ColoRADogs, Longmont Humane Society, Aimee Sadler, Carly Shivers – A dangerous plethora of hypocrisy, lies and deceit

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Jeff Borchardt

On October 2nd, 2014, Daxton’s Friends For Canine Education & Awareness started an ad campaign in the greater Denver area. Our board voted to go with a more aggressive approach due to the ballot initiative (prop. #2D) allowing voters to decide on whether or not to allow pit bulls back into Aurora. We decided to keep our 501(c)(3) status in good standing by not mentioning the upcoming vote even though we were well within our legal rights to do so. The ad was approved by the Denver Post and ran in the “Pink Edition” of YourHub, an insert that covers Aurora, CO. The ad simply stated, “FACT: Pit Bulls Kill More Humans & Animals Than ALL BREEDS Combined!” Our ad did not include the full name of the American Pit Bull Terrier due to ad space. Almost two weeks went by and we received ONE e-mail. Here is a copy of that e-mail and Daxton’s Friends response:

Dear Daxton’s Friends.

I recently came across an incredibly misleading ad in a newspaper posted by your agency. Although I can barely think how to empathise with the loss of a child, I must speak out for memebers of another innocent community.Your advertisment stated that “pit bull” attacks account for more than all of the deaths caused by all other types of dogs combined. This is a blatant untruth not backed up by any factual evidence. I ask you to rescind your ad and make the correction that ALL dogs can bite and ALL dogs can cause fatalities.You can examine this link if you like. It represents the reasons whiy so often dogs are misidentified.
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dogbites/dog-bite-related-fatalities/As part of the rescue community and wanting to determine which dogs are worth my organization’s time and money to rehabilitate, I have invetisgated this issue thoroughly. I have found that a media bias unfairly condones dogs of nearly any unknown heritage as “pit bulls”. As I am sure that you know, pit bull is not actually a breed but a set of characteristics displayed by which a person of authority may describe a dog and thus render the dog that title. I also work in a professional capacity with reported dog bites and I can tell you that I have had pure bred labradors, golden retriever mixes, hunting hounds and even a short haired St. Bernard mix labeled as a “pit bull”. Furthermore, I can tell you that police officers and animal control staff have mislable a pekinese as a pomeranian and a Brittany spanel as a springer spaniel. I have seen bites from every breed and mix imaginable. Thank goodness I have seen no fatalities.Your irresponsible ad condemns a multitude of dogs spanning every breed, age and domestic background. These dogs are as innocent as Daxton.Looking over your website, I could not find the painful story of how you lost Daxton. Perhaps it is there and I did not see it. Perhaps it is too painful to share. Again, I cannot imagine and you have my sympathy. But please cease to be the frothing frenzy that is the anti- “pit bull” movement. Your pain is real but your science, your methodology and your perception is wrong. Dogs do bite. Dogs do kill. But “pit bulls”? They don’t exist. If you must find a bogeyman it lives in humans alone.Thank you,

Janelle

Janelle,

We appreciate your concern about our organization and are more than willing to print a retraction. Please provide us with documented proof that there has been misidentification of the dogs involved in fatalities and we can recalculate our numbers. Unfortunately, we do not consider your provided link as a credible source. Those familiar with the NCRC understand that the director is Karen Delise, a strong supporter of pit bulls. The NCRC is under the leadership of Jane Berkey and the Animal Farm Foundation. The sole purpose of the Animal Farm Foundation is “securing equal treatment for “pit bull” dogs”. We do encourage you to contact the Animal Farm Foundation and let them know that pit bulls are “not actually a breed” and “don’t exist”.

Since you missed Daxton’s story, we will take a moment to fill you in. Daxton was killed on March 6, 2013 at 14 months of age by his babysitter’s two pit bulls. The dogs were raised by the babysitter since they were puppies. They were raised in a loving environment, were spayed and neutered, and well trained. They could follow basic commands and even knew how to kennel themselves. There was no indication of neglect or abuse and a thorough police investigation concluded the babysitter did no wrong doing. On March 6, 2013, she let the dogs out for a potty break. Her yard is an acre fenced doggie paradise. She went outside with Daxton in her arms and called them back to the house. For no reason, the dogs started to attack her and ripped Daxton from her arms. She struggled with the dogs for 15 minutes to get Daxton back and call for help. Unfortunately, Daxton did not survive the attack.

While the Daxton’s Friends team understands that “any dog can bite”, we do not consider a torn off face, crushed skull, severed spinal cord, multiple bite wounds, and extensive blood loss to be a “bite”. Daxton suffered a brutal mauling. There is the common misconception that “bites” and “maulings” are the same and that fatalities are caused by single “bites”. If Daxton was bitten that day, he might have seen a doctor for bandages and antibiotics. As for “ALL dogs can cause fatalities”, we agree. Yes, all dogs can, BUT they are not. If you consider the fatalities the year Daxton was killed, pit bulls clearly lead the count. Other breeds that killed that year are the Bullmastiff, which is 40% pit bull, and the Rottweiler. Still there is not a breed that came close to causing as many fatalities as the pit bull.

The ASPCA has found that 93% of animal shelter workers could accurately identify a pit bull. The mislabeling of dogs most often happens when the public believes, with the help of animal shelter workers and dog advocates, that a pit bull is a “boxer”, “lab”, or “hound” mix. These misidentifications often make dog bite/mauling statistics inaccurate and pit bull bite numbers may actually be higher.

The Daxton’s Friends team does recognize that “a bogeyman it lives in humans alone”. We get to see this “bogeyman” every time someone spreads the “nanny dog” myth or other propaganda to make parents unaware of the true dangers of fighting breed dogs. Or, when pit bull activists compare a single Chihuahua bite to a 15 minute mauling. Or, when people feel compelled to send hateful messages devaluing the life of a child, wishing harm on our families, or faking sympathy with the true intention of defending their precious breed. After the horrific death of a child, the “bogeyman” is not nearly as scary as reality.

Again, thank you for contacting our organization. We wish you the best with your animal rescue endeavors.

Thank you,

Daxton’s Friends

I recognized the blotch in the photo and my mother-in-law’s coffee table

That was the ONLY e-mail we received in regards to our ad until October 12th, 2014, when it showed up on “Pitbullinstagram” with a link to the Denver Post’s contact info encouraging pit bull fanatics to send an e-mail and tell them “positive” stories and “facts” about their pit bulls. As you can imagine, we started to see a major increase in traffic to our website but they were not coming to read anything from it. They were going to the website simply to get our e-mail address to harass us and tell us what a bunch of jerks we were. There were a few comments that went up for moderation on the website under our “Potentially Dangerous Breeds” section, but I came to the conclusion they were landing there because it is linked on our home page.

A worthy side note:

After the ad ran in YourHub, my mother-in-law from Centennial sent us a picture that she took from her phone of the ad sitting on her coffee table. I then forwarded the picture to a few of my friends and fellow advocates but didn’t say whether or not I wanted it shared. I forgot to tell them not to share it until after the vote on Nov. 4th. I didn’t want it getting out there due to the pit bull apologists harassment and intimidation tactics that this country has become so accustomed to. The picture was then posted on Craven’s Desires and that’s how the pit bull fanatics from all over the world got it. You see? These weren’t the citizens of Aurora. Not even close. These messages were being sent from all over the country and WORLD. The small mistake I made ended up being a blessing in disguise. Just like the pit bulls they protect, they cannot help themselves from attacking the victims.

Here are just SOME of the e-mails we started receiving:

Jessica

Your post in the CO news paper has gone viral. With it being National Pit bull Awareness month, I think you need to become aware of pit bulls. I don’t think that you understand stand one bit. Due to your post, it shows that there are IGNORANT people like you and your ‘friends’ that think all pit bulls are dangerous. I understand that the result of your page is due to the loss of someone who was attacked. But any animal can attack, it’s not just a pit bull. Just because Pit bull attacks are reported more, doesn’t make them a bad breed. Do you know about any of the hero Pit bull stories? This link from Huffington Post is Great! (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/pit-bulls-heroic-happy-and-good_n_5563496.html). It features numerous stories about the good things pit bulls have done, and the lives they saved. The reason that these dogs get there bad name is because of people like you! The uneducated morons who go and breed bash.

Sophie is my 2 year old, 90lbs, female, red nose who’s also mixed with a Bull Mastiff, which is also considered an aggressive breed. Not only that but I have a female, with a red nose, to society she is the most ‘aggressive’ pit bull and I am not afraid of her at all! She’s never been aggressive! Anyone who has ever met her can tell you that she is one of the nicest, and best dogs you could ever have. She follows me wherever I go. She sleeps with me every night. When I brought Sophie home she was 6 weeks old. She’s great with kids and other animals. I took her for a walk and had a shepard attack her, and she didn’t even respond to the other dog. You can’t just say ALL pit bulls are bad and dangerous. Quit being so ignorant.

I’m sorry for the loss of anyone who has lost their life from being attacked. Its a tragedy that this has happened. But the next time you go and breed bash, know that NOT EVERY PIT BULL IS DANGEROUS.

“PITBULL FACTS AND FICTION:Pit Bulls have locking jaws – FICTION. Pit Bulls can’t lock their jaws. Their jaws are constructed just like any other dog. In fact if you take the x-ray of a Chihuahua and compare it to that of a Pit Bull, you will see that they are both the same except for the size difference.Pit Bulls are unpredictable and more likely to bite than other dogs – FICTION. Pit Bulls are no more vicious than Golden Retrievers, Beagles or other popular dogs! In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), Pit Bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%. That’s as good or better than Beagles … 78.2%, and Golden Retrievers … 83.2%. How did your favorite breed do? See for yourself – go to: www.ATTS.orgPit Bulls are good with children – FACT. Pit Bulls always test high as one of the most stable breeds of dogs in the country. These statistics can be found with the American Temperament Test Society of the United States, where they always fall as one of the top five most stable dogs. Because of this, they are extremely patient and tolerant of children.All Pit Bulls will “snap” and attack a person sooner or later – FICTION. Pit Bulls are a very popular breed and rarely attack. Pit Bulls are very powerful animals, so when something does go wrong, it usually makes the news. Almost all Pit Bull attacks have involved unaltered Pit Bulls, so it is very important to have your Pit Bull spayed or neutered as soon as possible. Additionally, serious Pit Bull attacks rarely involve spayed/neutered Pit Bulls who have received proper training and socialization.Pit Bulls are good dogs for apt./condo living – FACT. Though Pit Bulls are athletic and love to get out and play, if they had their druthers, they would be sleeping on the couch, 24/7. They are short coated dogs and do not do well outside in the cold weather or very hot weather. They don’t shed too much and are easily groomed, thus making them the ultimate indoor dog.“Red nose” Pit Bulls are more aggressive – FICTION. Are blondes dumb? Do redheads have a quicker temper? Of course not. “Red nose” is simply a color/style. They have a lighter pigment such as a pinkish nose with yellow/green eyes. They act no different than black, brindle, or white Pit Bulls. Pit Bulls are easy to train – FACT. Extremely easy to train. All they want to do is please you. As they are so sensitive to your feelings, verbal training comes easily with this breed. Pit Bulls cannot be with other dogs and/or cats – FICTION. This is probably the biggest misconception and biggest misunderstanding when it comes to this breed. With proper training and handling, your Pit Bull can learn to live peacefully in the company of other dogs and often cats as well.” (http://www.beachpetpals.org/info/display?PageID=5124)

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Daxton’s Friends Response:

Dear Jessica

Thank you for contacting Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness. Due to the high volume of e-mails we receive, we unfortunately can no longer respond personally to each one.

