Requiem for Bentley

I didn't know Bentley, but I was there when he died. There was a group of us there, but Bentley is the only name I know.

I believe Bentley was a good dog who had a good life with a family that loved him. While his death was a sad thing, the fact that a group of strangers came to his aid gives me hope.

I was eastbound on Peoria Avenue in Glendale, Arizona. The car in front of me stopped. I didn't know why until he pulled into the next lane, and I saw Bentley injured in the street. Apparently he had been hit by a car. The driver who hit him didn't stop, but other people did and, in the process, showed a lot of compassion.

One woman stood out. I stopped my car behind Bentley so no other cars would hit him. The woman put Bentley's head in her lap, and petted and comforted him. I got a sheet and a man held it up to shade Bentley. His wife managed to corral Bentley's dog friends who were across the street barking and distressed. She managed to get them back in their yard. We also called 911. They in-turn called Glendale Fire Department and the Arizona Humane Society and one of its Emergency Animal Medical Technician (EAMT) units.

Bentley died in the arms of the wonderful woman whose name I don't know. We were both petting him when he died. I truly believe she made Bentley's death better for him. He had some comfort and the love of a complete stranger as he passed. After he died we moved him out of the street. A man came-up and said "That's my dog." He was obviously sad, but calm. Apparently his dogs had gotten out of the yard while he was away. He told us he wanted to take Bentley home, so we helped wrap Bentley in the sheet and he headed across the street to go home.

A Glendale Police Officer pulled-up, and asked if I'd seen what happened. I said "No, but I wish I had." He gave me his card, and I left.

The woman said she wished that she could have saved Bentley or gotten him to hang-on. But I think she gave him a peaceful death. Everyone there, including the City of Glendale Fire and Police Department, gave him something else. Respect. They treated him like an individual who was scared and fatally injured in the street. That's no small thing, but that's what Bentley deserved. That's what all animals deserve.

ADLA Quarterly Meeting 9-14-08

Thanks to everyone who came to the meeting about the "Plight of Pit Bulls." Here's the set-up crew.

The Tragedy of Dog & Cat Overpopulation

One of the saddest and most frustrating animal issues is the euthanasia of healthy, but homeless, dogs and cats all across the United States. Maricopa County and Arizona are no different. We euthanize tens of thousands of unwanted animals each year. Every time I think of this fact, it breaks my heart. With a little love, every one of those dogs and cats could be the love of someone's life. These days pit bull and pit bull mixes are the dogs that are most likely to wind-up in shelters and be euthanized. Poor pit bulls. Talk about a misunderstood dog. They can be such sweeties- if given a good home and a chance. The Animal Defense League of Arizona Quarterly Meeting at 3 pm on Sunday September 14 at Glendale Public Library will talk about the plight of the pit bull in Maricopa County and some upcoming events and ongoing programs to help them. Please stop by and learn how you can help!

Setting the Record Straight on County Supervisors & Pit Bulls

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is NOT currently considering an ordinance to ban pit bull dogs. Unfortunately, some misinformation has been circulated about this issue. The Supervisors have been and are being flooded with calls and e-mails about an issue that is not on the table. If you receive such an e-mail, please DO NOT forward it to your lists and please do not encourage a flood of calls and e-mails to the Board of Supervisors. This hurts the credibility of the Animal Protection Community and our ability to work with policy-makers when animal issues are being considered.

The Real Story:

On August 4, Dr. Rodrigo Silva made a presentation to the Maricopa County Supervisors and County Manager that was essentially a status update of recent activities. A number of folks from the Animal Protection Community were in the Audience including Bari Mears from PACC-911, Sonia Hernandez and myself (Stephanie Nichols-Young) from the Animal Defense League of Arizona and its Spay/Neuter Hotline, Cheryl Weiner of Altered Tails, Heather Allen from HALO Animal Rescue, Melissa Gable of Friends of Animal Care & Control and a number of Administrative Staff People from Animal Care & Control. ( I am relying on my memory. I apologize if I have forgotten anyone!).

After the presentation, individual Supervisors made comments and asked questions. Supervisor Andy Kunasek asked what people thought about pit bulls. I do not believe he specifically asked about a breed-specific ban, but my impression was that was what he was asking about. No other Supervisor expressed any interest in the question. Supervisor Kunasek stated something to the effect that he may be asking an inappropriate question or a question that no one wanted to hear. Again, no other Supervisor showed any interest in supporting the question. The Supervisors left quickly (as I believe they were continuing the meeting in an executive session). On his way out, Bari Mears and I spoke to Supervisor Kunasek, and expressed our and our organizations' opposition to a breed-specific ban.

At the Alliance for Companion Animal Meeting on August 12, those present discussed Supervisor Kunasek's question. The Alliance took a vote, and decided to respond to Supervisor Kunasek's question and let him know that the Alliance had discussed the issue and voted unanimously against a breed-specific pit bull ban.

There is no ordinance or agenda item pending before the Board of Supervisors on this issue. It was simply a question by one Supervisor.