Nov 2010 – Deirdre Franklin, founder of
Pinups for Pit bulls, announced
today that she and Kathy
McGuire, president of New Jersey
Aid For Animals (NJAFA),
are hosting the New Jersey premiere
of the feature length documentary,
Beyond the Myth: A
Film About Pit Bulls and Breed
Discrimination on Sunday, Nov.
21 at 4 p.m., at the Raven (formerly
Ritz) Theater at Eagle Plaza,
Voorhees.
Beyond the Myth is a film
about dogs commonly referred to
as pit bulls and those who love
and defend these breeds.
It explores the contributing factors
behind the public’s generalized
fear of pit bulls, and examines
the conflict existing between
advocates and opponents of breed
discriminatory laws, commonly
referred to as breed bans.
It investigates the myths associated
with the breed, challenges
the idea that they are inherently
vicious, and presents eye-opening
research regarding the media’s
role in influencing people’s opinion
on “pit bulls.”
Libby Sherrill, the filmmaker,
first decided to tackle the film as a
grad student.
Three years later, her theme
has been honed to reveal the perils
of breed-specific legislation as
carried out in three cities that
ban pit bull-type dogs:
Denver, Miami, and Cincinnati
– along with San Francisco,
which requires the animals to be
spayed and neutered.
Denver enforces their ban
more stringently than most,
killing close to 4,000 pit bull-type
dogs since 1989.
Those who have lost their dogs
as result of these laws have endured
excruciating heartbreak.
Beyond the Myth reveals one
such story – that of Desiree and
her family pet Coco.
Despite being nicknamed “Cocolicious,”
by Denver Animal
Control kennel workers for his
gentle and loving nature, Coco
was killed simply because of the
way he looked. He never harmed
anyone.
“There is no evidence that laws
aimed towards specific breeds decrease
the number of dangerous
dogs in communities and yet innocent
dogs continue to die because
of these ordinances. Our efforts
and laws should be directed
towards irresponsible people –
we need more education regarding
responsible dog ownership instead
of allowing confiscation
and murder of good family pets,”
says Sherrill. Taxpayers also suffer
when breed-discriminatory
laws are enacted. According to
the study, “The Fiscal Impact of
Breed Discriminatory Legislation
in the United States,” conducted
by the New York City-based John
Dunham and Associates, such
legislation would cost the state of
New Jersey an estimated
$13,396,830 per year, a number includes
the costs of enforcement,
kenneling, veterinary care, euthanasia
and disposal, litigation,
and DNA testing.
In order to create safer communities,
Pinups for Pitbulls and
NJAFA advocate for breed-neutral
dog laws that penalize reckless
owners and prevent future
dog attacks from occurring.
The mission of Pinups is to
save the lives of abused and abandoned
pit bull-type dogs by raising
funds with their nationally
acclaimed Pinups for Pitbulls Calendar.
NJAFA’s mission is to enrich
pit bulls’ lives through free vaccines
along with aggressive spay
and neuter.
The public is invited to an after
party fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m.
at The Coastline Restaurant in
Cherry Hill conveniently located
off 295 at 1240 Brace Road with
proceeds benefiting Pinups and
NJAFA. Donation includes entertainment,
munchies and $1
drinks. Tickets for both events
are on sale now exclusively at
www.beyondthemythmovie.com.
Movie – $12.50 in advance,
$15.00 at the door. After Party– $7
advance, $10 at door. For information
visit: www.beyondthemythmovie.
com; www.pinupsforpitbulls.
org or www.njafa.org.
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