Family No Closer To Adopting Stray Pit Bull
Board of Health weighed options last week as resident make case to adopt pit bull.
There was no resolution for the fate of a pit bull named Memphis, after a couple appeared before the Bloomfield Board of Health and asked to adopt the dog.
The Bloomfield Board of Health discussed various options during a public meeting held Thursday night. Recently, the fate of the dog, whom a local couple has been rigorously trying to adopt, had been up in the air.
Jeff Coltenback, owner of Paradise Pets and founder of the Pitty Rescue organization, appeared before the Board of Health in an effort to convince officials into letting him permanently adopt the pit bull. Coltenback expressed relief that the dog would not be put to sleep. "As much as my wife and I love him, saving him has always been are top priority," he said.
One of the options on the table would be allowing a third-party to evaluate the dog’s behavior. Coltenback said he previously contacted the township via email, offering to pay for the evaluation services of Jim Crosby, a behaviorist and evaluator from Florida, in conjunction with the NJSPCA.
The saga first began back in February after Memphis was brought into the Bloomfield Animal Shelter as a stray. After an evaluation, the dog was deemed unadoptable due to concerns about its behavior.
In March, however, the township allowed Coltenback to train the dog in his own home.
In exchange, Coltenback was required to sign legal documents agreeing to incur both the costs and legal liability associated with housing the dog. During this period of time, Coltenback said he socialized the dog by allowing it to interact with friends and family members.
Coltenback insists that nothing he did with the dog posed a safety hazard to the community. "The health department was well aware that family and friends were going to help me".
Coltenback also described preventitive measures he took to ensure that the dog was kept away from strangers while in public. "When I was walking down the street and saw a passerby, I would cross the street," he said.
Eight days later, the dog was ordered back to the shelter due to concerns that it was a danger to the public.
News of Coltenback's fight to adopt Memphis has spread virally across the Internet garnering support from thousands all over the globe in recent days. As of press time, a digital petition boasts over 11,000 signatures in favor of the dog's adoption. A 'Save Memphis' Facebook page has also been established with over 600 members.
The tremendous amount of support through social media is not lost on Clotenback. "When I saw it hit ten thousand [votes] last night, my wife and I began crying hysterically because its heart warming and it's touching," he said.
"I try to help anyway I can and that's all I was doing here," he said.
Dr. Laurie Roemmele
4:59 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I am so so sad to read this story! I know in my heart and soul that 1) Memphis will be ina great home and 2) the discrimination against pitbulls after the clear evidence that is is the people, i.e. Michael Vick, that are the problem....what is this bias happening here in our town when there a good people who want to do the RIGHT thing? The work done by people who truly understand Pitties should be truly considered, and please eliminate this ongoing hysteria!!
Erin Barry
4:59 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Pits are AMAZING DOGS- THANK YOU JEFF- your passion and dedication to making their lives better is truly admirable! BRAVO :) and may Memphis be safe, well and sharing love the way they deserve to!
jfc
4:59 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
So this is what we're wasting our time and taxes on?
Isn't this STUPID how this issue is getting out of hand?
Don't we have MORE problems in Bloomfield that need to be addressed instead of carrying on with a respectable business man and his wife want to adopt a dog?
This totally amazes me that officials in our town divert from the real issues facing Bloomfield!
Karen Banda
8:31 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
You would think they'd be relieved to have such an easy out. Memphis the so-called "troubled" dog (by Kathleen Georgovich's declaration) has a home with the most desireable couple you could want. Jeff and Diana who not only love pit bulls and are experts on the breed but Jeff is a master trainer and regularly called to other towns and shelters for help with their dogs. Plus he runs his own pit bull rescue and is a local, well-respected business man. He has his personal and professional reputation at stake and he's so convinced Memphis is a good dog he's willing to stake them on that dog.
A no-brainer, right? I guess it would only be a no-brainer if the people in charge had one or two active brain cells among them.
Vishous Rhage
9:53 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
~nodding...fist bump JFC~ Ur exactly right! Here u have a loving and responsible family more than willing and able to care for Memphis yet the town REFUSES to allow Memphis to have a home.
Karen Banda
4:59 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
What Karen Lore and her cohorts are doing to that poor dog is disgusting. What they are doing to Jeff and Diana Coltenback is repugnant. He is a pit bull lover and expert. A master trainer routinely called in by other towns and shelters to assess their dogs and train/rehab or rehome them. As witnessed by the large turnout Thursday night at the meeting Jeff is well-respected among other trainers and people in animal rescue. If his expertise is good enough for others, you have to wonder just what the hell is wrong with the people running Bloomfield's health department?
None of the people making the decisions about Memphis is qualified to assess him any more than they are to perform brain surgery. Videos taken by Jeff of Memphis clearly show a happy, loving dog and the bond between Memphis and Jeff is amazing.
