaw County Heald; April 2, 2013
Town of New Llano bans pitbull dogs
   Leesville Daily Leader; March 27, 2013

In Miami-Dade, pit bulls remain illegal

   Miami Herald; August 13, 2012
Preston will keep pit bull ban
   Herald Journal; July 19, 2011
Council votes to keep pit bull ban
   Sioux City Journal; June 28, 2010


Forthcoming:
Commissioner Philbrook believes breed-neutral dangerous dog legislation can prevent dog attacks. Is she right?

* * * * *

Notes:
¹   Attempt to repeal pit bull ban crushed in Colorado
     Animals 24-7; November 5, 2014

Sources: Attack on Jimmie May McConnell:
Family of woman mauled by pit bull angry as commissioners decide on lifting ban
   KSHB41; November 18, 2014
Kansas City, KS Man found guilty in pit bull attack case (page archived)
   Kansas City Star; April 4, 2008
   (Original page removed; page now reprinted here)
 New Trial Starts in KCK Pit Bull Death
   WIBW.com; Apri 1, 2008
71-Year-Old Kansas City Woman Killed by Pit Bull
   ABC News; July 29, 2006

Sources: Colorado

No surprise that pit bullies won't let election loss go

   (Editorial) Aurora Sentinel; November 18, 2014

Putting an end to Aurora’s dangerous pit bull charade
   (Editorial) Aurora Sentinel; October 23, 2014

Statistics:

2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities: on Daxton's Friends
Index of canine fatalities on Daxton's Friends

32 years of logging fatal & disfiguring dog attacks
   Animals 24-7; September 27, 2014

Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 30+ year, continuously updated Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada.
View or download the current PDF

This page may also include information from Dogsbite and Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

Google News: Today's pit bull attacks

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Crowdfunding Pit Bulls

Revised: November 17, 2014; 23:18 GMT
Revised: November 21, 2014; 18:51 GMT
Revised: May 13, 2015; 17:40 GMT

When the novelist Douglas Anthony Cooper decided to self-publish his next book he chose a novel funding process: Crowdfunding.¹ He began a campaign on Kickstarter.com and set an initial goal of $27,500. When the campaign expired a month later Cooper had raised an astonishing $62,000.

Mr. Cooper's funding campaign enjoyed unusual advantages. First, his book is about a pit bull named Galunker and will be marketed to children -- in reality to the children of pit bull advocates. In other words, Mr Cooper has an assured market. In addition Mr Cooper was given the freedom to run a priceless (but cost-free) week-long self-promotion campaign in the Huffington Post. He used his columns to relentlessly advertise his book and to drive readers to his Kickstarter fundraiser page.

There had been other pit bull crowdfunding campaigns before Mr Cooper's, the majority of which solicited funds for pit bull rescues and even for individual pit bulls.  Dozens of these campaigns are readily accessible by going to gofundme.com and searching for pit bulls.

At the other end of the spectrum are the appeals to help cover the costs of veterinary care for companion animals attacked by pit bulls; some of these bills run to five figures and must be paid even if the victim subsequently dies of wounds inflicted by the attacking pit bull. Even more heartbreaking are the campaigns for human victims of pit bull attacks. Medical care for these victims can easily run to six figures.

And finally, there are crowdfunding appeals to help defray funeral expenses for those who have been killed by fatal pit bull attacks.

Few of the campaigns for victims of pit bull attacks meet their goal. Some campaigns drag on for months and never achieve more than a fraction of the amount requested. There is one notable exception. Megan Touchet was watching television with her five-year old daughter Mia DeRouen when they were attacked by the family's 130-lb pit bull. The dog belonged to Ms Touchet's boyfriend, Kerry Dominique, who was suspected of giving the dog steroids and perhaps of dogfighting. The police were unable to conclude an investigation into Mia's death because Ms Touchet and Mr Dominique, on the advice of their attorney, have refused to talk with investigators.

The crowdfunding appeal to cover Mia's funeral expenses was launched by David Thibodeaux on the day of her death and raised $18,000 in the first four hours. The total pledged has climbed to over $32,700 and the appeal remains open after seven months. When a pit bull advocate resorts to crowdfunding, their goal is often met by generous advocates of fighting breeds, who will turn their pockets inside out to support a fellow advocate.