If your e-mail included photographs of your pet, we appreciate the photographs, but unfortunately we cannot accept them as evidence that our facts about dangerous dog breeds are incorrect.

Unless you can provide actual evidence that pit bulls have not killed more humans and animals than any other dog breed, we will not consider retracting our ad in the Denver Post. We do not accept personal stories or accounts of your pet as evidence.

We wish you, your family, and pets the best.

Thank you,

Daxton’s Friends

American Pit Bull Terrier breed bio:http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/american-pit-bull-terrier/

How many other animals did pit bulls kill last year?http://www.animals24-7.org/2014/03/22/how-many-other-animals-did-pit-bulls-kill-last-year/

Why did the CDC stop tracking fatal dog attacks by breed in 1998?http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2014/07/non-profits-urge-cdc-resume-collecting-richer-data-set-for-dog-bite-fatalities/

The National Canine Research Council was purchased by Jane Berkey (Animal Farm Foundation) in 2007:https://daxtonsfather.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/the-pit-bull-lobby-jane-berkey-animal-farm-foundation-karen-delise-the-national-canine-research-council-indeterminate-breeds/

A few former pit bull owners and victims recall their attacks:http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/victims-stories/

2013 dog bite related fatalities:http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/category/fatal-dog-attacks-2013/

The full story of what happened to Daxton Borchardt:http://blog.dogsbite.org/2013/07/beyond-the-interview-essay-of-a-fatal-pit-bull-mauling.html

Canine myths. (Including “pit bull is not a breed – nanny dogs”)http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/canine-myths-2/

Acknowledging negative traits in breeds is “racism”: https://www.facebook.com/jeffreydborchardt/posts/695491930505747

2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities
Updated after each fatality following fact finding research

30 Dog Bite Related Fatalities
by Breed:
22 by Pit Bull / Pit Bull Mix
3 by Bullmastiff / Mastiff Mix
2 by Rottweiler
1 by Cane Corso
1 by Shepherd Mix
1 by Catahoula Leopard Dog

By age:
17 Children
12 Adults

By State:
TX – 6 deaths
AL – 3 deaths
OH – 3 deaths
FL – 3 deaths
NC – 2 deaths
MI – 2 deaths
AZ – 1 death
CA – 1 death
CT – 1 death
DE – 1 death
IL – 1 death
LA – 1 death
MS – 2 death
NJ – 1 death
MO – 1 death
AR – 1 death
Names and ages of the deceased:
Christina Bell-Burleson – 43 – Houston, TX – 2 Pit Bulls [01.05.14]
Betty Clark – 75 – Canyon Lake, TX – 2 Pit Bulls [01.06.14]
Kara Hartrich – 4 – Bloomington, IL – 2 Pit Bulls [01.17.14]
Annabel Martin – 89 – Corona, CA – 3 Rottweilers [01.26.14]
Klonda Richey – 57 – Dayton, OH – 2 Mastiff Mixes [02.07.14]
Je’vaeh Mayes – 2 – Temple, TX – Pit Bull [02.17.14]
Braelynn Coulter – 3 – High Point, NC – Pit Bull [02.24.14]
Summer Sears – 4 – Tallassee, AL – Shepherd Mix [02.26.14]
Kenneth Santillan – 13 – Paterson, NJ – Bullmastiff [02.28.14]
Raymane Robinson, Jr. – 2 – Killeen, TX – Bullmastiff [03.01.14]
Nancy Newberry – 77 – Phoenix, AZ – Pit Bull [03.14.14]
Mia DeRouen – 4 – Houma, LA – Pit Bull [03.25.14]
Christopher Malone- 3 – Holmes County, MS – 2 Pit Bulls [03.31.14]
Dorothy Hamilton – 85 – Kaufman, TX – 2 Pit Bulls [03.31.14]
John Harvard – 5 – Riverside, AL – Pit Bull [04.06.14]
Petra Aguirre – 83 – San Antonio, TX – Pit Bull Mix [04.11.14]
Katie Morrison – 20 – Phenix City, AL – 3 Pit Bulls [05.03.14]
Nyhiem Wilfong – 1 – Caldwell County, NC – Rottweiler [05.04.14]
Kasii Haith – 4 – Kent County, DE – 3 Pit Bulls [05.07.14]
Rita Pepe – 93 – Branford, CT – Pit Bull Mix [05.25.14]
Holden Garrison – 10 wks – Davisburg, MI – Catahoula Leopard Dog [06.09.14]
Logan Shepard – 4 – Riverview, FL – 2 Pit Bulls [07.19.14]
Jonathan Quarles – 7 mo – Dayton, OH – Pit Bull [07.20.14]
Craig Sytsma – 46 – Metamore Twp, MI – 2 Cane Corso [07.23.14]
Cindy Whisman – 59 – Madison Twp, OH – Pit Bull [08.04.14]
Joel Chireieleison – 6 – Fanning Springs, FL – 2 Pit Bulls [08.07.14]
Deriah Solem – 22 mo – St Charles County, MO – Pit Bull Mix [08.09.14]
Javon Dade – 4 – Miami, FL – Pit Bull [08.13.14]
David Glass Sr.-51-Benton County, MS – 3 Pit Bulls [09.20.14]
Alice Payne – 75 – Cave City, AR – 1 Pit Bull [09.26.14]

Non – Bite Related Canine Deaths

Demonta Collins – 13 – Augusta, GA – Chased into traffic by at large Pit Bull [04.10.14]
Davon Jigget – 17 – Fulton County, Ga – Chased into traffic by at large Pit Bull [04.11.14]
Ryan Brown – 15 – Fayette County, TN – Killed by pan thrown by brother when attempting to break up dog fight [08.08.14]

On average so far this year someone has been killed by a pit bull every 12 days. Some of these pit bull attacks were from the family dog that was well trained and had never shown signs of aggression before. The only common factor in these severe and often fatal attacks is not abuse or lack of training, it is breed. Choose the breed of dog you trust the lives of your loved ones with wisely.

Jessica’s response:

Quit being fucking ignorant. Your wrong, end of story. Plus I never said they don’t. I’m sayin they are not all dangerous. Quit being fuck tards. I hope you die from being attacked. You fucks deserve it.

Sent from my iPhone

From Lynsie:

To whom it may concern,

I recently was made aware of a terrible advertisement in your news paper about pit bulls. I would like for you to remove this article and replace it with POSTIVE stories about pit bulls! This is my dog Stella, she is a rescue and the best dog I’ve ever had.

She loves every human she’s ever seen. She’s never killed one. Not one! She’s never killed another animal! One time she caught a bird and didn’t know what to do with it and wandered around the whole day, seemingly depressed about it.

I have visited Denver many times throughout the years and am sad to know I could never move there because of breed specific legislation.

Please check out my account on instagram to see Stella, a positive pit bull ambassador!

The “pit bull” is not a breed, but a mix of many different breeds that are commonly mistaken for this certain type of dog because of their large head and muscular body. They are each individual dogs and should be judged per personality only! ALL dogs can bite! It’s up to the owner to make sure they don’t.Here are some common misinterpretations and myths about pit bulls, please read:

In temperament testing, different variations of “Pit Bull Breeds” actually test better than common family pets like Dachshunds, Collies, Golden Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels.

Pit Bulls do not have “locking jaws”. There’s no proof of any kind of “locking mechanism” of the jaw and/or teeth that is different from any other dog.

In the early 20th century, Pit Bulls were the number 1 family pet.

Pit Bulls are so good with children, they used to be considered Nanny Dogs. Every dog should be supervised when around children.

No single neutered household pet Pit Bull has ever killed anyone.

The term “Pit Bull” does not define a single breed. Many dog breeds fall into the category of Pit Bull, including Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, and American Pit Bull Terrier.

Pit Bulls are the most euthanized dog in the US. This is in part because there are so many myths surrounding them, which makes some people believe they’re not suitable for adoption. THIS IS NOT TRUE. A rescued Pit Bull can make a wonderful companion. Again, you have to judge each dog individually. You cannot make an intelligent, well-informed decision about a dog based on hearsay, myths, or stereotyping

Lynsie Ramos

@spookshowstella on Instagram

Daxton’s Friends response:

Lynsie,

Thank you for contacting Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness. We appreciate the photograph of your dog, but unfortunately can not consider it as evidence that pits bulls have not killed more people than any other dog breed.

We will kindly include the link to our website that addresses several the myths you have included in your e-mail. Canine Myths

On a side note, may we ask what type of harness your dog is wearing? We are very familiar with the Easy Walk harness, which it appears that yours could be a version of. The idea of the Easy Walk harness is to connect the leash to the front hooks. This makes it difficult for the dog to pull and does not put pressure on the dog’s trachea. We are not familiar with a harness that attaches the dog’s harness to the collar and allows the dog to pull from the back. If this is not an Easy Walk harness, we do politely suggest your consider getting one. You will be amazed on how well they work.

We wish you and your pet the best.

Thank you,

Daxton’s Friends

Doney,

I just saw this ad you posted in the Denver post! Clearly you’re one of those stupid uneducated morons that knows nothing about pitbulls. I would love to see all your facts on this stupid ad your dumb ass posted! Its not the dog, its the owner! It how they are trained and brought up. Any and every dog can hurt anyone! Just like guns,knifes,automobiles etc don’t kill people, people kill people!

Agnes from Estonia

It hurt my heart to see such topic that the dog breed is very dangerous. This is very untrue though. If you would have a dog yourself, you would understand this!

I dont think you have ever had a close enclosure with a pitbull before. They are super sweethearts! The only reason a dog can grow aggressive is when the owner is a bad human and doesnt know what (s)he is doing.. but this also happens with all the other dog breeds, such as golden retrievers, as they are more dangerous than the pitbulls. why? well because they are dogs and the bad parenting is making the dog bad, not the breed!! and you could lurk up more information about this!

I hope you will educate yourself a bit more next time you are going to bash someone that is so innocent and happy flower dog!

wow, so much negative energy from you! im glad we estonians, dont even read this piece of crap newspaper!

Agnes – American Staffordshire Terrier owner from Estonia

Kristina,

Saw your ad in the newspaper and honestly it broke my heart.. It’s ignorance like yours that kills millions of dogs a year off wrong tenses. Who are we to deem an entire breed and all the individuals in it as such monsters. When the MAJORITY of them aren’t.. I just hope one day you will find it in your heart to not judge and hate a living being before even giving them a chance and I hope that one day you will target the real monsters, the people that take advantage and neglect such a beautiful breed.