To continue to keep that poor dog locked away in a cage for no reason is borderline abuse. That is MY personal opinion. Memphis has no bite history. His only 'crime' is being the first pit bull to enter the shelter after the latest incompetent 'manager' took over. Three people don't like Memphis. Period. The rest of the staff and the volunteers who had interactions with him love him.
Something stinks here, and it's not the dog poop.
Pat Gilleran
4:58 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
The Save Memphis facebook page now has 1,384 likes and new ones liking it every day (the official Bloomfield Bukowski Shelter page has only 655 likes). The petition was over 13,000 last time I looked. http://www.causes.com/actions/1674225
Jeff is now under attack by the Bloomfield Health Department and Bloomfield/Bukowski Fundraising Committee who are trying to ruin both his reputation and livlihood by claiming that he used a shock collar on Memphis. In this video he shows the training resources that were used with memphis- none of them a shock collar. On Sunday 8/19 Jeff felt compelled to set the record straight on the shock collar question in a video
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=4516167871609
Police have also visited Jeff at the behest of the Bloomfield Health Department (who had asked for suggestions at the BOH meeting) to ask that he publicly request that emails stop being sent to them?
The ONLY reason the POLICE would personally visit Jeff to deliver this message is to intimidate him into backing off about Memphis. THAT is an abuse of powers by the town - and if no one is to be publicly admonished for such an *illegal* bullying tactic, the State Attorney General should be informed to investigate the actions of all involved.
We should not be made to fear our representatives.
And if you feel that New Jersey's State Attorney General should be made aware of these illegal actions, you can use the webform at:
http://www.nj.gov/lps/formmail.htm
ELLEN CHILDERS
10:48 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
This is so darn ridiculous the Board Of Health would rather hurt innocent people and ruin their reputation and hurt a dog rather than to talk to the people that Memphis was exposed to. Obliviously no one was harmed or even barked at so why can't they just let Jeff and Dianne have Memphis back. We have several Pitts in our family and no one has ever been harmed and they were found and had no professional training but they are perfect ladies and gentlemen when they have company over or go out in public. My heart goes out to Jeff, Dianna and Memphis. Thank you for letting me vent....LOL
CAthy
4:58 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Cannot see why and pray that this animal will be given a fair shot. We need to stop putting labels on pitbulls as they are lovable creatures and feel earned a bad name due to that idiot who we all know used and abused them for fighting purposes and like so many other people who mistreat them who should burn in hell. This is giving this animal a fair chance, wake up people who are not in line with saving this dog's life.
MARY MORGAN
4:58 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
I truly hope Jeff Coltenback is allowed to bring Memphis back home.
Frobnitz
4:58 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Is "Memphis" the same dog as "Dinero?" Did the shelter rename Dinero?
Pat Gilleran
6:41 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
No Memphis and Dinero are not the same. Here is Dinero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3YL2K7OFfc&feature=youtu.be
He was adopted.
Beth Conmee
4:58 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
The petition is almost 14,000 and counting!!! Let Memphis go home with Jeff where he belongs!!
Karen Banda
4:58 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
This whole mess is absurd. Regardless of what Kathleen Georgovich and the rest say, Memphis never had any issues. The staff and fired volunteers who interacted with him loved him. Jeff Sneddon demonstrated to Mike Fitzpatrick what a good dog Memphis was and declared he disagreed with Kathleen. Jeff was let go shortly thereafter for bogus reasons.
If not for the fired volunteers Memphis would still be hidden from the public, and God only knows what would have happened to him. Per Karen Lore's press release in March he was being used for a series of training videos called The Memphis Project. In 6 months the kennel attendant supervisor couldn't train that poor dog? She's either incompetent or manipulative.
The eval at St. Hubert's that Memphis failed twice is subject to suspicion and criticism among dog trainers. It is not the be all and end all evaluation of any dog! In 8 days with Jeff and Diana Memphis never exhibited one bit of behavior that had to be corrected. There are numerous pictures and videos Jeff took while working with Memphis and they all show a calm, focused, loving and happy dog. You have to wonder why Karen Lore and is fighting so hard to pretend the facts don't exist.
To subject that poor dog to another day in a cage when there is a loving home for him is abuse. That dog had a good home from day 1 with a police officer but wasn't allowed to leave the shelter.
Something stinks and it's not dog poop.
Simone Sarnowski Hrin
10:48 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Karen Banda, as I am reading everything you have said, I'm thinking ..YEAH,YEAH,YEAH! I couldn't say it any better....so I won't ......you are so right about the smell....something so totally wrong here, it makes absolutely no sense! They should be thrilled Jeff and Diana want to have him.....it is the best solution for EVERYONE! It seems to me that EVERYONE agrees with this except the BBOH! That should stand for Bloomfield Bunch Of Haters! I seriously cannot believe this is happening in the USA.....especially my home state! The BBOH is an embarrassment! My heart goes out to Jeff, Diana , and Memphis.......they need each other...praying for their reunion in the very soon future!
