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Thursday, September 1, 2011

Anti-Pit Bull Rally Canceled Due to Security Concerns

Posted by on Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 11:19 AM

Ellen Taft was planning a rally this evening that called for a ban on fighting breeds in Seattle's off-leash areas, but she just sent us two follow-ups to this morning's post. First, the rally is off due to security concerns, says Taft, and she wants to make some clarifications. Second, Taft wants to share with you a short essay that attempts to answer the question, "Why would anyone choose an ugly, un-cuddly dog like a pit-bull?"

Item one:

It is unfortunate that you wrote many factual errors in this story about the rally (posted earlier today). First of all I was not attacked by pit-bulls, but two mixed breed dogs owned by a drug dealer, who later told me that he had vicious dogs to "get the blacks" and that if I had the dogs euthanized that he would "get more dogs and train them to be just as vicious". The dogs charged me, after they bit me from behind, I turned and faced them and swung my shoulder bag at them, the two dogs cowered which Pit-bulls would not have done because in the words of www.PBRC.org they have "terrier" tenacity. The owner was the worst possible owner, but the dogs were not genetically predisposed to kill. It is always a combination of DNA and environment, not just environment.

Also I had a speech prepared in which I quote Pit-bull Rescue Central, which agrees with most of what the Protection of Animals and People Act does. I certainly was not going to quote from an as yet non-existent online petition.

Unfortunately, the rally has been canceled because Seattle Security felt that the liability would be too much, so I was unable to hire off-duty police to guard me. Neither Animal Control nor the police department would send anyone.

We need public hearings.

In item two, Taft compares pit bulls owners and their dogs to Beauty and the Beast:

Out of all the physically attractive, cuddly breeds of dogs in the world, why would anyone choose an ugly, un-cuddly dog like a pit-bull? A dog selectively bred for generations to fight other dogs and bears? A dog which empties an off-leash area in record time, makes people shun their owners, and involves a huge liability risk?

In the press recently pit-bulls have now reached Victimhood status. “They are misunderstood, they only need the love of a good person (generally a woman) in order to become rehabilitated and reveal their essential goodness benefitting the individual rehabilitating them, and society in general.” is the essence of the media message.

It seems that a recurring archetype is behind this phenomenon-namely Beauty and The Beast. In Western literature, the Beauty and the Beast archetype is played out in a number of fairy tales: obviously La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast), in Beatrice and Benedict in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, in Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice and in Jane and Mr. Rochester in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.

Each of these heroines represents a marginalized woman, not completely accepted by the society in which she lives, because of some culturally defined handicap, and therefore has no status within her milieu, resulting in diminished marriage potential. Violence is the trait the “beast-men” all have in common. The woman’s status is reversed when she tames the violence in the beast. She, thereby, scores off other women, by demonstrating that her sexual allure is greater than theirs. The “beast man” still strikes fear into everybody else, except the woman who has rehabilitated him. Mr. Darcy’s demeanor curbs the contemptuous behavior, directed towards Elizabeth, by the Bingley sisters, Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

The Beauty and the Beast archetype is being expressed by modern victimized women in the new fad of cheerleading for pit-bulls. Like Mr. Darcy, a pit-bull can be used to give one a false sense of enhanced self-esteem, as a status symbol among women, and to intimidate the rest of society.

Discuss.

 

Comments (50) RSS

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MacCrocodile 1
Don't call it La Belle et la Bête and then use Disney's version of Belle as your example. It makes you sound pretentious and illiterate.
Posted by MacCrocodile on September 1, 2011 at 11:33 AM
2
"why would anyone choose an ugly, un-cuddly dog like a pit-bull?"