Crowdfunding for victims of pit bull attacks hit critical mass on November 13, 2014, when four appeals hit the news on the same day. Those appeals are listed below, along with a few other notable crowdfunding appeals for victims of pit bull attacks.²

* * * * *

Nov 13, 2014 --
 The Day of 4 Crowdfunding Appeals:


A routine lunchtime, then tragedy strikes
   Springfield News-Leader; Springfield, MO, November 13, 2014
Mia suffered gruesome injuries from the mauling and had surgery on Sunday in Columbia. She awoke from a medically induced coma on Wednesday but is still in the intensive care unit at the University of Missouri Women's and Children's Hospital recovering from injuries to her face and neck area.
Help Princess Mia on gofundme.com
($4,395 pledged of $30,000)

* * * * *

Man Who Saved Special-Needs Boy From Dog Attack Shares His Story
   Indianapolis, Indiana; Opposing Views; November 13, 2014
Russell Hill is still in the hospital, recovering from the wounds which ripped the flesh on his leg to the bone and prevent him from walking or working. Both arms are still bandaged. “They was tearing me apart.”
Russell Hill's medical fund on gofundme.com
($7,700 pledged of $50,000 goal)

* * * * *

Shih tzu mauled by pit bull on North End
   New Bedford, MA; Southcoast Today; November 13, 2014
Sydney Brum's shih tzu Misha ran up $8,000 in vet bills after a pit bull attack in New Bedford's North End on Halloween. The Brum family is crowdsourcing to defray expenses . . . . Truth be told, the crowdfunding is going fairly slowly, with a one-week total of $334.
Misha's Veterinary Fund on gofundme.com
($1,229 pledged of $8,000 goal)

* * * * *

Husky mix, Griffin, brutally attacked by 2 pit bulls in Glen Ridge
   Glen Ridge, NJ; WABC 7 TV; November 13, 2014
No one is ever prepared mentally or financially for something like this.
Help Griffin Heal on youcaring.com
($9,963 pledged of $10,000 goal)

* * * * *

Funeral Funds:

Boy killed in dog attack is identified

   The Gainsville Sun; August 7, 2014

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the 6-year-old boy who was attacked and killed by two pit bulls at his aunt’s home just outside of Fanning Springs Thursday.

Funeral for Joel Chirieleison on gofundme.com

($4,513 pledged of $5,000 goal)

Joel Chirieleison d.August 7, 2014

* * * * *

Coroner Identifies Baby in Fatal Dog Attack

   WKEF ABC22; Dayton, OH: July 20, 2014

Baby Jonathon Quarles Jr Funeral Fund on gofundme.com

($770 pledged of $1,000 goal)

 Jonathon Quarles Jr;  d. July 20, 2014

* * * * *

Dog who killed little girl was a 'monster'

   WWLTV.com; March 26, 2014

The dog was shot three times by officers, who then attempted to enter the apartment . . . when officers tried to get inside, the dog charged them and was shot an additional 10 times before he died. Chief Todd Duplantis described the scene as 'horrific' and said counseling was being offered to the officers who were on the scene.

Mia DeRouen's Funeral Expenses on gofundme.com

($32,755 pledged of $25,000 goal)

Mia DeRouen, d. March 26, 2014

* * * * *

Earlier crowdfunding appeals:

Family traumatized by vicious attack of 7-year-old son
   Maryville, TN; The Patriot-News; July 7, 2014
Only then, in an unconscious state, did the pit bull's jaws fall from Sport Kim's face.
Sport Kim, Age 7. Needs Facial Surgeries on youcaring.com
($16,700 pledged of $100,000 goal)

* * * * *

Boy mauled by dog on South Side

   Chicago, IL; WGN TV; August 4; 2014

The bounce house in the backyard served as refuge for the other children as adults tried to free Armani from the jaws of the dog.

Mommie's Angel Fund on gofundme.com

($1,730 pledged of $10,000 goal)

Lenard Armani Mckinnis

* * * * *

Riverside County Pool Man Attacked by Pit Bull Mix Speaks Out

   ABC7 Los Angeles, CA: October 15, 2014;

Andy is suffering from multiple serious injuries on his face, right arm, and right thigh.

