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    Animal Advocate Screens Dog Documentary at Gateway

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SJMzWBaG6k

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    Nine years ago, Tammy Birk met a brunette that would change her life.

    By day, Birk teaches English and directs the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program at Otterbein University. But most of the rest of her time is focused on issues surrounding pit bulls because of Licorice, the dark haired pit she came to own almost by accident – a dog that challenged her own misconceptions about pit bulls.

    She rescued Licorice as a 3rd birthday gift for her daughter.

    “He has been the love of our lives for the last 9 years,” says Birk. “We had not had a pit bull before. I, like a lot of people, had a bunch of apprehension about getting one, especially with a toddler.” But Licorice changed all that.

    “He is an absolute sweetheart of a dog and a beautiful soul. He changed my mind.”

    Now she works tirelessly with Columbus based organizations like to save pits from euthanasia, fight breed specific legislation, and change the bias that almost kept her from adopting what she calls the center of her family.

    Thanks to Birk – and Licorice – the Gateway Film Center’s Ohio Grown series takes a look at the plight of Ohio pit bulls this Sunday with a benefit screening of the documentary Guilty ‘Til Proven Innocent, a film Birk arranged to bring to town.

    A Cleveland native, Birk was aware of the documentary made by fellow Clevelander Jeff Theman.

    “I knew about its premiere in Cleveland earlier this year,” she says, “and I knew about the effect that it had – a lot of lawmakers went to it, policy makers, people who lived in places that didn’t allow pit bulls. I know that the film changed a lot of minds, so I thought it might not be a bad idea to bring it here.”

    Theman’s film challenges breed specific legislation – laws that ban the ownership of pits – as well as the notion that pit bulls are necessarily vicious animals, or that they pose a higher threat than any dog.

    The filmmaker will be on hand for Sunday’s screening, and he hopes Columbus can see as much benefit from the film as Cleveland has.

    “I hope it starts productive conversations between the public and the political leaders in the area,” says Theman. “There has been so much visible change in Cleveland that I forget it’s not like this everywhere. And, from what I have been hearing, there is some division in central Ohio.”

    Says Birk, “The benefit screening in Columbus will do a number of important things: it will allow animal advocates in central Ohio an opportunity to build and share community, it will provide a post-film talkback with the director of the film, and it will raise proceeds to benefit five central Ohio rescues that regularly pull pit bulls and bully breeds from certain euthanasia.”

    “There is a whole culture of people who try to pull dogs from shelters that are going to be euthanized,” she continues

    Theman hopes the screening will allow this community to expand.

    “I hope it allows everybody to come together and actually get some much needed work done to help save more innocent dogs, and put all the differences behind us for the greater good.”

    Hosted by Pet People, the screening will be held at Gateway Film Center (1550 North High St.) at 2 pm on Sunday, October 6th. Screening proceeds benefit five central Ohio: PAWS, Peace for Paws, Pet Promise, Measles Animal Haven and Sanctuary, and I Have a Dream Rescue. Animal welfare groups will be on hand before the event, and a social hour will follow the film in the Gateway Film Center lounge.

    Tickets are $10 or $20 (if you choose to add an additional donation to the ticket price). They are available online at: www.movietickets.com.

    A full slate of movie reviews is available on my website www.maddwolf.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @maddwolf and like me on Facebook at facebook.com/MaddWolfColumbus.

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    Hope Madden
    Hope Maddenhttps://columbusunderground.com
    Hope Madden is a freelance contributor on Columbus Underground who covers the independent film scene, writes film reviews and previews film events.
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