You are more likely to be killed by a coconut than a pitbull.. Maybe we should ban those too! And the relative number of pitbulls that do bite and the ones that don’t is MINUSCULE.

Patricia,

You’ve got a serious problem if you feel pit bulls kill more humans and animals than any other breed combined. Not sure where your getting your statistics. I plan on sharing this with many many animal advocates to put a stop to your nonsense. There are more chow attacks then there are pit bulls- that’s a fact!

K Manka,

You should be ashamed of yourself. Your suppose to be techimg people about animal awarness and your slandering the pitbull breed with very little to no evidence and bastranising there name in a newspaper article are you serious you should be sued and put out of buisness. Do some reading and some reaserch instead of being racist toward a certain breed dogs are dogs and unfortunalty attacks will happen with any breed bit it is usually the neglogents of the owners. You should be ashamed your a racist and trying to pass your thought off on others and say it is education awarness you should be investigated for your non profit organization that is prob imbezzeling money. How are you going to be a non profit and teach hate. Yea you will hear from my lawyers in your area then and will def be investigated for fraud.

Hello,
First I’d like to say how discriminatory your ad against pit bulls is! Not mention, incredibly FALSE INFORMATION. You should be sued for slander! Pit bulls are the most loyal, loving dogs in the world. Owners cause bad dogs, any dog with a gangster, dog fighting owner can turn out bad, and even than they can be rehabilitated. Pit bulls were first introduced to be nanny dogs to take care of kids because of their love and loyalty. YOU TWO HAVE MADE A HUGE MISTAKE!
SLANDER!
Sean Hooper

Daxton’s Friends response:

Dear Mr. Hooper,
Thank you for contacting Daxton’s Friends for Canine Education and Awareness. The information in the ad was indeed true. Pit bulls do kill more people than any other dog breed. If you have evidence to prove otherwise, please feel free to send it to us. As far as we know, dogs can not currently sue for slander. What we do know, is that the pit bull was never a “nanny dog”. The pit bull advocacy group, BADRAP, has already retracted that claim. We will kindly leave you with the link to the Canine Myths section of our website http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/canine-myths-2/
We wish you the best in your future endeavors.
Thank you,
Daxton’s Friends

Sean Hooper’s response:

BECAUSE OF THEIR OWNERS! You are blaming the breed, when it’s not. It’s the sick owners you own pitbulls, like I said gangsters and dog fighters, that’s why. If they fought golden retrievers, it would be the same stat. So stop your negative publicity, it’s bullshit. Don’t bully the breed, bully the bad owners. You are taking stats and working them in your favor without seeing the big picture and that’s bullshit. If you were a reputable company/newspaper, you would know to get all the facts! Like who owns the dogs who bite. That’s the argument. Maybe you should go after dogfighters, that’s where your problem lies. Not in the innocent breed.
Sent from my iPhone

Daxton’s Friends response:

Dear Mr. Hooper,
If any dog could dog fight, then dog fighters would be using a variety of dog breeds, including your mentioned Golden Retriever. Retrievers would not make suitable fighters due to their “bite and release” bite style and their breeding to be “soft mouth” dogs. Pit bulls are selected by dog fighters due to their specifically bred fighting traits. They have a “grip and shake” bite style and “gameness”.
We would love to continue discussing the issue with you, but need to take the time to respond to other e-mails.
Thank you,
Daxton’s Friends

This continued on for about 80 e-mails. Most of them were saying the same thing so we ended up sending back a form letter that was included in this blog post.

Fast forward to October 13th, 2014:

The Denver Post caves to on-line bullies:

Hi Jeff,

Is there anyway we can get a revised version of your ad that is not so in your face i guess. We have received a ton of hate mail and complaints against the Denver Post and my VP has asked that we tone the ad down before next run. I apologize in advance but this request comes from above.

Sincerely,

Denver Post

Daxton’s Friends response:

Tone it down how? Make the font smaller? We are well aware of the hate mail you are receiving. This is just the tip of the ice burg of what victims of pit bull attacks go through every day. Please forward this to your VP and tell him/her not to worry about it. The e-mails you are receiving are from all over the country and do not reflect the citizens of Aurora. Someone posted this on a Facebook page and an organized effort was put in place to silence the truth.

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We can back up our facts and our website does not promote “hate.” The citizens of Aurora deserve the cold, hard truth.

http://www.daxtonsfriends.com/2014/07/non-profits-urge-cdc-resume-collecting-richer-data-set-for-dog-bite-fatalities/

http://www.animals24-7.org/2014/03/22/how-many-other-animals-did-pit-bulls-kill-last-year/

I assume your lack of response to our e-mails means your company will proceed as we planned and paid for? If you do not feel like dealing with the bullies sending you e-mails, you may simply direct them to us. Again, if our company does not receive a response from you, we will assume our ad will proceed as planned.

Jeff,

I apologize. We simply can not run the ad any longer and its out of my control. I also apologize that I have not gotten back to you and your emails. I have had a lot of my time and efforts taken from my day to day work to focus on this and I simply can’t spend much more time on something I can not change. I apologize and you will be refunded the remainder days.

Sincerely,

Denver Post

That is OK. I would also like you to inform your VP that we will be writing about this and exposing the Denver Post for bowing down to bullies. This is a freedom of speech issue and was handled very poorly by your paper. When can we expect our refund?

Jeff Borchardt

DaxtonsFriends.com

Jeff,

I misunderstood my employers directions towards me it’s been a bit of a crazy week. I apologize and will be in touch shortly.

By this point I had already contacted the Aurora Sentinel and told them what happened. I was really upset and told them about the harassment that victims of dangerous dog attacks have to endure every day. A few days later, the article ran. Click here to read the article.

Thanks to some of the victims’ harassment pages, I came across a group called ColoRADogs. A non-profit organization that is based out of Fort Collins, Colorado 80526 and beyond. Their mission statement on Facebook says, “ColoRADogs is comprised of a group of individuals, who are passionate about rescue, advocacy, outreach and education. We rescue most breeds, but our focus is on the group of blockheads called “ Pit Bull” dogs.”

I came across the following screenshot taken from a hate page on Facebook called, “Exposing Daxton’s Frends.”

OK, so now they have involved my mother-in-law. Great. Thanks. But apparently these people knew a little more about my family than I was comfortable with. I knew Dax’s grandmother had been writing the Aurora city council when the ordinance was being discussed. At this point I thought that maybe one of the city council members was leaking personal information to ColoRADogs about my mother-in-law. I quickly gave this information to the Aurora Sentinel and expressed my concerns. The editor told me that it was probably brought up during the meeting, that she was very well aware of the organization, their involvement, and that’s how they obtained this information. This sparked my interest even more. So I asked my mother-in-law for a copy of all the e-mails that she sent regarding this matter only to uncover more interesting facts. The fact of the matter is, my mother-in-law NEVER identified herself as a resident of Aurora. It was a mistake by city council member, Bob LeGare’s part.

From: ***** *****>

Date: January 15, 2014 10:34:25 AM MST

To: rrpeters@auroragov.org

Subject: Pit Bulls

I read in the November 14 issue of the Aurora Sentinel, that you are considering asking the City Council of Aurora to repeal their ban on pit bulls.As the Grandmother of a 14 month old grandson, who was mauled to death by two pit bulls, I’d like to ask you to seriously rethink your goal to repeal Aurora’s ban on pit bulls.The two pit bulls involved in the killing of my grandson were raised since puppies in a loving environment. My daughter, her husband, and my grandson had visited the home of their friends, who owned these pit bulls, on countless occasions. The female owner of the pit bulls had babysat my grandson numerous times. On the fateful day and for some unknown reason, these two pit bulls attacked their female owner and my grandson. The female owner ended up needing medical care and my grandson ended up dead.My daughter and her husband, as well as, the two owners of the two pit bulls, believed, as many do, that it is not the breed of the dog that is the problem, but rather how the dogs are raised. None of them have this belief any more!Obviously, my husband and I will never get over the loss of our grandson. Our daughter and her husband are trying to put their lives back together – an unbearable task. It is amazing that they are actually functioning. Following her recovery after the attack, the female owner of the pit bulls ended up in the hospital due to a suicide attempt. One of the veteran first responders is now getting counseling, because of what he witnessed. The doctor and staff, who treated Dax, cried. A young friend of our grandson is going to group counseling at her school. Needless to say, no one who knew Dax will ever be the same.And so I ask, which is more important – a breed of dogs or the lives of our children?I will thank you in advance for your reconsideration of the goal to repeal the current pit bull ban.

Daxton’s Grandmother
Centennial, CO 80015

From: “LeGare, Bob” <blegare@auroragov.org>

Date: March 1, 2014 2:42:56 PM MST

To: ***** *******>

Cc: Elected <Elected@auroragov.org>

Subject: FW: Factors Contributing to loss of Dax Borchardt. Re: Repeal of 14-75

Dear Daxton’s grandmother,

I have not yet made up my mind on this pit bull repeal matter but I wanted to share the below emails and attached report with you. After you sent me the additional info links about your grandson’s death I read numerous articles about the case. I also asked our city attorney to call the Wisconsin law enforcement entity and verify what I had read in the news links. Everything reported was accurate.

The info below came as a result of my inquiry to the pit bull advocates as to how two well cared for, well mannered family pets could kill a 14 month old child. The response offered several possibilities about what might have gone wrong. You may have already seen all of this information but I wanted to share it with you because this and the info you shared has been part of my deliberation process.

Thanks,

Bob LeGare

Aurora City Council

303-819-8617

From: LeGare, Bob

Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 11:50 PM
To: Jennifer Bryant
Subject: RE: University Studies related to BSL

Thanks for the additional info Jennifer. I will review it before March 3rd.

While I don’t make decisions based on single anecdotes, the story below troubles me (see links below). Daxton Borchardt’s grandmother lives in Aurora and she has pleaded that we NOT repeal the ban on pit bulls. I asked our city attorney to call the law enforcement agency in Wisconsin that investigated Daxton’s death to determine if the dogs were abused or mistreated in any way. The captain of the detective unit provided the following information:

The babysitter and parents of the child were friends and the baby had been in the babysitter’s house before – this was a routine day. The dogs were the babysitter’s own dogs and all indications show that she was a good dog owner. The house was clean, the dogs were healthy, and there was no indication that the dogs were mistreated in any manner.

The babysitter went outside with the baby and her dogs began jumping on her in a manner that was either playful or attention getting and then turned into jumping on the babysitter in an attack mode. The dogs separated the babysitter and baby, where the babysitter tried to lay over the baby to protect the baby. The dogs then pulled them apart and continued to attack both the babysitter and the baby, killing the baby and leaving injuries on the babysitter.

Nothing in the investigation showed any negligence or mistreatment to these dogs prior to the attack and it doesn’t appear that the dogs were provoked in any way.

I read that the babysitter had raised the dogs from puppies and they were loved and adored. The neighbors said the dogs were friendly and lovable. There were no charges filed because the owner had done nothing wrong. I understand this one incident does not condemn every pit bull but but does your organization have any explanation as to what may have occurred in this case?