Lynne Morgan
10:48 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
There is no other Animal Shelter in the world that would refuse to adopt a dog to Jeff Coltenback. And refusing to allow Jim Crosby to evaluate Memphis when NJSPCA and Jeff offer to pay for this? I attended the Bloomfield BOH meeting. It is very clear that Karen Lore, Director of Health and Human Services has drawn a line in the sand when it comes to Jeff and her ego is preventing her from seeing how wrong she is about Memphis. And the fund raising committee for the shelter who sat in the front row stoic as Jeff was pleading for Memphis, crying? They did not applaud one of the 20+ people who spoke including Joe Dwyer who rescued Daniel the beagle which made national headlines. They present a letter asking to fund raise to send Memphis to a sanctuary? Fow what? The dog has no bite history and if I was fundraising for a shelter it would be my primary goal to find them homes, not sanctuaries. Caldwell and Glen Ridge are also contracting with Bloomfield/Bukowski shelter. Residents must urge both town councils to pull the contracts because money talks.
Simone Sarnowski Hrin
10:48 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
ps: petition well on it's way to 15,000...now at 14,224! Please everyone please sign and keep sharing! http://www.causes.com/actions/1674225
Harriet Alexander
10:48 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
This whole situation is ludicrous!!! Shame on Karen Lore, who does not care for those animals! Shame on the Board of Health and shame on the Township of Bloomfield!
Carolyn DeCastro
10:48 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Why would Bloomfield rather leave this dog sitting in a shelter then have him in a home with people who love him. This is politics and ego at its worst. Memphis has shown that he is a loving dog who can live with a family. Jeff is respected in his field and the town of Bloomfield is also trying to ruin his reputation just so they can say to rest of the world that they are right. Well, they are not right, they are idiots
fxja
5:55 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
All the truthiness spewed by commentators here is surely entertaining. Thanks! Why can't we have reasonable debates here? The township's pet shelter supervisors have worked with many pitbulls in past. Case in point, Dinero. However, this dog has been evaluated twice and concerns have arisen twice. I'd love to donate to the cause here for yet another evaluation, would you?
While I think it's reasonable that someone should have the liberty to take on all of the liability for caring for a pit bull of questionable temperament, I think it's unreasonable to resort to ad hominem attacks against people working for the safety of the larger group. I believe the mark of a true idiot is one who is unreasonable in such matters.
Laura Prowicz
5:55 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
... because the Government is a better judge that you as to what is best for your family! Really people?? WTF???
jojo
1:05 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
JUST GIVE THE DOG A LOVING HOME! BIG GOOD NEWS THAT DOG JOJO WAS FOUND, NOW SOMEONE WANTS MEMPHIS AND IS FORCED TO FIGHT EVERY RIDICULOUS OBSTACLE. RIDICULOUS.
Karen Banda
1:05 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
fxja,
Who are you getting your information from? Memphis has clearly shown he has no issues during the EIGHT DAYS he spent with Jeff Coltenback and Diana and in the numerous pictures and videos taken by Jeff.
Would you want anyone to judge you by only 2 encounters with you under an extremely stressful situation? Didn't think so.
As for working for the safety of the township, Memphis is not a threat. However, some of those fundraisers are pretty threatening.
As for the mark of an idiot...Karen Lore is the one being unreasonable in THIS matter.
Dr. Laurie Roemmele
10:09 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Karen Banda is totally correct, and in spite our past disagreements .....I thank her for being an advocate for animals....always. Yes as someone wrote above we have more challenges in this town than Memphis??!! BUT....Memphis represents a lot more than animal rights, if one thinks about it!! I will hope and pray for Memphis' safe place with Jeff and his family!!!
Pat Gilleran
10:50 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Have you seen what the "evaluation entails".
The dog is poked and provoked with a rubber arm. The dog is watched while a stuffed dog is put in the area. The dog meets a stranger. Then the stranger comes back with a hoodie on and acts aggressively.
We have Memphis' first evaluation ( the health department refused to give us the 2nd at the meeting requiring us to OPRA it- transparency as alway Ms. Lore!) and the parts that he failed would have been failed by my German Shorthaired Pointers and most of the other dogs that I know.
Mad Beitmann
5:11 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
This is a ridiculous way to do an evaluation. A rubber arm!! I wouldn't want to be poked and provoked with a rubber arm!! Dogs aren't supposed to be poked and provoked anyways! What would that prove? A rubber arm would make any dog try to go after it as a toy perhaps. I'm not a trainer. I don't know. But the part about a stranger with a hood on who acts aggressively is really going over the limits, especially in a place where it is not "user-friendly". It isn't a home!! Most dogs would fail this!!
