Mixed Reactions to Memphis Action

Officials again looked at the status of Memphis, the Bloomfield pit bull, but observers say the government action does not satisfactorily answer the question of the dog’s ownership.

At their Tuesday meeting, the council passed a resolution calling for the return of the dog to Bloomfield’s Coltenback family. The longstanding contention holds that the Coltenbacks, who are dog trainers, should be allowed to own the former stray dog that was deemed unadoptable last year.

“We are not at all sure what this resolution means,” the post read. “It's too ambiguous as to ownership, who transferred Memphis to the trainer in South Dakota for starters.”

Township resident Pat Gilleran, who led a group of protesters at the meeting holding “Save Memphis” signs, complained that there was not a timetable for returning the dog to Bloomfield. She suggested a two-week deadline. Mayor McCarthy suggested a month; officials removed the deadline from the resolution following a closed discussion.

The question of a timetable may be moot, one legal expert close to the matter said. 

Bloomfield Board of Health attorney Ronald Ricci said the resolution will have no impact on bringing the dog home, according to a report in Bloomfield Life, contending the council has no legal authority concerning the dog’s ownership.

The Council is scheduled to again discuss Memphis at their monday night conference meeting.