Tucson-Based Activists Announce Walk Event to Raise Awareness for Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs
The grassroots organized walk event for victims of pit bulls and other dangerous dogs is the first of its kind in the country.
Tucson, AZ, June 11, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Local grassroots activists and the Facebook Pit Bull Regulation Project Group announce the first ever, Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs - Tucson, AZ, to honor the victims of serious, and sometimes deadly dog attacks and to raise awareness in the community of the dangers associated with vicious dogs. The event kicks off Saturday, October 27, 2012 at high noon at Lincoln Park on South Pantano Road in Tucson, Arizona. Admission to the event is free.
After continuously reading about local dog attacks, primarily carried out by pit bulls, Tucson-based activists Melissa Baze and Matthew Pimple decided to create an event to remember these victims. "To date, there has been nothing done to honor and remember these victims," said Baze. "Too often the focus of these attacks gets misplaced, and worse, instead of acknowledging what the victim has endured, the person is blamed for 'somehow provoking the dog to attack,'" Baze explains.
The Tucson activists grew tired of watching "vigils held for pit bulls that were euthanized after attacking a person or a dog, and walks for pit bulls," said Baze. Both activists believe that the focus should be on the victim -- innocent people and pets -- who suffer serious injuries, or death, from these dogs and are then left with expensive medical bills. "It’s time that the voices of these victims be heard," Baze said. "We want them to know that we are paying attention, and we want to do something to change the status quo."
The two hope that other grassroots activists in Arizona and across the country will follow in their footsteps and begin to honor and remember victims of horrific dog attacks by creating local events that raise awareness of them. "I want a Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs in twenty U.S. cities next year," Baze said. The pair has been cataloging attacks in the Tucson area for nine months and regrettably believe the list will grow before the event. Some of these victims include:
May 25, 2012- Three people were attacked by a house guest’s pit bull on the South Side. An elderly man, his wife, and a 17-year old boy were attacked, taken to the hospital and treated for injuries. The attacking pit bull was shot and killed by police.
Mar. 7, 2012- Miriam Seymour, 89-years old, was viciously mauled by two loose pit bulls that were chained together as she went to check her mail. A passerby saved her life. Seymour is still recovering from the attack. Both pit bulls were euthanized.
Feb. 26, 2012- Two dogs viciously attacked Marisa Miranda and her dog, Bon Bon. Neighbor Kevin Perkins rushed to help and was forced to take deadly action. He shot one dog dead, a pit bull-mix, but not before it had inflicted a lot of damage.
Feb. 21, 2012- A 6-year old girl was bitten on the arm and badly injured by the family pit bull-mix. The young girl was treated at the hospital and released. The attacking family pet was quarantined.
Oct. 30, 2011- Lauren Benson’s beloved cat, Scooter, was killed by a loose shepherd-mix dog that had previously killed another cat in the neighborhood. Officials deemed the dog dangerous and charged the dog owner with two misdemeanors.
Oct. 28, 2011- An east side woman was severely injured trying to save her pet beagle-mix after a stray pit bull viciously attacked. The woman was treated for injuries; her dog did not survive. The stray pit bull was seized by animal control.
Oct. 5, 2011- Jim Skevington and his golden retriever were attacked by his neighbor's two loose pit bulls. Police described the two pit bulls as "extremely aggressive." Responding police officers shot both dogs to death.
Aug. 23, 2011-Michael Cook suffered catastrophic injuries inflicted by his son's pit bull. The victim needed over 100 pints of blood, depleting the city's reserve and forcing the Red Cross to escalate a blood drive. Cook did not survive his injuries.
The two activists created a website for the upcoming event, walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com, and a Google Group email list. Members of neighborhood associations, parents and victims of dog attacks and their family members are urged to visit the website and sign up for the Google Group list to stay up to date as the October event date approaches. Please view the link below:
http://walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com
Event Details
Walk for Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs
Saturday, October 27th 2012
12:00 Noon
Lincoln Park 4325 South Pantano Rd Tucson, AZ 85730
Admission is free
About Us
Melissa Baze and Matt Pimple are members of the Facebook Pit Bull Regulation Project Group, a group that supports victims of pit bull attacks and acts as a sounding board for activists working to pass laws in their jurisdiction. Melissa Baze is also a licensed Social Worker and can be reached at 520-261-9913 for press inquiries. The website, walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com, was launched in March, 2012 and contains video and photo stories of victims injured and killed by dangerous dogs.
