Marty
08-11-2005, 11:14 AM
Davenport, IA --
Thirty-eight pit bull lovers stood Wednesday evening in a line that wrapped around the Davenport City Council Chamber, pouring out wrenching emotion about their dogs and the law.
Laura Leuthye said she moved to Davenport from Durant solely because of Durant's breed ban. She'd move again to keep her dog.
Stryder Behrens moved out of his mom's home as a teenager because she wouldn't keep his pit bull, Baby. Seven years later, with kids of his own, Behrens says he'd leave Davenport to keep his dog. And his mom now loves the dog. "My dog has never growled, let alone been vicious," he said, choking up and wiping his eyes moments before a tear could fall.
Poignant stories poured out from Davenporters who rarely make it down to city hall, let alone stand up before council members. Their message was clear: Pit bulls mean
more to them than their Davenport address.
Here's another sentiment that surfaced: fear. Though these pit bulls were invariably described as cuddly, that's not why people bought them. Owner after owner said they chose the breed for safety.
"I wanted a guard dog. I moved into a bad neighborhood from Moline. I'm out of town a lot and didn't want her to be alone," George Webb said, gesturing to girlfriend Nikki Baker, who says she didn't want a pit bull.
Shaeili Waggoner went for security too, when she chose her pit bull. "I live in the ghetto, next to Palmer."
Robert Mayes said he bought Tank and Ruby as guard dogs. "I feel safe in my home with my two dogs... Ban them and my home is for sale."
The council's public safety committee faces the tough job of considering a breed ban. But the agenda item we heard would be even tougher to address: How many Davenporters feel safe in their own home?
Thirty-eight pit bull lovers stood Wednesday evening in a line that wrapped around the Davenport City Council Chamber, pouring out wrenching emotion about their dogs and the law.
Laura Leuthye said she moved to Davenport from Durant solely because of Durant's breed ban. She'd move again to keep her dog.
Stryder Behrens moved out of his mom's home as a teenager because she wouldn't keep his pit bull, Baby. Seven years later, with kids of his own, Behrens says he'd leave Davenport to keep his dog. And his mom now loves the dog. "My dog has never growled, let alone been vicious," he said, choking up and wiping his eyes moments before a tear could fall.
Poignant stories poured out from Davenporters who rarely make it down to city hall, let alone stand up before council members. Their message was clear: Pit bulls mean
more to them than their Davenport address.
Here's another sentiment that surfaced: fear. Though these pit bulls were invariably described as cuddly, that's not why people bought them. Owner after owner said they chose the breed for safety.
"I wanted a guard dog. I moved into a bad neighborhood from Moline. I'm out of town a lot and didn't want her to be alone," George Webb said, gesturing to girlfriend Nikki Baker, who says she didn't want a pit bull.
Shaeili Waggoner went for security too, when she chose her pit bull. "I live in the ghetto, next to Palmer."
Robert Mayes said he bought Tank and Ruby as guard dogs. "I feel safe in my home with my two dogs... Ban them and my home is for sale."
The council's public safety committee faces the tough job of considering a breed ban. But the agenda item we heard would be even tougher to address: How many Davenporters feel safe in their own home?