Bob LeGare

Aurora City Council

303-819-8617

Before I continue with Bob LeGare’s attempt to find ANY reason for my son’s death, I would like to talk about a self proclaimed dog trainer and “expert” Carly Shivers.

Carly Shivers “received her training” from Aimee Sadler, then Director of Training & Behavior Modification at Longmont Humane Society. http://www.highdrivedogco.com/about/ Sadler left Longmont Humane Society right in the nick of time, in June 2012. http://www.newmexicopetsalive.org/blog/aimee-sadler-departs-longmont-humane-society-to-serve-shelters-nationally

Aimee Sadler still ships “problem” dogs across state lines to the Longmont Humane Society. http://www.newmexicopetsalive.org/blog/woof-let-s-help-ginger-get-to-longmont-humane-society-

The Longmont Humane Society is now (October 2013) nationally known for adopting out dangerous biters. The problem was so bad, they were nailed by police. [Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur] said that in 2012, nearly 16 percent of reported dog bites in Longmont were traced to dogs adopted out of the Longmont Humane Society. So far in 2013, 13 percent of reported bites were from humane society dogs.

December 2013, “Longmont Humane Society guilty of owning a dangerous dog” http://www.timescall.com/longmont-local-news/ci_24711561/longmont-humane-society-guilty-owning-dangerous-dog

Animal control officers ticketed the humane society after researching the dog’s history and finding that it had a documented record of aggression with other dogs and people in Mesa County. There, its original owners were forced to give up the pit bull during a court hearing. The judge allowed the dog to live at the time so long as it was surrendered to the Longmont Humane Society, where its owners had taken it for periodic training, according to reports.

Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur said in October that police and animal control officials were concerned about some of the dogs adopted out of the humane society.

The pit bull had only been with its foster owners for four days before it escaped the yard and attacked, according to police reports. The dog had been in training at the humane society to address aggressive behaviors and had been making progress before trainers approved her for foster placement, police reported.

Satur said in October that police hoped dogs could complete additional screening before release into the community.

It should absolutely be no surprise that the recent Portland “Streetcar” incident involving a pit bull “from Longmont” attacking and killing a smaller dog was also “adopted out” by the Longmont Humane Society.

October 2014, “Streetcar dog attack: Pit bull had history of problems with other dogs, report shows”

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/10/streetcar_dog_attack_new_detai.html

The report lists the owner as Erica Montoya of Westminster, Colo., and says that she reported the pit bull known as Baby Girl or Purdy missing from her home this past June after adopting it from the Longmont Humane Society in August 2012.

Any “so-called” training “expert” connected to the Longmont Humane Society is an extremely poor source of information about “dangerous dog behavior.”

What is true about the the Longmont Humane Society is that they adopt out a high number of dangerous pit bulls who don’t just attack in Colorado, but attack in whatever state they end up in.

So why did Bob LeGare turn to Carly Shivers for an explanation as to why two loved, cared for, and in all sense of the words, “raised right” pit bulls would attack their owner and maul my son to death for fifteen minutes? I will give her explanation below with some of my added links to prove where Carly is either buying into the pit bull propaganda, or just full of shit, followed by my mother-in-law’s response. Please make sure you follow the links that I provide.

From: Jennifer Bryant [jenniferelainebryant@yahoo.com]

Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 9:30 AM
To: LeGare, Bob
Cc: Peterson, Renie
Subject: Factors Contributing to loss of Dax Borchardt. Re: Repeal of 14-75

Council Member LeGare;

Please see the possible explanation for the events that led to the attack on Daxton Borchardt and Susan Iwicki below. I had provided Ms. Shivers with a copy of the Police Report Synopsis, which I have attached for you. The following day, I also received a full copy of the police report.

The only thing that was in the full report of significance that was not mentioned in the synopsis was that when the dogs were jumping up one of the dogs was going for and grabbed the ball on the top of baby Daxton’s hat and pulled it off. Also these dogs had been kenneled for a significant period of time. These facts only reinforce what Carly has to say below.

One of the major factors that contribute to serious injury and death as reported by various experts is “victim behavior”. By this I do not mean to say that 14 month old Daxton did anything wrong, or that Susan Iwicki had been negligent, neglectful or abusive.

Ms. Iwicki’s response to the unwanted behavior of the dogs was to swat and yell at them, which only increased the energy of the dogs. Ms. Iwicki had not had the benefit of attending a training session or received education to know that this response would escalate the problem. In a training session I attended, and at outreach events, trainers talked about energy level and gave instruction on safely and effectively stopping unwanted behavior.

The dog owners background indicates that she was a loving owner, with the best of intentions. I have no doubt that, had she known of affordable education or training sessions she would have taken that opportunity. Had there been outreach in her community, such as the events I have attended and planned, she would have been provided behavior assistance, educated on the value of training, and how to safely and effectively calm the dogs and communicate that their behavior is unwanted. Experts suggest a community approach including outreach and education.

I had read one persons comment that this would not have happened had the dogs been poodles. Indeed, the outcome would be unlikely. It would also be unlikely that Ms. Iwicki would have taken in poodles. Her previous dog was a German Shepherd. These dogs have been described as both “boxer mixes” and “pit bull mixes”. Regardless of breed, the result would likely be the same with a vast number of other breeds or breed mixes. There is no evidence to support the idea that these dogs, or pit bull type dogs, have any physical or behavioral trait unique to themselves that contributed to this tragic loss. Further, it is impossible to say whether the owner would have had the dogs if her city had an ordinance such as 14-75.

Thank you for asking us for a response on this case, and your interest in the facts. I feel that we were able to identify preventable factors.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Bryant

P.S. Please see Miss Shivers discussion below:

Carly Shivers

Carly Shiver’s response:

Feb 20 at 3:51 PM

As a dog trainer there are several things that come to mind when reading this account:

1) That breed was identified by sight: I was part of a nationwide study of canine professionals several years ago where we were shown pictures of dogs and asked to pick the breed / mix of breed. The result of that study showed that only 23% of the time did canine professionals guess breed correctly by sight. Additionally new studies have shown that as little as 1% of a dog’s DNA can determine his outward appearance. Knowing these facts makes it hard for me to assume any visual identification of breed is correct, so how can we make decisions and laws against certain breeds knowing this?

2) Dogs are animals. I feel our society has started to forget that. When I was growing up in the 70s if a child was bitten by a dog, people said bad parenting. There has been a shift in this thinking to react “bad dog” instead when so often the circumstances of the bites make sense when we remember the dogs are animals. Yes, they are domesticated, and therefore are safer to live with than, say, a lion, but we each assume the risk of possible outcomes when living with an animal, or as in this case, allowing our child to be in the home of a friend with their animals.

3) Dr. Roy when on to state: “ Breeds like Pitbulls, Shepards, and Rotweillers have a tendency to freeze when provoked or scared, which if the dog attacks, gives little warning. In other breeds, the dogs have a tendency to retreat first.” This is simply a false statement. Of the thousands of dogs we have worked with, with many of them being behavior cases since that is our specialty, I can state as fact that there is no one breed that freezes when frightened over others, just as there isn’t one breed that doesn’t warn before it attacks. It is natural for dogs to warn, sometimes people miss it because they don’t understand dog behavior and sometimes humans have punished the warning out of the dog, i.e., a dog growling. A growl is a dog’s way of saying I don’t want to have to bite you, please know I am uncomfortable – yet so many humans yell at the dog, hit the dog, etc. for growling instead of seeing it as a warning and moving to work on making a dog more comfortable in that type of situation. As a whole, vets have very little behavioral training or handling training, they just learned the medical piece. Thankfully there is a move to teach more about dog behavior in some vet schools, like Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, but to date vets are most often reciting outdated information, and police and lawmakers should not look to them as authorities in dog behavior fields.

4) My take on this specific account: there is no doubt this is a tragedy. It is heartbreaking when any life is lost due to our canine companions. For me, as a professional dog trainer who is trained to always look at every situation from both the dogs’ and humans’ perspective as I help both live better lives together, I see it as a tragedy for the humans as well as the dogs.I have no doubt these two dogs were not human aggressive. Every single way I read the account – from each humans’ perspective, not the least of which is the first officer on the scene, Deputy Brauer, who states in his report “pulls his firearm, as he is unsure of the temperament of the dog, and the dog slows to a walk before approaching him. Deputy Brauer makes the determination that the dog is not going to be “vicious or violent” towards him, and holsters his weapon. The dog walks up to him, sniffs him for a few seconds, and takes off towards the
residence in a “slow trot” – shows me the same thing: these dogs were not aggressive. They were adolescents, untrained, with a high arousal personality. What happened next is a series of incorrect choices by the babysitter which fueled the fire leading to a tragedy:When the female dog started to nip at the babysitter’s pant leg, the fact that the babysitter stated “she was batting them away, and yelled at them to get down” was just bringing the energy level up – rather than the babysitter giving the dog information in a calm manner to knock it off, followed by a tool such as a spray bottle with water or a shake can with pennies in it as we train people every day in our dog training classes. This was likely adolescent behavior from the female that was more in line with play but behavior we, in training, would teach the dog was inappropriate while giving them a different outlet during play to get this energy level out, such as tug with a rope toy.

The other factor to consider is when you have excited dogs holding anything will make it something fun to try to get. The babysitter is now batting and yelling while holding something, in this case the toddler, and the dogs are getting more excited and trying to get it. I have no idea how the babysitter ended up falling and dropping the baby – I am baffled by a lot of things humans do – but taking into account everything else I read in the report, I believe these dogs were young and untrained and had a high arousal personality, and that coupled with the fact that the babysitter is now screaming nonstop at the top of her lungs, we have what is much like a mob mentality happening now – everything is whipping up into a frenzy and the child is on the ground also screaming and the dogs’ natural instinct to tug is activated. This could all easily be the same sort of scenario as play if we replaced everything with a human and a tug toy and laughter and telling a dog to “get it” – all in good fun and exercise.It’s just that in this case, the human didn’t know what to properly do that would lower the energy level and get the dog to stop nipping instead of whipping it up into a frenzy, then falling and dropping the child, and screaming at the top of her lungs for 10 minutes. When I want to bring any dog’s energy level down, I become calmer and he matches my energy level.

I want to be clear, this is a tragedy. It is an event that if a few things were changed, the outcome would be different. We work with a lot of dogs, many with serious behavioral concerns when we meet them, and they are all different breeds, all different personalities, and in almost all cases it is a matter of teaching the humans how to better communicate with the dogs what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. What is behavior we’d like to see more of, or less of. What is their job or isn’t their job. And it’s also about educating the humans on what kind of dog they have, and by “kind” I always mean personality: fear-based personality, high arousal personality, drivey personality. A high drive dog is one that will likely excel at being a K-9 cop or a search and rescue dog, and he is also one that if put into the tragedy described here might have the same horrible outcome if he were an adolescent, and/or untrained, and/or these human errors were made. But there is no one breed of dog that is more or less likely to be a part of a tragedy – they are all animals and all are capable of hurting us.