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and if you think that pitbulls are ugly then that's fine. But un-cuddly? Are you kidding me? Pitbulls are the most cuddly dogs I've ever met. My dog is part American Staffordshire (a breed commonly refered to as pitbull) and she tries to get me to spoon with her and when I won't she lays so we sleep with our backs touching. (Adorable in the winter, annoying in the summer) They might be ugly, but you can't say they aren't cuddly.
Posted by charity on September 1, 2011 at 11:34 AM
gloomy gus 3
hahaha! Here's another excerpt from the Weekly's look at her last year:
Taft has a long history as a crusader against all manner of pets and pet behavior that she finds objectionable. From banning pit bulls, to clamping down on questionable service animals, to getting rid of pygmy goats and potbellied pigs, she's made pets who don't exist under the strict letter of the law her No. 1 target for the last two decades.

She fired off a letter to Mayor Mike McGinn and the rest of the city council today demanding that they go after unlicensed pets with the same vigor they go after unpaid parking tickets, writing:

"Unfortunately for the city budget, the consequences for non-compliance with the pet licensing requirement are not very serious. In addition to an increased fine, pet owners who do not license their pets, should be forced to do community service, scooping up dog feces in city parks, and off-leash areas, and other unpleasant chores at the animal shelter."
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweek…
Posted by gloomy gus on September 1, 2011 at 11:36 AM
4
Gotta give some props for creativity on this one. Women own pit bulls to compensate for their social inadequacies - OF COURSE!

Poor Dan though - he was probably planning on getting a front row seat tonight.
Posted by genevieve on September 1, 2011 at 11:38 AM
5
Also, here's a link to an adorable pitbull that was available through Bad Rap's rescue. This dog has since found a home:

http://vimeo.com/19510600

I watch this when I want to be cheered up. It makes me laugh every time.
Posted by charity on September 1, 2011 at 11:38 AM
6
This is a truly elegant brand of insane.
Posted by Kumquat on September 1, 2011 at 11:38 AM
7
Seattle isn't really a green city. Sure there are poseurs who think as long as they are photographed with a bicycle helmet they are green, but "green"-minded people don't keep animals with a carbon footprint rivaling that of a Hummer. The poseurs will go after the Hummer owners but consider this: a Hummer doesn't need refueling as long as it sits in the driveway. A large dog needs meat every day.

How many "green"-minded, anti-car, vegetarian Seattleites do you know with large dogs?
They're as mockable as animal rights activists wearing leather.
Posted by No one should suffer from a dog owner's stupidity on September 1, 2011 at 11:40 AM
8
Let me help you get started...

Pitbulls will only make downtown traffic worse as people try to avoid the tolls, but the main problem is that pitbulls harken back to a long gone dream of cheap, plentiful oil. What we really need to do is get the lame duck mayor to kick off a committee and start gathering signatures with the purpose of getting something on the ballot so that we the people can approve a study to figure out if pitbulls are truly the breed of victimized women. Once we have thoroughly studied the issue, we should then be able to clearly articulate several points of view and the public can decide the best course of action. The public debate can only be a good thing and it shouldn't take more than a decade for everyone to eventually be in 100% agreement that there are clearly safer breeds of dogs that drug dealers should be use to "get the blacks". Society will be much better off in the long run.

You're welcome
Posted by clint on September 1, 2011 at 11:41 AM
MasMadness 9
My goodness. She should have let the "erroneous" post from earlier stand...she went from typical busybody activist to seven-layered psychotic in 8 graphs. Not easy to do.
Posted by MasMadness on September 1, 2011 at 11:41 AM
MacCrocodile 10
@2 - I house sat once for people who had a pitbull mix. She was the friendliest, cuddliest dog ever. Her tenacity manifested in her play; she would never stop bringing the ball back. You'd have to hide the ball if you wanted to stop playing, and when it was time to sleep, she'd do the spooning thing, and if you stopped petting her, she'd squirm and nudge until you resumed.
Posted by MacCrocodile on September 1, 2011 at 11:42 AM
blip 11
She sounds like such a reasonable, even-keeled person. I would like to attend her rallies and maybe even subscribe to her newsletter.
Posted by blip on September 1, 2011 at 11:42 AM
12
How anyone could think Bouncer is ugly or not cuddly is beyond me!
Posted by genevieve on September 1, 2011 at 11:45 AM
MasMadness 13
@3, great pull. Thanks for giving the context that both the Stranger and myself were too lazy to look into.

