Michigan Tribute to Victims of Dangerous Dogs 2023 - A Zoom conference event (1:22 length).
Zoom Conference 2023
Lansing, MI - In the tradition of National Pit Bull Victim Awareness Day, Michigan-based Responsible Citizens for Public Safety once again hosted the annual event, a Michigan Tribute to Victims of Dangerous Dogs, to honor victims of dangerous dog attacks, as well as to discuss legislative issues in multiple states and abroad. This year's event was a Zoom meeting with participants from Michigan, Texas and Virginia. The meeting was held on October 21. DogsBite.org provided the video editing.
Ann Marie Rogers, the founder of Responsible Citizens for Public Safety (rc4ps.org), hosted this year's event. Rogers, who lost her own mother in a violent dog attack in 2021, interviews two Michigan victims, Leticia Spagnuolo of Livingston County and Jill Deminiuk of Macomb County, each who have harrowing stories of a vicious dog-on-dog attack by a repeat offending dog, the loss of their own dog in the violent attack, and how the animal control agency and legal system failed them.
The event also included special guest Colleen Lynn, the founder of DogsBite.org, to discuss alternatives to breed-specific legislation that will protect public safety including: establishing a state dangerous dog registry, mandatory bite disclosure legislation, mandatory liability insurance for all dog owners, and mandatory intake by tax-funded shelters of dogs involved in vicious attacks. Dog attack victim advocate Bonny Lee, RN, of Virginia, also joined the annual roundtable discussion.
After Rogers' introduction, the main break points are: Spagnuolo shares her account of her dog's attack at 2:20 -- Spagnuolo intervened when a bullmastiff-pit bull mix attacked her dog Pearl; Deminiuk shares the account of her dog's attack at 11:45, and the "mind-boggling" legal shenanigans that followed. Discussing international breed-specific laws and alternatives to BSL starts at 43:26. Discussion of Michigan laws and attacks are scattered throughout, and Lee discusses Virginia at 1:07.
"I wanted to get the story out because I really thought that I was the exception to the rule that dogs were going to be taken care of ... Then I was really angry when I found out how many complaints had been filed against the owners of these dogs. They were basically breeding these dogs and they had 21 dogs bullmastiff-pit bull mixes and a rental house at one point." - Leticia Spagnuolo
"I walk around like a zombie depressed all the time. I do my life, but I just I'm so sad. I miss her so much. People are not getting justice. I've never seen anything so deranged in my life. It's out of control people are getting away with whatever they feel like and the dogs are glorified, like kings and queens. These dogs are put on a on a throne while we suffer, mind-boggling." - Jill Deminiuk
(We did experience significant video and audio challenges due to a poor capture rate during the meeting, which is why video was abandoned all together, and overlays were used instead).
Host Ann Marie Rogers and guests for the Michigan Tribute to Victims of Dangerous Dogs.
Related articles:
12/16/20: Ann Marie Rogers: Animal Welfare Advocate, Animal Control Officer, Public Safety Advocate
10/26/20: National Pit Bull Victim Awareness Day 2020 Zoom Conference
10/21/19: Event at the Michigan State Capitol Building on National Pit Bull Victim Awareness Day
It’s sad something like this even gets made. When is society going to ban inappropriate breeds and hold dog owners accountable?
It will happen when society stops worshiping dogs.
When they’re recognized for what they are — predatory carnivores — the worship will stop.
This group, Responsible Citizens for Public Safety, gives me hope. It’s the kind of grassroots activist group we need.
Great discussion. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you for sharing.