NBC News report about “Out of the Blue” visit to Columbus, Ohio.
by Joanie Caldwell-Kenoshmeg
Advocates, volunteers and victims of dog attacks volunteered time and energy to bring the “Out of the Blue” sidewalk art exhibit to Columbus, Ohio on May 30, 2015 to educate the public on the growing problems of serious life-changing and life ending attacks on humans and pets by dangerous dogs––primarily pit bulls.
The exhibit was first shown in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 24, 2014 in Grand Rapids, Michigan by Wyoming, Michigan resident Joan Kowal as an entry in ArtPrize, an annual outdoor art contest attracting upward of 1,500 entrants and more than 400,000 votes from viewers who select the award-winning entries.
Johnna Harvard mourns the pit bull death of her son John.
In original form, “Out of the Blue” honored 30 victims of recent dog attacks. Concerned citizens added new crosses and memorial information for a dozen new victims of pit bulls to keep the memorial up to date. Forty-two crosses lined the street in Columbus to show the public how pit bulls are impacting families “out of the blue.” The victims were killed in most cases by family-loved, un-abused pit bulls, some of them neutered, who had never shown prior aggression before attacking and killing grandmothers, adult female and male pit bull owners, infants and toddlers.
The presenters vow to take “Out of the Blue” to other cities around the country. We demand change to protect people from pit bull attacks.
Pit bull advocates protest in front of Julie Kowal’s memorial to dog attack victims in September 2014.
Plastic surgeons and physicans report that pit bulls cause injuries so much more severe than other dogs that they often cannot repair the victims with any amount of medical intervention. Such injuries are not mere bites, and warrant preventive regulations, as all Americans pay for national heath insurance.
Civil lawsuits after attacks occur provide ineffective recourse. Less than 2% of dog attack victims recover damages from the owners of pit bulls when the dogs attack because the owners are uninsured or delay settling lawsuits for many years. Many pit bull attack victims are now begging for help online to pay for plastic surgeries and other medical bills.
Also exhibited in Columbus were posters denouncing national news media inlcuding Fox, MSNBC, and CNN, for failing to disclose the dog breeds involved after recent pit bull fatalities, helping to keep this public safety threat hidden.
Posters and information were shared with passers-by, who were referred to Daxtonsfriends.com, Dogsbite.org, and Voicesofthevictims.org for more information.
A memorial for American veterans killed by pit bulls is also being planned.
(See also http://www.animals24-7.org/2014/09/30/dont-bully-my-breed-but-we-will-bully-the-victims/, by Beth Clifton, and http://www.animals24-7.org/2014/10/07/three-pit-bull-stories-to-chew-on/, by Barbara Kay.)
Please donate to support our work: http://www.animals24-7.org/donate/
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Excellent! Thank you so much for keeping us updated. I certainly hope this memorial display comes to Louisiana. I would love to view it. Thanks again!
The sad thing is, although this is information animal lovers should know, Animals 24-7 will be the only animal protection news source that will report on this event. Ironically, I am sure many animal welfare sites will report on the effort to repeal breed restrictions in Ohio.
Peace: You may be right that Animals 24-7 will be the only animal protection news source that carries coverage of this important event. However, last November SRUV posted an appeal for Joan Marie Kowal’s “Out of the Blue” to be accepted as the National standard for memorials to victims of pit bull attacks. You can still read the post at . Now it appears that may happen, thanks to concerned people in Columbus. Let’s hope the Columbus Dispatch carries news of this installation.
Yes; Ohio is attempting to pass BSL preemption. But Joan Kowal’s moving work is especially significant right now because Michigan is also pursuing preemption and have a bill before the Senate.
Many thanks to Joanie Caldwell-Kenoshmeg and any others who may be involved in organizing and publicizing this important event.
Sharing to social media, with gratitude, and hoping other readers will do the same.