@8, it's a little early in the day but you probably just won teh internet
Posted by MasMadness on September 1, 2011 at 11:46 AM
danewood 14
I want Seattle Shakes to do "Much Ado About Nothing" casting a pitbull as Benedick, with Hans Alweis offstage speaking his lines. Directed by this Ellen Taft.
Posted by danewood on September 1, 2011 at 11:46 AM
PussyDunkinHines 15
She used to come into Kinko's and absolutely go bonkers about any type of service dog that might be in the store. She would literally become unhinged. I have been in a yelling match with her more than once and I can confirm that she is batshit crazy. Imagine her pushing a stroller with what looked like a 9 year old barely able to fit inside it - and her screaming 'have you ever seen a two-handed pig farmer??!!!'... cuckoo.
Posted by PussyDunkinHines on September 1, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Matt from Denver 16
I'm all for breed bans, but referring to pits as "uncuddly" is just stupid. They'd never be mistaken for great family pets if they weren't cuddly.
Posted by Matt from Denver on September 1, 2011 at 12:18 PM
17
*Cough* Moron *Cough*

Much better choice, I think, than the word I called her in her head. She's not terribly bright, that's for sure. Making the argument that 'cuz they're not cute you shouldn't have them' has got to be the worst counter-argument to owning anything ever. Not to mention the whole notion that women can only handle the little yappy dogs which I'd like to punt across the parking lot makes her gender sound pretty weak and pathetic.
Posted by NateMan on September 1, 2011 at 12:43 PM
burgin22 18
Jesus - your comment bait is really getting transparent.
Posted by burgin22 http://www.zombo.com/ on September 1, 2011 at 12:55 PM
19
Maybe your dog is ugly, you mean old bitch.
Posted by That's just uncalled for on September 1, 2011 at 1:06 PM
20
It is really too bad that the Stranger's writers seem to be exempt from their own Incredulous Fucking Hack award. I hope they eventually reconsider. Think of all the trophies that Dom could have by now. He'd probably be able to melt enough of them down to have his very own bus to drive around and still have plenty left over to keep papers from flying off his desk.
Posted by clint on September 1, 2011 at 1:34 PM
Nutsy 21
See? Crazy-pants.
Posted by Nutsy on September 1, 2011 at 1:37 PM
22
#2-- amstaffs = pit bull. no need to differentiate unless you are showing your mix at the dog show.
Posted by mike checka on September 1, 2011 at 2:13 PM
23
How did you know that I own a pit bull because I feel social inadequate? LMBO

Lady your off your rocker and my Pit is so cute people give her treats when we go for walks, similar to when a small girl gets a dollar just for being pretty.

I love my Pits and they are the biggest babies ever! I can't get ten feet into the door without the boy wanting to stand on his two back legs and bear hug me. The girl knocks the phone out of my hand and climbs on my lap many times a day.

Its the owner not the Dog
Posted by mamayuck on September 1, 2011 at 2:23 PM
julie russell 24
A few things: Ellen Taft and the other members of FDAFB/Dogsbite.org (including Michael Holden and Colleen Lynn) are infamous for claiming "fear of safety" when NO THREATS have occured. In 2008 Colleen Lynn and I were slated to do the Ron and Don show to discuss pit bulls. I was relieved that there would FINALLY be a discussion happening...allowing the public to hear both sides of the issue.
When I arrived at the station I was told that Colleen had cancelled as she was afraid I would harm her!!! INSANE! She gave the radio host a letter she (presumably) wrote herself and told them I WROTE it and distributed it to her clients!!!
These people are dirty, nasty, underhanded folks.
Posted by julie russell http:// on September 1, 2011 at 2:29 PM
25
OY. Nothing new here.
I first met Ellen in 1996 @ the Volunteer Park wading pool. She found out our tiny 2 year old was going to attend a local coop preschool...
she WARNED US.."the teacher there BRINGS HER DOG TO SCHOOL!"..
"great" we replied..
"NO! NO!" raged Ellen "it is NOT OK for dogs to be in a school!! NO!!"... and then she stormed away when we tried to ask if the dog was dangerous or if there was other info we needed to know.
(btw: the preschools was fabulous.. A wonderful teacher - her mellow old dog was sweet and great with the children)