Best regards,

Carly Shivers

Trainer / Behavior Expert / OwnerHigh Drive Dog Company
101 Pratt Street, Unit D
Longmont, CO 80501303.747.4419 main
303.775.5181 cellVisit us on the world wide web:
www.highdrivedogco.com
http://www.facebook.com/HighDriveDogCoProfessional Member, International Association of Canine Professionals

From: Daxton’s grandmother>

Date: March 1, 2014 4:47:38 PM MST

To: blegare@auroragov.org

Subject: pit bulls

Mr. LeGare,

I want to thank you so much for the hours you have spent researching this issue. Obviously, you take this issue and your vote very seriously.I quickly glanced over the information that you sent and will read it more carefully on other occasions. The information is very informative, but also painful. I can only carefully read and digest a small amount of information at one sitting. March 6 will be the one year anniversary of Dax’s passing.Ms. Shivers, as a dog trainer, has a lot of expertise. But the reality is – that most people, who own any kind of dog, do not receive dog training. So maybe we do need to control/ban the most dangerous types of dogs.Thank you again for all of the time that you have spent on this issue.

Daxton’s grandmother

Did you just see what happened here? An “expert” dog trainer that was trained by an animal rescue organization that has a history of adopting out dogs that attack humans and animals just blamed the victim for her own attack. She was trained by the Longmont Humane Society that has had criminal charges set against them. THIS is the woman that Bob LeGare turns to for an explanation?

Let’s take a closer look at the police report in my son’s death:

First Interview w/Susan Iwicki:

Deputy Craig Konopski interviewed Iwicki at the scene, while being checked out by the ambulance crew members. Iwicki stated that she had Daxton fully clothed in snow pants, a jacket and a hat. She had him in her arms and was walking with the dogs out the back door to let them into a fenced-in area in the backyard. She opened the gate to the fenced in area and stated that the female dog became aggressive. The female was jumping up on her and Susan was pushing the dog back down. The male then joined in and Susan stated she was confused about what happened next but stated that one of the dogs had jumped up on her and knocked her to the ground, and when she fell to the ground, she fell on her stomach area and lost Daxton on the ground. While they were on the ground, she said that the female dog began attacking Daxton in the arms and legs, while the male dog grabbed the tassel on top of his hat and pulled the hat right of of Daxton’s head. Susan stated the female was behind her and must have been the one to push her down, as she was now standing on her back. Susan said she could not stand up, and the male dog kept biting at Daxton. She was swatting at the male dog and yelling at him to get away, and stated that she was screaming for help, hoping that a neighbor would come out of their residence to assist. She states she does not know how long this attack went on for, but the female dog finally got of her back and ran towards Daxton and joined in the attack. They were biting him in the head, face, arms and legs. Susan states that Daxton was screaming and crying. She got up to her knees, and then finally to her feet when she began to kick at the dogs with her boots. She was kicking the dogs in the ribs and head area while screaming for someone to help her. She said the child was still screaming at that time. She kicked the female dog in the head and was able to get on the ground between the dogs and the child. She grabbed the child with both arms, and got back up on her feet. While retreating, one of the dogs, bit the sleeve of her jacket of and the back of her coat. She said that she then pulled her cell phone out of her coat pocket, and dialed 911 as she moved toward the back of the house. She was able to enter the residence using the sliding glass door. One of the dogs was able to force its way into the house before she could get the door secured. She laid Daxton on the floor, got a hold of the dogs collar, and dragged it into the kitchen area where she put up a gate. She said she was on the phone with dispatch, screaming for help and she ran around to the side of the house, and let the second dog in, also confining it in the kitchen. She said that she then went back to Dax who was no longer screaming or moving. She said that the next thing she remembers is when Deputy Brauer entered the residence. She stated that the whole incident happened so fast that she “didn’t have time to react.”

Iwicki stated that the dogs are kenneled at night and were kenneled most of the day TODAY. She has had them out of their kennels when Daxton has been there in the past with no problems. She stated she was holding Daxton in her arms when she led both dogs out to the back yard fenced in area to pee. She stated both dogs went of and peed. She said when both dogs came back to her, one of the dogs began to pull on her pant leg of her jeans. She said that she began to slap the dog in the muzzle, telling it to stop. She said she was unsure if it was Bosston or Penny. She stated then both dogs began to bite her on her coat, tearing the pocket, causing her cell phone to fall to the ground. She said at that point, Daxton began to cry. She said the dogs then started jumping up on her, biting Daxton as she held and attempted to shield him from the dogs.

Report of Humane Ofcer Deputy Richard Lagle: Deputy Lagle states that he monitored the situation via portable radio in his office at the Sherif’s Department. He reports that the dogs were described as two 65 lb pit-bull type dogs. He stated that he contacted Cindy Wroebel, who is the Humane Officer at the Lakeland Animal Shelter, and advised her of the situation. Due to the nature of the attack, Deputy Lagle and Ms. Wroebel came to the decision that the dogs must be euthanized. Ms. Wroebel responded to the scene to remove the dogs. The dogs were transported to Elkhorn Vet Clinic, and euthanized by Dr. Jefrey Korosec. He is the one who prepared the dogs for rabies testing, by removing their heads.
Deputy Lagle asked Dr. Korosec “How the dogs looked?” Dr. Korosec stated that both dogs looked healthy and were in “good” shape. On March 7th, Deputy Lagle retrieved the specimens from the Elkhorn Vet Clinic and drove them to the State Lab of Hygiene. The specimens were turned over to Dr. Jim Kazmierczak for testing. Deputy Lagle states in his report: “As the heads were removed from the box, it is my opinion that they were pure bred “pit-bull” dogs.” The dogs heads were tested and repackaged. Neither of them had rabies. Deputy Lagle contacted the Lake Geneva Animal Hospital, Walworth Clinic, where the dogs received their last evaluation in September 2011. At that time, the female weighed 58 lbs, and the male weighed 49 lbs.

Oh, I think this self proclaimed “dog expert” has been hanging around Michelle Serocki from the “Brew City Bully Club” too much.

Excuse me Carly Shivers? Do you think it’s a normal reaction to “remain calm” when your pit bulls are ripping a baby to shreds right in front of your eyes? This goes against human nature you heartless woman! Not that you would know anything about being a decent human being or humanity when all you do is apologize for a breed that was created to slowly rip bulls apart and later fight each other to death in a pit.

“Ms. Iwicki had not had the benefit of attending a training session or received education to know that this response would escalate the problem.”

You know some more education that would’ve been handy to Susan Iwicki that day Ms. Shivers? That the American Pit Bull Terrier is, like all the ‘bully’ breeds, one of this group of descendants of the British ‘bull and terrier’ type fighting bulldogs. Once imported into the United States, it was bred up to be bigger again, and again used in baiting animals and in dogfighting. The American Kennel Club (founded 1884) was unwilling to register these fighting dogs, so in 1898 the United Kennel Club was founded specifically to register working pit-fighting dogs and to promote dogfighting. In order to be registered, a dog had to first win three pit fights. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) became a ‘breed’. As dogfighting declined in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, Colby (the most famous and prolific breeder of these dogs) began to search for a new market and began promoting the APBT as family pets. This despite the fact that his breeding lines included child killers.

Read more about the history and purpose of the American Pit Bull Terrier by clicking HERE.

Back to ColoRADogs

ColoRADogs

October 17 · Edited

Journalistic Integrity- An attribute severely lacking in the Aurora Sentinel. Having been contacted by a reporter today asking us for a statement about Jeff Borchardt’s ads in the Denver Post, we corresponded and sent them a statement. Only to have a horribly biased report filed that is typical of the editor and then to be told that the reporter had not gotten a chance to look at the very statement we wrote.The people of Aurora are certainly ripped off in their ability to get fair information. We include what our statement was below:Please feel free to share out.We can only guess the Sentinel did not get the hateful, augmentative response they expected.ColoRADogs stands by their statement that the in-laws of Jeff Brochardt did identify themselves as Aurora residents in their initial email. We were contacted by an Aurora City Council member to speak about concerns they had based on information sent in a letter from the Sucharskis.But we feel there is a deeper issue than a “he said-she said” conversation that distracts from the real issues.We are deeply sorry for the Borchardt’s loss of their son Daxton. No parent should ever have to bury a child. To lose your child so suddenly, so tragically, would leave anyone searching for answers and struggling to find a solid solution to prevent any parent from having to live through that nightmare. However, what we see all too often is the adhering to an idea that is not founded in good science, and goes against what both true experts and peer reviewed empirical data tells us. That while there are many common factors in dog attacks/fatalities, breed is not on of them.My. Borchart tried to have family pets banned in his home city and was not successful. He is not a Colorado resident and we are at a loss as to why he, and his cohort Ms. Lynn of dogsbite.org, would spend so much effort to try and dictate what local communities in a state thousands of miles from them, should vote. Additionally, neither party, who are so adamant about banning dogs who look a certain way, lives in an area that has those breed restrictions. ColoRADogs firmly believes that the people of Colorado deserve to have this very important and profound discussion without out-of-state interests posting hysteria-based information. These are our communities, our friends, neighbors, and our dogs. These are our decisions to make.The one common ground we have is that we all want tragedies like what happened to Dax to end. We also know that when we look to enforce laws that address reckless owners instead of condemning a dog based on appearance, we increase public safety and reduce the chances of another horrific circumstance that ended this child’s life. We appreciate Mr. Borchardt’s passion and recognize his reasons. But the innocent lives of family pets in Colorado should not have to pay the price for his loss.

If Mr. Borchardt or Ms. Lynn would like to discuss this further in a public venue, ColoRADogs would be happy for the opportunity to dispel the misinformation they continue to propagate as truth.

All I can say is, “Busted, Busted, Busted.” You make me sick Nancy Tranzow. You could care less about public safety. All you care about are pit bulls. You support animal abuse as long as pit bulls are the ones abusing other animals. You receive money from the Jane Berkey’s AFF. You take the Jane Berkey controlled NCRC as law and don’t even question an organization whose mission statement is “Securing Equal Treatment & Oppurtunity for “pit bull” dogs.” You are the pit bull breed’s worst enemy when 3000 pit bulls are PTS in shelters and replaced by backyard breeders every day. You say that I don’t have any business meddling around with Aurora affairs, yet you take money from the AFF that’s based in Bengall, NY. Ledy VanKavage, board member of the AFF and heads up Best Friends Animal Society, is based in Knab, Utah. By your logic, they have no business meddling around with Aurora affairs either. Oh wait, that’s right. Aren’t you from Longmount Nancy? Isn’t that a 40 minute drive to Aurora? Daxton’s grandma lives on the border of Aurora you hypocrite. Oh wait, what’s this you’re telling people Nancy Tranzow? Here’s a screenshot of your organization encouraging people from all over the country to meddle around with Aurora law.

