Community Corner

Supporters March For Memphis, But No Resolution in Sight

Saturday's well-attended event garnered community support for the homeless dog and the couple who are trying to adopt him.

 

Saturday’s Walk a Mile for Memphis event was the latest effort by local animal advocates to convince the township to let Bloomfield dog trainer Jeff Coltenback adopt a homeless pitbull named Memphis.

On Saturday morning, Bloomfield police stopped traffic to allow more than 100 walkers, some carrying signs and chanting “Save Memphis,” to traverse through town on their one-mile route.  The protest, which began and ended at Town Hall, was a last-ditch effort to peacefully end the dispute that began in August when the Board of Health denied Coltenback’s application to adopt the dog from the Bloomfield Animal Shelter.

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Coltenback says he has not heard from the township since he served Board of Health Director Karen Lore with court papers earlier this month. That was when an outside animal trainer determined that Memphis was “unadoptable” without rehabilitation.  Coltenback, an animal trainer who specializes in pitbull rehabilitation, has maintained he is fully capable of providing that, as well as giving the dog a loving home.

Mayor Raymond McCarthy explained at a township council meeting earlier this month that, during Coltenback's home evaluation of the dog in August, the trainer had violated his contract with the town by allowing the dog to be near children. 

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On October 5, the case of Coltenback vs. Bloomfield will be heard in Essex County Superior Court.

“More and more people are coming forward with dogs they adopted from Bloomfield Animal Shelter that have issues,” he said.  “They’re telling me, ‘subpoena me.’  They want to help. They see the injustice that’s happening.”

Jennifer Gillis adopted her dog Dakota, who looks strikingly similar to Memphis, from the Bloomfield Animal Shelter last year.  She says she was allowed to adopt Dakota despite a similar assessment of the dog’s disposition.

“The situation with Memphis could have been him,” she said.  “The shelter tried to say Dakota was aggressive but he isn’t.  He has zero aggression issues.  He’s the sweetest dog ever.”

She added, “He lives with two shih tzus and a cat. He’s not even the alpha dog, one of the shih tzus is.”

“If a pitbull bites and a Golden Retriever bites, the one who will be vilified, the one who will make the evening news, is the pitbull,” insisted Lauren Blann, who, despite being wheelchair-bound, traveled from Brick, N.J., to participate in Walk a Mile for Memphis.  

Blann says her two children, Trevor, 4, and Morgan, 2, have grown up surrounded by pitbulls.

“I had many pitbulls over the years, I’ve done rescue and foster,” she said.  “I have pictures of the kids sleeping on top of the dogs.  I feel like pitbulls are safe dogs . . . My children grew up with these dogs.  They’re their best friends.” 

“I don’t understand why Jeff can’t adopt him,” said Bloomfield resident Dena DeSantis.  “It’s not clear why they’ve made that decision.  I’m dumbfounded.”

“I’m thinking pride and arrogance,” speculated Aaron Drew of Newark.  “They don’t want to admit they made a mistake.”

He added, “I definitely feel this walk will help [Memphis get adopted].  But it’s going to take more than this.  [The Board of Health is] not just going to bow down.  It’s going to take the courts to decide.”

Blann agreed.  “I’d like to think this event today will help, but unfortunately you have a city council here who thinks they’re above the law,” she said. “They’re going to do what they want, unless someone stops them.”

As for Coltenback, he admitted he didn’t think the Walk a Mile for Memphis event would change the Health Board’s decision, but he was gratified by the community support the event generated.

“My wife and I really appreciate all the support today, it’s been overwhelming,” he said.  “We hope this little gathering today ignites a response from the township.”

Coltenback said Memphis would again be on the agenda at the September 17 township council meeting and that a Board of Health meeting was scheduled for Thursday. 

“Although I fear for Memphis’ fate – he’s our primary objective, getting him back into our care – I fear going to trial for the township because I’m not so sure they’re prepared for what’s going to be dug up,” he said.  “It’s my town, I love this town and I do want to protect the town and I hope that we can come to some kind of resolution.”

Patch has made several efforts to contact the Board of Health to for comment but there has been no communication to date.


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