After continuously reading about local dog attacks, primarily carried out by pit bulls, Tucson-based activists Melissa Baze and Matthew Pimple decided to create an event to remember these victims. "To date, there has been nothing done to honor and remember these victims," said Baze. "Too often the focus of these attacks gets misplaced, and worse, instead of acknowledging what the victim has endured, the person is blamed for 'somehow provoking the dog to attack,'" Baze explains.
The Tucson activists grew tired of watching "vigils held for pit bulls that were euthanized after attacking a person or a dog, and walks for pit bulls," said Baze. Both activists believe that the focus should be on the victim -- innocent people and pets -- who suffer serious injuries, or death, from these dogs and are then left with expensive medical bills. "It’s time that the voices of these victims be heard," Baze said. "We want them to know that we are paying attention, and we want to do something to change the status quo."
The two hope that other grassroots activists in Arizona and across the country will follow in their footsteps and begin to honor and remember victims of horrific dog attacks by creating local events that raise awareness of them. "I want a Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs in twenty U.S. cities next year," Baze said. The pair has been cataloging attacks in the Tucson area for nine months and regrettably believe the list will grow before the event. Some of these victims include:
May 25, 2012- Three people were attacked by a house guest’s pit bull on the South Side. An elderly man, his wife, and a 17-year old boy were attacked, taken to the hospital and treated for injuries. The attacking pit bull was shot and killed by police.
Mar. 7, 2012- Miriam Seymour, 89-years old, was viciously mauled by two loose pit bulls that were chained together as she went to check her mail. A passerby saved her life. Seymour is still recovering from the attack. Both pit bulls were euthanized.
Feb. 26, 2012- Two dogs viciously attacked Marisa Miranda and her dog, Bon Bon. Neighbor Kevin Perkins rushed to help and was forced to take deadly action. He shot one dog dead, a pit bull-mix, but not before it had inflicted a lot of damage.
Feb. 21, 2012- A 6-year old girl was bitten on the arm and badly injured by the family pit bull-mix. The young girl was treated at the hospital and released. The attacking family pet was quarantined.
Oct. 30, 2011- Lauren Benson’s beloved cat, Scooter, was killed by a loose shepherd-mix dog that had previously killed another cat in the neighborhood. Officials deemed the dog dangerous and charged the dog owner with two misdemeanors.
Oct. 28, 2011- An east side woman was severely injured trying to save her pet beagle-mix after a stray pit bull viciously attacked. The woman was treated for injuries; her dog did not survive. The stray pit bull was seized by animal control.
Oct. 5, 2011- Jim Skevington and his golden retriever were attacked by his neighbor's two loose pit bulls. Police described the two pit bulls as "extremely aggressive." Responding police officers shot both dogs to death.
Aug. 23, 2011-Michael Cook suffered catastrophic injuries inflicted by his son's pit bull. The victim needed over 100 pints of blood, depleting the city's reserve and forcing the Red Cross to escalate a blood drive. Cook did not survive his injuries.
The two activists created a website for the upcoming event, walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com, and a Google Group email list. Members of neighborhood associations, parents and victims of dog attacks and their family members are urged to visit the website and sign up for the Google Group list to stay up to date as the October event date approaches. Please view the link below:
http://walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com
Event Details
Walk for Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs
Saturday, October 27th 2012
12:00 Noon
Lincoln Park 4325 South Pantano Rd Tucson, AZ 85730
Admission is free
About Us
Melissa Baze and Matt Pimple are members of the Facebook Pit Bull Regulation Project Group, a group that supports victims of pit bull attacks and acts as a sounding board for activists working to pass laws in their jurisdiction. Melissa Baze is also a licensed Social Worker and can be reached at 520-261-9913 for press inquiries. The website, walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com, was launched in March, 2012 and contains video and photo stories of victims injured and killed by dangerous dogs.
Contact
Walk For Victims of Pit Bulls and Other Dangerous Dogs
Melissa Baze
520-261-9913
walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com
Melissa Baze
520-261-9913
walkforvictimsofpitbulls.blogspot.com
Contact
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