Posted by go bulldogs on September 1, 2011 at 2:43 PM
26
This woman would feel threatened by a rock if it fell off her roof during a wind storm and hit her in the head (which could actually do her some good). Seriously! She's been pulling this "I've been threatened" BS since 2007-2008 yet there are no threats filed w/ the Seattle police. She's backing out because SHE HAS NO SUPPORT! BECAUSE SHE IS INSANE! I feel bad for the dogs and their owners, well, the good ones anyways. And I never knew the stranger was so anti pit bull? Clearly they don't do much research either. HA! I'm more afraid of my neighbor than his dog. Human beings are much more violent and dangerous but yet here we sit...fearing dogs. Wow. Just....wow. Let guns roam the streets, as long as we kill all the big dogs we're totally safe!!!!!
Posted by Lovin' Seattle on September 1, 2011 at 3:24 PM
27
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqUa_G1h3…

Srsly.
Posted by Felurian on September 1, 2011 at 4:41 PM
28
I think Taft is the uncuddly one.
Posted by LizzieVeg on September 1, 2011 at 5:15 PM
Amy Kate Horn 29
Damn, I was REALLY looking forward to standing inside her comfort zone with my gorgeous, cuddly pit bull by my side tomorrow.
Posted by Amy Kate Horn on September 1, 2011 at 5:55 PM
Amy Kate Horn 30
@24: Is Michael Holden related to Dominic?
Posted by Amy Kate Horn on September 1, 2011 at 6:02 PM
julie russell 31
Funny you should ask:) I heard "journalists" weren't supposed to belong to special interest groups... but that might just be the case.
Also Hilarious that ET depicts Katie Rose (fellow pit hater) in her "marginalized woman" piece. KP is the poster child of an insecure woman, posting grotesque pics of her fat boobs all over FB and Myspace..what is her excuse? Based on ET's logic, shouldn't she own a pit bull??
Posted by julie russell http:// on September 1, 2011 at 6:17 PM
32
This "lady" obviously needs to get a life...and probably hasn't had anyone lover HER in a long, long time! How sadly pathetic.
Posted by LLowe on September 1, 2011 at 6:20 PM
33
how do you get off calling a pitbull ugly? pitbulls are beautiful dogs and my pitbull is the most cuddly dog in the world. just bc some are bad is no reason to judge the whole breed. just bc some people of different races join gangs and KILL PEOPLE EVERY DAY you dont ban the whole population of them so why do you want to ban the whole breed of dogs? it is just RACIAL profiling and im sorry to say but anyone who thinks they should be banned just bc some are bad really do deserve to burn in hell. you are just as RACIST as the KKK or the NAZI'S. thank you have a nice day
Posted by atrueanimallover on September 1, 2011 at 6:25 PM
KittenKoder 34
The sad part here is that it's not about the dogs, it's about the politics. It's not trying to protect people, it's trying to make people think how they do so they don't feel alone. All animals behave based on the environment they grow up in, unless these people want to say that no living thing is responsible for their actions because of it all being genetic *cough*racist*cough* .... gotta agree with #33 on their statement. What would be next, a ban on soldiers for being dangerous to?
Posted by KittenKoder http://digitalnoisegraffiti.com/ on September 1, 2011 at 6:36 PM
35
I've seen some pitbulls that were absolutely beautiful, which would be apparent to anyone with eyes who likes dogs... oh wait, Ms. Taft doesn't like dogs, does she? As for being cuddly: they absolutely are! Don't open your mouth, lady, unless you have actual experience dealing with these dogs, which you admittedly don't!