ColoRADogs tells people from everywhere to vote

You’re full of shit Nancy

I will take down this blog right now if you can prove that I, “tried to have family pets banned in his home city and was not successful.” Even IF I did live in Watertown, WI, I sure as hell didn’t try and have “family pets banned.” I SPOKE at the hearing after Alderman Fred Smith CALLED ME when he proposed a dangerous dog ordinance after hearing of the brutal, fatal mauling of my son by 2 pit bulls just 1.5 hours south of where he lives in Walworth County. And to be perfectly clear, BSL does NOT mean that “family pets will be banned.” That is just another scare tactic used by pit pushers to make people fear BSL and then oppose it. BSL does not mean the government comes into your house and takes your pit bull. If you are a responsible pit bull owner, and your dog does not do anything wrong, you are allowed to enjoy your pit bull for the rest of its life. Family pets. Tss. Give me a break. What kind of family pet decapitates a 2 year-old’s head while his mom goes to the bathroom? Probably should have kenneled the pit bull whenever you go to the bathroom. Oh wait, that’s right. The dogs killed my son because they WERE kenneled at night? What kind of family pet kills a 4 year-old on her forth birthday? What kind of family pet fractures grandma’s C1 & C2 while she’s watching her grandchildren? Better get ‘ol butch haircut Carly Shivers on the case to explain. Maybe grandma was screaming too loud and escalated the attack, right Carly?

That’s right Nancy. Keep blaming the victims. Join the rest of the “sorry for your loss, But” crowd. Tell me I need to seek professional help until I learn to shut up. Tell me I’m being taken advantage of while YOU keep spreading Karen Delise’s, National Canine “Research” Council’s bullshit and calling it truth. I already blogged about this Nancy. It was very in-depth. Maybe you missed it? Click here to read this wonderful masterpiece that covers everything from DNA, statistics and letters to victims FROM Karen Delise herself. I sure did get a response from Karen Delise right after she blocked me on Twitter. I suppose that may have been because I was in Centennial visiting my family and couldn’t sleep, so I was tweeting her at 4am telling her what a piece of shit she was.

How pathetic is that? She goes right back to the AVMA study for her response. The AVMA who makes money on BOTH ends of the leash after a pit bull attack. Right Nancy? I got a kick out of Barbara Kay’s response though. Check it out.

Sound familiar Nancy? Sort of like you and ColoRADogs. Can I ask you a question Nancy? Would you go to the tobacco companies for “research” to prove there was no connection between smoking and lung cancer?

The NCRC is a business lobbying group funded by another pit bull business lobbying group. Karen Delise prepares lobbying propaganda for an industry. These are common in the business and commercial industries. Business lobbies produce “information” that relates to profit interests, and that creates a bias that can be exploited with falsehoods and deceit issued in propaganda, which is why people need to know that they are dealing with information from a business lobbyist so they can understand influences that can alter the facts or information. It’s called disclosure. Failing to disclose is deceitful.

“My approach in both books was historical and investigative. Based upon my research, I specifically rejected a statistical/epidemiological approach. I have always concurred with the American Veterinary Medical Association Task Force on Canine Aggression and Human-Canine Interactions which stated, “Dog bite statistics are not statistics, and do not give an accurate representation of dogs that bite.” – Karen Delise

She rejected a statistical/epidemiological approach because “Dog bite statistics are not statistics and do not give an accurate representation of dogs that bite” ….WTF?!!!

Or maybe you missed the recommendations document that DogsBite.org and DaxtonsFriends.com submitted to Dr. Thomas Frieden at the CDC through my congressman’s office? I was very curious why the CDC bent under pressure from special interest groups like ColoRADogs and stopped tracking fatal dog attacks by breed in 1998 under the guise of “breed misidentification.” Making my son the 211th American killed by a pit bull since 1998. Just to catch you up Nancy, I’ll give a snippet. It’s YOUR job to “do your research” from here.

“We live and die in public health based on how good our data is,”
– CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden

Joint Summary Statement

On February 4, I wrote a letter to my representative, Congressman Paul Ryan. I wanted to know why the CDC had stopped tracking dog bite fatality information by breeds of dogs in 1998.

After my son was brutally attacked and killed by his babysitter’s two pit bulls on March 6, 2013, I did not talk to the news media. This was far too painful. Instead, I began doing a lot of research on my own about this issue. By June, I felt armed enough with information and ready to share my story with the public. When I agreed to do the WISN interview, I was very adamant in wanting the public to know the current 2013 statistics. By early June, pit bulls were responsible for 93% of all dog bite fatalities (13 of 14 total); my son was one of these deaths.

I was so adamant that the statistics be aired in the segment that I went as far as stating them at least ten times during the lengthy interview. The reporter that interviewed me was very kind and the final story that aired tugged at the heartstrings of the viewer, but she did not use the statistics that I was so insistent on. The next day I asked her why? She said that management uses CDC statistics because it is a universally accepted website; they cite a variety of health related statistics from their website. But the CDC stopped tracking fatalities by dog breed statistics 15-years ago, so there was not any data to cite in my segment. My son’s death and hundreds of others since 1998 are simply uncollected data.

My experience with WISN, along with other similar experiences I have later, compelled me to reach out to my congressman the following year.

Click here to learn more Nancy

You hear that Dawn? She just accused you of being Kory Nelson. LOL

I have done nothing but speak the truth since Dax was taken from us Nancy. Sometimes I have let my anger and sarcasm get in the way, leading to the TWO horrible screenshots that pit bull apologists continue to throw in my face. (That will be reserved for a future blog post) But I’m sorry if my truth and yours don’t line up Nancy. Have you ever considered for a second that the vitriol and deceit are coming from organizations like yours that exist to protect pit bulls over the safety of our communities Nancy? Does it matter to you that Jane Berkey spent $2.8 million of her daddy’s money toward the AFF? Does it matter to you that pit bulls have killed 447 Americans since 1883 Nancy?

Nancy Tranzow – Victim blaming 101

I’m going to end this blog with something one of my fellow advocates wrote in regards to this last screenshot from Nancy Tranzow. It pisses me off when you pit bull apologists accuse us “foamers” of being cult members of DBO and we are somehow “exploited” by Colleen Lynn. I, as well as many other victims of dangerous dog attacks, are perfectly capable of thinking for ourselves Nancy Tranzow. It is was “I” that reached out to Colleen Lynn after my son’s death, not the other way around. I consider her a very close friend and I will continue to defend her as one.

DogsBite.org is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to reducing serious dog attacks. We are the only nonprofit committed to putting the safety of humans before dogs, as we are the only source of information on this topic that is not owned, controlled, or funded by dog breeders, owners, veterinarian or animal welfare groups.

DogsBite.org is a non-profit organization to raise dangerous dog awareness, promote safety and archives ALL serious dog attacks. The related blog and Facebook group sometimes include commentary in a post, but the primary focus and bulk of a post in evidentiary, factual and statistical details. Though pit bull fanatics would have you believe the entirety of the site is fabricated or invalidated because the founder is a pit bull attack victim, the truth is that;

Victim’s status should not be grounds to disqualify the experiences and professionalism as it pertains to their particular issue. If anything, are not victims of domestic violence best testimony about what it entails? Are mother against drunk driving (MADD) not well versed in the horrific aftermath of drunk driving? Is their data gathering any less valid just because they lost a loved one?

Even so, issue with the founder itself is not relevant here because the charity organization is composed of data and facts not issued by her individually but by other people and groups (detailed below)

It provided accessible and easily traceable citations for every assertion.

It cites hundreds – if not thousands – of external sources from independent studies, historical archives, news reports, literature, doctors, surgeons, animal control professionals, dog trainers, breed enthusiasts, canine organizations and kennel clubs, peer reviewed studies and polls, law enforcement, court records, eyewitness testimonies, images and videos, dog behaviorists, the mouths of pit bull owners and breeder themselves, shelter employees, pit bull lobbyists and their sites, pit bull celebrities and their reality shows, service dog agencies, dogfighting related professionals, and highly experienced veterinarians.

It’s a collective of external information, much like a library. To discredit the information therein requires going to any of the numerous external sources cited above and discrediting each to invalidate data of epic proportions.

Let’s take a moment of silence for ALL the victims of fatal dog attacks so far in 2014. That’s OK Nancy Tranzow. You keep on promoting pit bulls as safe family pets, putting them is a positive light, and keep Jane Berkey’s blood money coming in to ColoRADogs. Hopefully no one you love will never make this list.

2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities
Updated after each fatality following fact finding research31 Dog Bite Related Fatalities
by Breed:
23 by Pit Bull / Pit Bull Mix
3 by Bullmastiff / Mastiff Mix
2 by Rottweiler
1 by Cane Corso
1 by Shepherd Mix
1 by Catahoula Leopard DogBy age:
17 Children
12 AdultsBy State:
TX – 6 deaths
AL – 3 deaths
OH – 3 deaths
FL – 3 deaths
NC – 2 deaths
MI – 2 deaths
AZ – 1 death
CA – 2 death
CT – 1 death
DE – 1 death
IL – 1 death
LA – 1 death
MS – 2 death
NJ – 1 death
MO – 1 death
AR – 1 death
Names and ages of the deceased:
Christina Bell-Burleson – 43 – Houston, TX – 2 Pit Bulls [01.05.14]
Betty Clark – 75 – Canyon Lake, TX – 2 Pit Bulls [01.06.14]
Kara Hartrich – 4 – Bloomington, IL – 2 Pit Bulls [01.17.14]
Annabel Martin – 89 – Corona, CA – 3 Rottweilers [01.26.14]
Klonda Richey – 57 – Dayton, OH – 2 Mastiff Mixes [02.07.14]
Je’vaeh Mayes – 2 – Temple, TX – Pit Bull [02.17.14]
Braelynn Coulter – 3 – High Point, NC – Pit Bull [02.24.14]
Summer Sears – 4 – Tallassee, AL – Shepherd Mix [02.26.14]
Kenneth Santillan – 13 – Paterson, NJ – Bullmastiff [02.28.14]
Raymane Robinson, Jr. – 2 – Killeen, TX – Bullmastiff [03.01.14]
Nancy Newberry – 77 – Phoenix, AZ – Pit Bull [03.14.14]
Mia DeRouen – 4 – Houma, LA – Pit Bull [03.25.14]
Christopher Malone- 3 – Holmes County, MS – 2 Pit Bulls [03.31.14]
Dorothy Hamilton – 85 – Kaufman, TX – 2 Pit Bulls [03.31.14]
John Harvard – 5 – Riverside, AL – Pit Bull [04.06.14]
Petra Aguirre – 83 – San Antonio, TX – Pit Bull Mix [04.11.14]
Katie Morrison – 20 – Phenix City, AL – 3 Pit Bulls [05.03.14]
Nyhiem Wilfong – 1 – Caldwell County, NC – Rottweiler [05.04.14]
Kasii Haith – 4 – Kent County, DE – 3 Pit Bulls [05.07.14]
Rita Pepe – 93 – Branford, CT – Pit Bull Mix [05.25.14]
Holden Garrison – 10 wks – Davisburg, MI – Catahoula Leopard Dog [06.09.14]
Logan Shepard – 4 – Riverview, FL – 2 Pit Bulls [07.19.14]
Jonathan Quarles – 7 mo – Dayton, OH – Pit Bull [07.20.14]
Craig Sytsma – 46 – Metamore Twp, MI – 2 Cane Corso [07.23.14]
Cindy Whisman – 59 – Madison Twp, OH – Pit Bull [08.04.14]
Joel Chireieleison – 6 – Fanning Springs, FL – 2 Pit Bulls [08.07.14]
Deriah Solem – 22 mo – St Charles County, MO – Pit Bull Mix [08.09.14]
Javon Dade – 4 – Miami, FL – Pit Bull [08.13.14]
David Glass Sr.-51-Benton County, MS – 3 Pit Bulls [09.20.14]
Alice Payne – 75 – Cave City, AR – 1 Pit Bull [09.26.14]
Juan Fernandez – 59 – Modesto, CA – ? – [10.14.14]

American Pit Bull Terrier

The ‘bull and terrier’ type was originally developed in England in the early 19^th century. The lineage goes back to the mastiff / molosser types, including what we now call the Olde English Bulldogge, that were used for bear-, bull- and horse-baiting from the 12^th through the 18^th century. This isn’t the bear-baiting we think of today, when hunters feed bears in order to bring them out in the open to shoot them. Rather, the bear, bull or horse was confined in a public arena where the mastiff ‘bulldogs’ would slowly tear them apart alive for the public’s amusement^1,2,3,4,5.