Andy's Fundraiser on gofundme.com
($1,970 pledged of $25,000 goal)

* * * * * 

Woman and her dog attacked by pit bulls
Buddy's vet expenses for a six hours of surgery and my Mom's life flight and trauma treatment copayment is roughly $8,000.00.
Buddy Larsen's Vet Bills on gofundme.com
($1,500 pledged of $8,000 goal)

* * * * * 

72-year-old woman attacked by pack of dogs
   USA Today; Phoenix AZ; July 10, 2014
The five Bullmastiff/pit bull mixes have since been euthanized at the request of their owner, according to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.
72-year old Grandma attacked by 5 dogs on gofundme.com
($1,090 pledged of $10,000 goal)

* * * * *

Dogs kill alpaca herd in northern Santa Fe County
   Albuquerque Journal; February 17, 2014
One dog, a pit bull, was shot to death by one of the property owners who said the animals also were responsible for killing two goats at a neighbor’s place earlier that morning.
The Wickersham Alpaca Fund on gofundme.com
($2,435 pledged of $4,000 goal)

* * * * *
Notes:
¹ For a full explanation of Crowdfunding see the entry on this Wikipedia page.
² A list of victims funds other than crowdfunding appeals can be found on the Dog Bite Victim Funds page at Dogsbite.org.

Definitions:
SRUV uses the definition of "pit bull" as found in the Omaha Municipal Code Section 6-163. As pit bulls are increasingly crossed with exotic mastiffs, Catahoula Leopard Dogs and other breeds, the vernacular definition of "pit bull" should be made even more inclusive.

Sources cited by news media sometimes refer to "Animal Advocates" or sometimes "Experts." In many cases these words are used to refer to single-purpose pit bull advocates who have never advocated for any other breeds or species of animals. Media would be more accurate to refer to these pit bull advocates as advocates of fighting breeds.

Similarly, in many cases pit bull advocates refer to themselves as "dog lovers" or "canine advocates" and media often accepts this usage. The majority of these pit bull advocates are single-purpose advocates of fighting breeds.

Statistics:
Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 30+ year, continuously updated Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada.
View or download the current PDF

2014 Year-end report of dog attacks
   Animals 24-7; January 3, 2015
32 years of logging fatal & disfiguring dog attacks
   Animals 24-7; September 27, 2014
How many other animals did pit bulls kill in 2014?
   Animals 24-7; January 27, 2015

This page may also include information from Dogsbite &Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

Google News: Today's pit bull attacks

2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities on Daxton's Friends
Index of canine fatalities on Daxton's Friends

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ArtPrize and Pit Bulls

Revised: November 11, 2014; 19:02 GMT
Revised: November 18, 2014; 18:04 GMT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. October 10, 2014 – ArtPrize, the radically open, international art competition, tonight held the sixth annual ArtPrize Awards, announcing the winners of $540,000 in prizes. 

* * * * *

This year's ArtPrize included 1,536 entries representing 51 countries and 42 U.S. states and territories. The entries were exhibited in 174 venues over three square miles. ArtPrize seeks to broaden the critical dialogue around contemporary art by awarding the world’s largest art prize, at $540,000. For 19 days news in Grand Rapids and much of Michigan was dominated by the ArtPrize competition.

But other news also came out of Michigan during this period. One of the entries, a three-dimensional installation titled Out of the Blue by Joan Marie Kowal, is a dramatic memorial to victims of fatal pit bull attacks. ArtPrize opened on September 24 and on Sunday, September 28, local pit bull advocates gathered at the installation, protesting the memorial and temporarily blocking public access to the installation.¹

Then, four days after the the protest, Michiganders awoke to the news of the attack by 12 pit bulls on Steve Constantine in Detroit. The first reports indicated that Constantine suffered four amputations. Constantine watched as the dogs, in his own words, ate him alive.

Steven Constantine

* * * * * 

Among the pit bull advocates at the September 28 protest was Rachel Jensen, a Kent County Animal Control Officer. On October 3rd, the same day that news of the attack on Constantine stunned Michiganders, Kent County spokeswoman Lisa LaPlante released a prepared statement claiming that Jensen had not violated employee policy by protesting at the memorial for victims of pit bull attacks.