Karen Banda
6:10 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
I have submitted an OPRA request for the second eval.
Pat Gilleran
10:32 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
People who tried to visit Memphis today were denied. memphis is now being kept in a kennel run seperated from the other dogs by and empty kennel and a plywood barricade.
” I asked were Memphis was and she pointed to the last dog run on the left. I caught a slight glimpse of him. They have a knee length baby gate or doggie gate up to prevent you from walking up to him. …
Also – There was an empty dog run next to him. So Memphis is at the end of the dog run with no other animals on either side of him. That in my opinion is lack of socialization. It’s almost like solitary confinement in my opinion.”
it IS solitary confinement.
Mad Beitmann
5:11 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
What?!? Why were they denied? How can a visit be denied? Isn't the place open to the public?? Separated!! What?!? Why would they put Memphis at the last dog run without any dog next to him!! Yes, that IS lack of socialization and punishment! Why is he being punished!! What did he do? NOTHING!! He has done NOTHING!! He isn't allowed to have visitors?? Something needs to be done and quickly! I think back to Lennox who was in Belfast, Ireland, for 2 years and they wouldn't let anyone go to him, and he had done NOTHING wrong! He was taken from his loving home, and here Memphis was at a LOVING home with Jeff and his wife, and was taken from Jeff's home by Jeff being made to give Memphis back after only 8 days! Has the governor been notified about this ridiculous situation going on? New Jersey is in a financial mess to begin with and I can't believe that money is being wasted when Memphis can be in a loving home with Jeff and his wife!! New Jersey has made state employees give up pay, has reduced departments to save money and this is going on in Bloomfield! I just can't see why they want to have Memphis without any human touch or any other dogs around. Someone higher up better step in on this case! There is NO reason why people can't go visit Memphis!! Isn't this a public place? What reasons are they saying why they have done this! This is NOT FAIR!! What is this place trying to prove?!?! Memphis needs OUT before worse goes on there! I am fearing for his safety!
Toni Mets
5:10 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
This shelter has major issues,I am so discusted! I have been in Blfd my whole life, and an animal lover forever! I have dealt a few times with this shelter and NOT ONCE can I say that even I was treated humanely! 4 years ago I went in with my Mom and my younger daughter to look to adopt a dog after our small pit mix passed from old age. When we went to look at Blfd shelter for a new "family member" we were "greeted" with suspicion and an attitude. They asked us what we were looking for (male or female) why we wanted a dog, what happened to our dog (which are good questions) and then she asked us where we adopted our last dog. When we told her the name of the shelter, she answered with "well why don't you go back there?" WHAT?? and from that moment, every dog we asked to see "had issues". Oh this one is getting issues from being in a cage to long, or this one won't be good with kids etc. Seriously! I can't believe this is happening to Jeff, Diana and Memphis...to have Memphis back in a kennel is probably one of the crulest things they could have done to him emotionally. I'm sorry, I don't believe these people at the shelter are intellectually equiped to be dealing with animals, and stupid me...I had high hopes for this shelter and the animals after the (vague) changes that have gone on there recently. This shelter's human inhabitants should be monitored, the animals are not the ones with issues here! Put Memphis back with the family that will help him flourish! NOW!!!!
Pat Gilleran
11:06 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Please send the Town Clerk and Town Administrator an e-mail objecting to the Bloomfield Health Department’s refusal to let Memphis be adopted.
Please ask that it be read at the next town council meeting - cc the town council. Town Council meetings are on Mondays so send before…
town clerk and admin
twpclerk@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
twpadm@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
lpalagano@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
lmilone@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
town council (includes the Mayor)
themccarthy@msn.com
rbrown@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
echalet@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
njoanow@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
cbernard@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
pdunigan@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
mvenezia@bloomfieldtwpnj.com
bernardham@onebox.com
Mad Beitmann
9:25 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Is there a way the Governor can be notified about this? I think if enough people notify him, because he is very concerned with the financial situation of NJ, then perhaps he can step in! I really feel it needs to go higher than the town clerk/admin/town council.
Pat Gilleran
9:25 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
Jeff Coltenback talks about Memphis - No aggression!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRxpBlu5BJ4&feature=share
Pat Gilleran
12:06 am on Tuesday, August 28, 2012
memphis on 8/25/12. Although behind plywood and with an empty kennel next to him- Memphis was happy to see us
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Buddy/352863411421149#!/photo.php?fbid=10151096348913956&set=o.418127864889034&type=1&theater
Naomi Rey
10:05 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Please stop the nonsense and the bigotry. Give Memphis back to the Coltenbeck's!!! Sounds like you have serious crime issues that need your attention. Stop persecuting innocent dogs and people.