As for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett: have you ever read "Pride and Prejudice"? Obviously not. Your summary of the characters and partial plot certainly reveals that. Why don't you stick to subjects you know something about, like say, "The Cat in the Hat"?
Posted by electra1 on September 1, 2011 at 6:37 PM
36
I've seen some pitbulls that were absolutely beautiful, which would be apparent to anyone with eyes who likes dogs... oh wait, Ms. Taft doesn't like dogs, does she? As for being cuddly: they absolutely are! Don't open your mouth, lady, unless you have actual experience dealing with these dogs, which you admittedly don't!

As for Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett: have you ever read "Pride and Prejudice"? Obviously not. Your summary of the characters and partial plot certainly reveals that. Why don't you stick to subjects you know something about, like say, "The Cat in the Hat"?
Posted by electra1 on September 1, 2011 at 6:41 PM
37
Taft is a perfect example of closed minded, blind ignorance. Society allows people like her too much of a voice and opinion in important social matters like these. She's obviously clueless. She herself stated that this is purely a matter of ownership and not breed. Pitbulls are actually a working breed not a fighting breed. Our pitbull Chopper is not only cuddly, great around children and any other dog, but is also very handsome as told my almost everyone he meets. I personally don't take my pitbull to off leash parks not because I don't trust his behavior, it's some other owners and breeds that are much more aggressive. Due to ignorance and negative publicity, my loving and happy dog can't enjoy the same privilages as other dogs.
Posted by Mikey123 on September 1, 2011 at 7:22 PM
38
Geez, Ellen, if you're going to stand so strongly for a cause, at least have the guts to go thru with the event you've been pushing for over two weeks. Lemme guess, couldn't find anyone else to support your little rally and had to blame it on something as pathetic as the SPD in attempts to not look like a total fool? You've already done a fabulous job of that. The families with baby strollers that showed up were sure a safety risk...
Posted by Ann527 on September 1, 2011 at 8:58 PM
ROAG 39
People, don't take the bait. Every conversation about Ellen Taft eventually comes around to the same sad truth: the poor woman is batshit crazy. Actually, really, certifiably crazy.
Posted by ROAG on September 1, 2011 at 11:47 PM
40
BAD DOGS BAD DOGS WHATCHA GONNA DO- WHATCHA GONNA DO WHEN THEY LICK ON YOU?
Posted by TAFT IS BAT SHIT CRAZY on September 2, 2011 at 4:39 AM
41
I just have to add that all of you make me so proud to call Seattle, home :) Even if we do have to share it with people like Ellen Taft :)
Posted by Lovin' Seattle on September 2, 2011 at 5:43 AM
42
She and Mudede should team up for a ritual suicide
Posted by joemomma on September 2, 2011 at 8:13 AM
43
There was about 8 seattle police officers in the westlake plaza, I am sure any of them would have been willing to protect ellen Taft. If I had the extra money for 50 dollars an hour, with a 4 hour minimum. I could have hired an off duty police officer to accompany me there. Ellen Taft is a nut job for sure.
Posted by blakktalon on September 2, 2011 at 9:32 AM
44
Nut Jobs are a Seattle staple. The citizens tolerate all kinds of diversity, which is one of the many great things about Seattle. The downside is you have drunks in the parks and nut jobs talking to the mayor. That's the price of tolerance. Pit bulls and the mixes are some of the most lovely and charming animals I have ever met. Bad owners can even raise mean Parakeets.
Posted by Steve L on September 2, 2011 at 4:14 PM
45
OMG! Is this woman off her meds?
Posted by CAC on September 2, 2011 at 7:59 PM
46
Taft is also against dogs in Seattle (she claims they are all out of control), goats and greyhounds (which she thinks are all stupid). There's no animals he likes other than herself.
Posted by MeaghanEdwards on September 5, 2011 at 2:08 PM
47
Taft is also against dogs in Seattle (she claims they are all out of control), goats and greyhounds (which she thinks are all stupid). The only reason it was cancelled because she knew the crap she spewed was BS.