All Americans are sensitive to our First Amendment rights protecting protests in public spaces. But some protests are so repugnant, for example the protests by the Westboro Baptist Church at the funerals of fallen soldiers, that the public is unwilling to tolerate them. The protest by pit bull advocates at a memorial to victims of pit bulls bears striking similarity to the Westboro Church protests. Decency and common sense demand that solemn events, including Ms Kowal's Out of the Blue, must be protected. Artists often challenge us, as Ms Kowal has done and other ArtPrize artists have. Those who sponsor, promote, and love art are obligated to protect and defend the art they exhibit.

On October 7th a commentary by the Canadian journalist Barbara Kay was published on the nation's premier independent animal welfare web site.² Accounts of the attack on Constantine appeared daily in Michigan papers until ArtPrize closed. The coverage continues and has linked Michigan pit bulls, Out of the Blue, the protest at the victims' memorial, and ArtPrize in an inseparable ménage à quatre. Kowal's Out of the Blue has received more national coverage than any other ArtPrize entry, including the winners. It has received more coverage, perhaps, than all other entries combined.

* * * * * 

Art has proven to be an excellent medium for developing social consciousness. In the 1980s the AIDS quilt galvanized the nascent AIDS movement and led to national awareness of the epidemic. Today, the lifesize red silhouettes of the Silent Witness National Initiative has dramatically increased awareness across the country for victims of domestic violence. Ms Kowal's Blue Crosses could form the basis of a similar public awareness campaign. ArtPrize is uniquely positioned to sponsor this movement.

The United Kennel Club was organized in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1898 solely to register pit bulls and thereby legitimize dogfighting. Today Michigan is witnessing the deadly and unforeseen aftermath of the UKC's folly. In recent years a human being has been killed by a pit bull every two weeks; Ms Kowal's Out of the Blue graphically directs our attention to these senseless deaths.  It would be fitting if a national movement to recognize the victims of pit bull attacks were to begin in Michigan under the auspices of ArtPrize.

Silent Witness National Initiative

for victims of domestic abuse

Out of the Blue 

2014 ArtPrize entry by Joan Marie Kowal

* * * * *

Notes:
¹   A Facebook page (ART PRIZE: Don’t bully my bully) rallied the protesters. The page (now taken down) appeared at the following url: https://www.facebook.com/groups/766488323431048/?ref=br_tf
²   Animals 24-7. The article was subsequently reprinted by SRUV.


ArtPrize:
ArtPrize Home Page
Out of the Blue; ArtPrize entry by Joan Marie Kowal


Sources:
“Out of the Blue” ArtPrize memorial for dog attack victims stirs breed controversy
   September 25 , 2014; Fox 17 West Michigan
Michigan pit bull owners protest at ArtPrize entry
   September 29, 2014; The Marquette Mining Journal
Man attacked by pack of pit bulls
   October 3, 2014; 13 WMAZX
County defends animal control officer who protested ArtPrize memorial to dog-attack victims
   October 3, 2014; Grand Rapids Press
Man remains in critical condition after being mauled by a dozen pit pulls
   October 6, 2014; MLive
11 pit bulls that critically injured man in Detroit euthanized
   October 6, 2014; MLive
Lawsuit claims Michigan Department of Corrections investigator shot dog in Flint
   October 8, 2014; The Flint Journal
No criminal charges likely in pit bull attack on Detroit man
   October 9, 2014; Detroit Free Press

ArtPrize victims' memorial violated by pit bull advocates

   October 11, 2014; Commentary by Barbara Kay on SRUV
Police seek felony charge against owner in vicious dog mauling
   October 22, 2014; Detroit Free Press
   The reports list a grim array of injuries, with arms and legs ripped to the bone and dogs "eating the flesh" off a naked man.
Police use taser when pit bull escapes leash, attacks dog
   October 24, 2014; Detroit Free Press

Access to food not an issue in dog mauling

   October 27, 2014; Detroit Free Press
The dogs started attacking and eating me alive
   October 27, 2014; MLive


See Also:
Timeline of pit bull attacks in Michigan
Don't bully my breed, but we will bully the victims


Statistics:

32 years of logging fatal & disfiguring dog attacks
   Animals 24-7; September 27, 2014

Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 30+ year, continuously updated Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada.
View or download the current PDF

This page may also include information from Dogsbite and Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.

Google News: Today's pit bull attacks

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