The popularity of this ‘sport’ declined as education became more emphasized in urban society of the Industrial Revolution and literacy among the population grew (from about 30% in the 17^th century to 62% by 1800)⁶. The ‘sport’ was banned altogether by Act of Parliament in 1835.

The lovers of blood ‘sports’ turned to dogfighting to satisfy their fancy, breeding the large, mastiff-type bulldogs to smaller working terriers to get dogs both smaller and more agile, easier to keep and to hide, but just as willing to attack and fight to the death. With the rise of the kennel clubs and the desire to distinguish dogs by looks and pedigree as well as by performance, this ‘bull and terrier’ type eventually divided into many official breeds. They all share the same ancestry and function, distinguishing themselves mostly by slight differences in appearance.

APBT 2

The American Pit Bull Terrier is, like all the ‘bully’ breeds, one of this group of descendants of the British ‘bull and terrier’ type fighting bulldogs. Once imported into the United States, it was bred up to be bigger again, and again used in baiting animals and in dogfighting. The American Kennel Club (founded 1884) was unwilling to register these fighting dogs, so in 1898 the United Kennel Club was founded specifically to register working pit-fighting dogs and to promote dogfighting. In order to be registered, a dog had to first win three pit fights^7,8,9. The American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) became a ‘breed’. As dogfighting declined in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, Colby (the most famous and prolific breeder of these dogs) began to search for a new market and began promoting the APBT as family pets^10,11. This despite the fact that his breeding lines included child killers¹².

The APBT is of medium intelligence, and it is athletic. They have plenty of energy and exuberance for life. They are affectionate companions are often referred to as a “nanny dog”, which leads many families to believe that they are suitable companions for children. Many can live happily with children and never have an issue, but there are many cases of the family pit bull suddenly attacking or killing a child in the household. The Pit Bull advocacy group Bad Rap recently retracted their original “nanny dog” statements (https://www.facebook.com/BADRAP.org/posts/10151460774472399 )¹³. In 2013, in the United States, 16 children were killed by Pit Bulls and their mixes. Most of these children were killed by family pet pit bulls that had never been neglected or abused and had always loved the child. As with all breeds, the traits needed for their original tasks remain in the dogs – in this case, the sudden explosive aggression that was necessary to survive in the fighting pit. An APBT may never show this aggression, but if it does there will be no warning and the attack will not be easy to stop. Extreme caution should always be taken when this breed interacts with children. They are fun loving dogs that have “clownish” behaviors. Despite, their many positive qualities, this breed may not be suitable for everyone. Their high energy requires a family that can accommodate and appreciate this aspect of their personality. They usually do best with active families. Many American Pit Bull Terriers get calmer as they age and an older dog may work for a more reserved family.

Pit Bull Terriers need regular vigorous physical activity. They crave mental and physical stimulation. Regular long walks and plenty of play time can be ideal ways to burn energy. If their exercise needs are not met, they can develop destructive behaviors. They can often excel at physical activities, such as jogging and weight pulling. Some clubs admit them to agility and fly ball; others don’t because it is dangerous to have APBTs off leash near other dogs and the clubs don’t want to bear the liability in the event of an attack.

The American Pit Bull Terrier needs early socialization and training. Since they are active dogs, they can become unmanageable quickly. They need a firm and consistent handler that can maintain control at all times. They are eager to please and can learn tricks if trained patiently. They are very active both indoors and outdoors. Despite proper training and socialization, many dogs may be hard to manage and can still have unwanted behaviors.

The American Pit Bull Terrier has a history and bloodline deep rooted in the blood sports of animal baiting and dogfighting. As with all breeds, they retain their original traits. They often to do not accept other animals, especially dogs, and can be extremely aggressive towards them. They may accept animals they are raised with, but have been known to kill other family pets even after years of living together happily.

Most APBT puppies get along fantastically with other animals, including dogs. Puppies often love to play with and have companionship with other animals. This often gives owners a false sense of security. As the APBT matures, their relationship with other animals can change drastically. Often dog aggression issues emerge from 1-3 years in age, but some dog’s exhibit aggression as early as 6 months of age. They often will actively seek out other dogs to engage in fighting with and have broken their collars, crashed through windows, and torn through fences to do so, and one recently leaped from an apartment 2^nd story balcony, to get to a dog. They can get along with other dogs at times, but things can escalate quickly and they can attack suddenly and for no apparent reason. They often redirect onto humans who try to break up the fight¹⁴. Extreme caution should be used with all animal interactions and owners should never be completely comfortable. They can be unpredictable and a dog that plays nicely with dogs for years can suddenly change. Many owners have been shocked to see their beloved pet’s fighting instincts suddenly surface. It is highly recommended that the APBT is separated from other animals in the household when they cannot be supervised¹⁵. This is not a breed that is suitable for interactions at off leash dog parks¹⁶.

It is recommended that American Pit Bull Terrier owners have and carry a break stick¹⁷. A break stick is a device designed to open a Pit Bull type dog’s mouth while it is engaged in fighting. Pit Bull type breeds have a very distinctive fighting style and often will latch on their opponent and not let go. They usually will shake the other animal violently when they are latched on. This can cause horrific damage quickly. The break stick was designed by dog fighters to be inserted into the Pit Bull’s mouth and release his grip. The original purpose was to safely end a dog fight. The break stick often is the ONLY thing that will release the dog’s grip. People have been known to hit Pit Bulls with objects such as a bat or even shoot them and the dog still will not let go. Bully Breed owners should always have one handy in cause of an emergency. The break stick is not safe to use on other breeds of dogs and is only recommended for dogs in the Pit Bull family that were once used for dog fighting purposes.

Research is advised before selecting an APBT as a pet. They are often on the list of dogs that many landlords/property management companies do not allow. There are many American towns that have breed specific legislation or restrictions on certain breeds, including theAPBT. There are also many countries that have enacted restrictions or bans, such as the United Kingdom, that include the breed. It is wise to make sure your pet will be allowed into your community.

Breeds in the Pit Bull family are the most common surrendered and stray dog breeds in the animal sheltering system. They are also the most commonly euthanized dog breed. Owners are often unaware and unprepared for these breeds. While many families own bully breeds successfully and have only positive experiences with the breed, there are families they are not suited for. Because shelters are so full of APBTs and other Pit Bull types, it’s important to neuter your APBT rather than breeding it – for the sake of the APBTs themselves¹⁸. No dog lover wants to breed any kind of dog only to have it quickly end up in a shelter after it’s sold!

The American Pit Bull Terrier requires a minimal amount of grooming and only sheds lightly. They are prone to several medical issues such as hip dysplasia, cataracts, allergies, and heart disease. They usually weigh between 30-70 lbs and their average lifespan is about 12 years.

In North America, from 1982-2013, Pit Bull breeds and mixes have seriously attacked 2,990 humans that resulted in 1,777 maimings and 275 deaths.

1. http://www.coeffic.demon.co.uk/bearbaiting.htm

2. http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-bear-bull-baiting.htm

3. Lee, Sir Sidney. “Bearbaiting, Bullbaiting, and Cockfighting.” Shakespeare’s England: An Account of the Life and Manners of his Age. Vol II. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1916.

4. Scott-Warren, Jason. “When Theaters Were Bear-Gardens; or, What’s at Stake in the Comedy

of Humors.” Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol. 54, No. 1, Spring 2003. 63-82.

5. Encyclopaedia Britannica 3. Encyclopaedia Britannica Company. 1910. p. 575

6. Johnathon Barry, ‘Literacy and Literature in Popular Culture: Reading and Writing in Historical Perspective,’ in Popular Culture in England, c. 1500-1850, ed. by Tim Harris (London, 1995), pp. 69-94 (p. 70)

7. Colby, LB, Jessup, D, Colby’s Book of the American Pit Bull Terrier, T.F. Publications, Inc, NJ, 1997.

8. Beach, M, at http://dogs.about.com/cs/breedprofiles/a/pitbull_history.htm (accessed February 2014)

8. Homan, M, The Complete History of Fighting Dogs, Ringpress Boods, 1999.

9. Gibson, H, Dogfighting Detailed Discussion, Animal Legal and Historical Center, Michigan State University College of Law, 2004.http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdogfighting.htm (Accessed February 2014)

10. The Dog Fancier, Vol. 27 – 28, 1918, pages 39, 45.

11. The Sun (newspaper), New York, February 3, 1909, The Sun Printing and Publishing Associates. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1909-02-03/ed-1/seq-1/#words=JohnP+P+Colby&date1=1836&rows=20&searchType=basic&state=&date2=1914&proxtext=john+P.+Colby+&y=11&x=10&dateFilterType=yearRange&index=0 (accessed February 2014)

12. Bad Rap, Facebook posting, May 20, 2013 at 6:00pm. https://www.facebook.com/BADRAP.org/posts/10151460774472399 (accessed February 2014)

13. One example: http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/pit-bull-attack-prompts-push-for-tougher-laws/20369204?item=0

14. From Pitbullsontheweb.com, emphasis added, last accessed May 2011, the entire site has now been taken down:

1. Thou shalt NEVER trust thy Pit Bull not to fight
2. Thou shalt contain thy Pit Bull securely when not supervised by an adult
3. Thou shalt NEVER leave thy adult Pit Bull alone and unsupervised with another dog
4. Thou SHALT attend obedience classes most faithfully with thy Pit Bull
5. Thou SHALT keep thy Pit Bull socialized with ALL KINDS of people
6. Thy Pit Bull wilt NEVER be allowed off-leash in a public place
7. Thy Pit Bull wilt NEVER be allowed to roam free in thy neighborhood, EVER!
8. Thou SHALT take thy well trained Pit Bull out in public and show him/her off – on leash for good breed PR!
9. Thy Pit Bull shalt go forth into the world as an ambassador of the pit bull breed
10. THOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WRONG DONE BY THY DOGS!