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-09-26/…
http://www.seattledogspot.com/2011/09/02…

Clearly, there's no animals he likes other than herself. The woman is whacko, plain and simple.
Posted by MeaghanEdwards on September 5, 2011 at 2:22 PM
48
The Beauty and the Beast analogy is BEYOND me. I LOVE my dogs (and yes, they are pitbulls). However (and this is a BIG however), my attraction to my dogs in not, nor will it ever be a sexual one as her allegory to Beauty and the Beast implies. She is one sick woman!!!
Posted by Sondra on September 6, 2011 at 11:21 PM
49
Here is something that happened recently that shows the dangers of pit bulls and that the pit bull lovers societies are absolutely nuts.

"Pit bull mauling death of pregnant woman comes as shock to Pacifica
By: Staff report 08/12/11 4:00 AM
When Darla Napora’s husband, Greg, left for work Thursday morning, he didn’t know it would be the last time he’d see his wife alive. By noon, though, Greg Napora returned to their Pacifica home to find his wife’s pregnant body laying in the front part of the house. She was not breathing. She had been mauled to death by the couple’s 2-year-old pit bull pit //www.sfexaminer.com/topics/darla-napora?page=0%2C0%2C0%2C1#ixzz1YdPU28Kw

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

There is a lot more to the story. Darla and husband slept with the 2 pitbulls every night. Darla was 2 weeks from giving birth to her first child. When the husband left that morning Darla was still in bed cuddling an slobbering over the pit bulls as female dog lovers are wont to do.

Ironically, Darla and husband belonged to one of those psycho pit lovers societies which I imagine are rife in the "out patient" lunatic asylum that is Seattle. They lobby for the life of pit bulls who kill people. They lobby against leash and muzzle laws.

The absolute worst these psycho female pit lovers did was claim that Darla was not killed by the pit bull but fell of a ladder while hanging curtains.
The pit lovers lunatic societies are still spreading this around.

Autopsy shows that she died from blood loss due to pit bull bites all over her body that opened arteries.

The husband is even more psycho about dogs as Darla. After his wife and baby were killed by the pit bull, he had the thing cremated. The dog's ashes were put in the coffin of Darla and baby. The dog was lovingly mentioned in the memorial service.

I live in Marin County Ca. I had no opinions about dogs until I moved to Marin. Unfortunately I live up in the hills where there are no fences.
The dogs run wild all over the neighborhood in packs all day and night.

Any attempt at a leash law is shouted down by hordes of psycho female dog lovers. The only time leash laws are considered is when the deer lovers get all upset at all the dead deer lying all over Marin county that have been run down by the dog packs and devoured alive.

The real problem with female dog lovers is that they are over supplied with female maternal hormones.

As I say, I had a totally neutral attitude towards dogs until I had to live in Marin among the packs that run wild all day and their psycho owners who think their dog has the absolute right to dump manure all over my drive way and yard and bring the neighbors trash and spread it all over my yard.

Ellen Taft attributes the psychosis of female dog lovers to the well known attraction to "bad boys." I attribute it to excessive maternal hormones leading to total lunacy.
More...
Posted by mari on September 21, 2011 at 5:17 PM
50
If humans comitted the typical dog crotch lunge it would be considered a sexual assault crime. I can't stand having dogs lunge and charge me and the snivelling owner cooing, "he's just being friendly."

If it's illegal for a man to grab my crotch while do dog lovers think it is perfectly ok for their disgusting, mutt to stick his or head in my crotch?

Why is is ok for dogs to take over streets and sidewalks and not let people walk by? Seattle sidewalks are patrolled by nasty, out of control dogs barking madly and charging at people who just want to walk on the sidewalk.

Where are their beloved mommies when the dogs are out on the sidewalks all day?
Posted by mari on September 21, 2011 at 5:39 PM

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