15. Ibidum
16. See (among others) :
http://www.pbrc.net/breaksticks.html

http://pitbullholocaust.wordpress.com/pit-bulls-and-their-different-jaws-pit-bulls-do-have-locking-jaws-pit-bull-owner-myth-exposed/

http://www.realpitbull.com/breakstick.html

17. See (among others):
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/More-pit-bulls-are-filling-area-shelters-1815274.php

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/02/09/20110209maricopa-county-animal-shelters-pit-bulls.html

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Pit-bulls-dominate-shelters-5003648.php

http://www.newsela.com/articles/pitbull-problem/id/2149/

13 thoughts on “ColoRADogs, Longmont Humane Society, Aimee Sadler, Carly Shivers – A dangerous plethora of hypocrisy, lies and deceit”

craven desires says:

October 21, 2014 at 4:18 am

pit bulls and their owners/advocates – two sides of the same coin. this blog post should be required reading for the voters of aurora colorado. everything they need to know about this issue is contained on this page.

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Joanie Caldwell-Kenoshmeg says:

October 21, 2014 at 5:50 am

The DENVER POST is not a source for news or facts. They respond to noise from people that will never live in the area or read the Post. First Ammendment rights denied by a newspaper? This is terribly embarrassing for the post and the nation. If you can’t respect the opinions of others move to China. Maybe The Denver Post “journalists” can write for China or Russia.

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Lesley Karen Luscombe says:

October 21, 2014 at 6:40 pm

I read, and as I progress, I feel poisoned. There is a feeling of swimming underwater, gasping for air. The incredible falsity of the ‘commiserations’, the blatantly obtuse inability to STOP and STUDY their objects of murky desire and deviant fascination (the Pit Bull dogs), their joyously clamouring lies, the spiteful undercurrents of victim-blaming, their incredibly tiresome attempts to paint numerous caring and educated individuals as ‘DogsBite culties’, and perhaps most revealing of all, their absolute unwillingness to DO something positive and either turn this breed of dog AROUND, or STOP it being so widely available to the unwitting and the uneducated, so that it is no longer responsible for the utter carnage it wreaks on humanity and innocent pet animal lives, livestock and wildlife, in comparison to other TRUE ‘pet dogs’.

It is as though the dog is ACCEPTABLE in its pervasive form of number one killer of humans and other animals; for these mesmerised cultists, the dog is not for changing, and neither is it for curtailing in its accessibility to the wider public; it is a beautiful, ‘smiling’, misunderstood, kissy-sweet killer ‘pet dog’ that has NEVER been at the mercy of its genetics but is a docile creature that must be set upon its prey and is unwilling even as it mauls, mutilates and kills, and they seek its introduction and approval into ALL areas, into ALL communities.

What is this mind-set of theirs, that they have taken these dogs OUT of the hands of those that understood them (the dog-men); men that bred them FOR all that was violent and ‘game’ in them; who used them as canine-on-canine weapons and loved them for it; who did not WISH to see them out in the populace and in the hands of fools, who bred their dogs PURPOSEFULLY to lose the traits that makes a dog a pet, a companion, a friend, a comfort, and build the dog both physically and psychologically into a perfect canine killing machine, and one that LOVED what it could do, and was prepared to die trying to do it?

They would put a dog such as THIS in the homes of America, call it ‘pet’, stand back as it kills and mutilates because it is robbed of its TRUE work, and yet still cry ‘poor Pittie! It’s just a dog! It’s the victim’s fault!’

It is a dog UNLIKE ALL OTHER DOGS, and it is MEANT TO BE SO. It is a dog Apart, and its effects on the human and other-animal populace, is absolutely APART. What is a good owner of a normal breed dog like a Labrador or a Jack Russell, is simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH for the violent blood-sport dog that is no longer able to express its joyous, random, unstable violence in the form for which it was created, shaped and honed by MAN. These dogs require HANDLERS, not owners. And yet people like this deem it acceptable to ship the unwanted and the abandoned members of this breed, and then turn them out into the ignorant populace, posing as normal, adoptable pet dogs? This is wilful harm to others, in the name of saving lives that WITHOUT HANDLERS OF SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE are not salvageable, and if wiser people had been able to bring their mindful legislations to bear, the animals would NOT HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Time and again, we ask them to PROVE (for example) that DogsBite.org is not a credible source of serious dog attacks and human deaths from dog attack – never a response! Easier it is for them, to blame the woman who runs DogsBite.org for her own attack, and to claim that she is a dangerous extremist simply because she REPORTS THE TRUTH ABOUT THESE DOGS, and it is the TRUTH that they cannot bear! Time and again, we ask them to provide details of people killed by other breeds or types of dogs, and what do we get, over and over and over again? We get a small list of people killed in DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, by umpteen DIFFERENT BREEDS, over a WIDE TIME-FRAME! Unhappiness, anger and discontentment because of the FACT that other dogs, even if one combines ALL THEIR BREEDS, do not kill anywhere NEAR the number of people per annum as Pit Bull dogs do, is simply not good enough. One cannot defend the indefensible, but one can make an incredibly ugly and cruel fool of oneself trying, for sure….

It is a poor, tragic, dangerous, ugly and extraordinarily heartless thing, when KNOWN Extreme Breed dogs are being passed off as normal dogs, when they KILL people, when they MUTILATE people, when they do those things WITHOUT NEEDING A CATALYST BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CAN, AND BECAUSE THEY LOVE WHAT THEY CAN DO – there are NO excuses for painting these dogs as being like other dogs. They aren’t. The people that do this thing; the people that mock and lie and hate and obfuscate and blame and push, push, PUSH the hand-carved creatures of the Fighting pit out into society – these are hateful and dangerous people who would sacrifice the innocent children of America and who ARE sacrificing the innocent children of America, in order to soothe the Devil’s ache that they possess for these dangerous dogs.

Pit Bulls are not pets. Fact. They belong to a classification of dogs that has little to NO use in modern America. Dog-fighting has been BANNED, so WHY are the gladiators of the pit still with us? And WHY are they being sold to the public as benevolent pet dogs, when benevolence, non-aggressive positivity towards other creatures and gentleness has NEVER been the remit of these dogs?

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- Alice says:
  
  October 22, 2014 at 7:31 am
  
  Word.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
- Melissa says:
  
  January 12, 2015 at 2:38 am
  
  Completely agree! Thank you for sharing.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
wintergreen says:

October 21, 2014 at 8:25 pm

Somehow I managed to read what that dog trainer (from Longmont) wrote and she is right about one thing: everything that occurred after the attack began further excited the dogs. THAT is the problem.

I did almost stop reading when she couldn’t figure out why Susan ‘fell down’. Um, two pit bulls can make most people ‘fall down’. So, I do not think she fairly characterized what happened during the attack. I can barely believe this council member took seriously her recommendation of shaking a can of pennies at two pit bulls in the middle of the attack.

Also, weren’t those two extremely ugly dogs registered? I believe Susan told the police during the 911 call that the dogs were pit bulls. So, I don’t know how dog trainer thinks that is ‘visual identification’ when the dogs’ breed was identified by the owner before the police arrived.

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- Cardinal says:
  
  October 23, 2014 at 1:26 am
  
  wintergreen, the general rule is that pit bulls don’t exist and are impossible to identify until something good is being said about them.
  
  Is it bad that I laughed a little at “Sent from my iPhone”?
  
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coloradogsblog says:

October 21, 2014 at 11:00 pm

Nice to see you posting pictures from my spouse and myself that were lifted from my Facebook without permission Jeff. You guys truly have no boundaries. I am sad for you as you show what a tiny person you are. I actually spoke to you and meant what I said and instead this is our response. Looks like Colleen has really worked a number on you.

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- Jeff Borchardt says:
  
  October 23, 2014 at 1:40 am
  
  What are you trying to tell me Nancy? That you don’t like it when I drag your family into it? Sort of like your ORGANIZATION (ColoRADogs) publicly brought my mother-in-law into it on a Facebook page called “Exposing Daxtons Friends?” Let me ask you a question Nancy? Even though she does not live in Aurora, does that not give the grandmother of a child killed by pit bulls the right to weigh in on the issue? Do you live in Aurora Nancy? Is your organization based in Aurora Nancy? One more thing, just who do you think you are Nancy?
  
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- KaD says:
  
  January 18, 2015 at 12:01 am
  
  Coloradouchebags.
  
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Monica says:

October 27, 2014 at 2:49 am

Jeff are you still raising money for the ad and plan to do it? When do you need donations by?

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Daxton's Father

My son was killed by pit bulls

ColoRADogs, Longmont Humane Society, Aimee Sadler, Carly Shivers – A dangerous plethora of hypocrisy, lies and deceit

Here are just SOME of the e-mails we started receiving:

Daxton’s Friends Response:

Jessica’s response:

From Lynsie:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Sean Hooper’s response:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Fast forward to October 13th, 2014:

The Denver Post caves to on-line bullies:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Before I continue with Bob LeGare’s attempt to find ANY reason for my son’s death, I would like to talk about a self proclaimed dog trainer and “expert” Carly Shivers.

Any “so-called” training “expert” connected to the Longmont Humane Society is an extremely poor source of information about “dangerous dog behavior.”

Carly Shiver’s response:

Let’s take a closer look at the police report in my son’s death:

Oh, I think this self proclaimed “dog expert” has been hanging around Michelle Serocki from the “Brew City Bully Club” too much.

“Ms. Iwicki had not had the benefit of attending a training session or received education to know that this response would escalate the problem.”

Back to ColoRADogs

ColoRADogs

“We live and die in public health based on how good our data is,”
– CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden

Joint Summary Statement

Click here to learn more Nancy

American Pit Bull Terrier

13 thoughts on “ColoRADogs, Longmont Humane Society, Aimee Sadler, Carly Shivers – A dangerous plethora of hypocrisy, lies and deceit”

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Here are just SOME of the e-mails we started receiving:

Daxton’s Friends Response:

Jessica’s response:

From Lynsie:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Sean Hooper’s response:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Fast forward to October 13th, 2014:

The Denver Post caves to on-line bullies:

Daxton’s Friends response:

Before I continue with Bob LeGare’s attempt to find ANY reason for my son’s death, I would like to talk about a self proclaimed dog trainer and “expert” Carly Shivers.

Any “so-called” training “expert” connected to the Longmont Humane Society is an extremely poor source of information about “dangerous dog behavior.”

Carly Shiver’s response:

Let’s take a closer look at the police report in my son’s death:

Oh, I think this self proclaimed “dog expert” has been hanging around Michelle Serocki from the “Brew City Bully Club” too much.

“Ms. Iwicki had not had the benefit of attending a training session or received education to know that this response would escalate the problem.”

Back to ColoRADogs

ColoRADogs

“We live and die in public health based on how good our data is,” – CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden

Joint Summary Statement

Click here to learn more Nancy

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13 thoughts on “ColoRADogs, Longmont Humane Society, Aimee Sadler, Carly Shivers – A dangerous plethora of hypocrisy, lies and deceit”

Leave a comment Cancel reply

“We live and die in public health based on how good our data is,”
– CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden