ohmidog!

The roots of “Beyond the Myth,” an independent documentary about the plight of pit bulls, go back to when Libby Sherrill was a student in graduate school at the University of Tennessee.

What was her senior project is now a nearly-finished product — a documentary that looks at pit bulls and the people who love and defend them.

The film explores the factors behind the public’s fear of pit bulls and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of breed specific legislation. It also investigates the myths associated with the breed and asks the question, “What exactly is a pit bull”?

To see a trailer, click here.

Sherrill left an eight-year career with HGTV to write, direct and produce her self-financed film debut, and is now hoping to enter “Beyond the Myth” in film festivals.

“Beyond the Myth” challenges the idea that pit bulls are inherently vicious and goes one-on-one with people on both sides of this controversial issue, according to the documentary’s website.

A pit bull owners herself, Sherrill is against breed specific legislation, such as that passed in Ohio, Denver and numerous other jurisdictions.

“Opponents of BSL believe that such laws are a demeaning overreaction perpetuated by media bias and claim that dog bite statistics (showing pit bulls are responsible for the majority of fatal dog attacks) are unreliable sources of information regarding the ‘viciousness’ of a breed. They argue that BSL is unenforceable and ineffective, and that it fails to reduce the occurrence of dog attacks because it fails to address the root cause — people.

“Instead of focusing on and punishing owners who are irresponsible and criminals who use their dogs for illegal purposes, legislatures choose to place their focus on the dogs, making them into scapegoats. Many opponents believe BSL is the equivalent of racial profiling and banning a breed is, quite possibly, unconstitutional.

Through the documentary’s website, Sherrill is raising funds to help offset its cost of the documentary, fund a public opinion survey about public perceptions of pit bulls and how the media contributes to them, and establish a legal defense fund for people trying to keep their dogs in jurisdictions that have banned them.

Apparently only a few days remain before the Obama family dog arrives at the White House – a Portuguese water dog, most sources seem to be saying.

That means we better run now with our list of the top 10 names for the First Family’s dog – assuming that, if they haven’t already, they’ll quickly come up with a name for the pup and not take another four months to get that accomplished.

Since we don’t know the gender we’ve included masculine, feminine and a few unisex names. Got a better suggestion? Send it along.

1. Ah-choo (or Gesundheit )– in honor of all the sneezing that, since the dog is allegedly hypo-allergenic, won’t be going on

2. Vasco – in honor of Vasco Bensaude, the Portuguese shipping magnate who kept the breed from going extinct.

3. Nottadoodle – Just to get back at those pushy Labradoodle fans who insisted the First Family choose that hybrid.

4. Monica – As a reminder that, when you’re in the White House, things can go down(hill) really quickly.

5. McCain – In honor of his opponent in the presidential race.

6. Stimulus, or Stimuli – We could use all we can get.

7. Hope – Maybe a bit audacious, but a nice name.

8. Omar – In honor of the president’s favorite character on “The Wire,” a gay stickup artist who steals from drug pushers to give to the poor.

9. Intruder – Just to make the Secret Service jump up every time anyone calls the dog.

10. Fin – In honor of the far-too-drawn-out, much-too-commented-upon drama of what the First Dog would be finally being over.

Indianapolis Councilman Mike Speedy plans to submit a “dangerous dog” proposal to the city-county council this month, calling for all pit bulls to be spayed or neutered.

His proposal also would require dog owners to purchase liability insurance if they mistreat their dog  or fail to keep it confined — no matter what breed it is.

“Living with the fear of a serious dog bite, you’re not fully free to enjoy this great city or your neighborhood,” Speedy said. “The pit bull is the most abused breed in America and in Indianapolis, and when that breed is abused they are more likely to bite people in a devastating and life-altering way. If you reduce their numbers in a humane way through spay and neutering, you will reduce the bites.”

Speedy’s comments came in an Indianapolis Star article. The newspaper has reported that pit bull bites rose 33 percent in 2008 from the previous year and were three times higher than in 2006. Pit bulls also account for more bites and more severe bites than any other breed, the newspaper said.

Animal Care and Control Advisory Board Chairman Warren Patitz said he is opposed to the sterilization requirement and is “not enthusiastic” about the liability insurance provision, because it would make dog ownership more difficult for low-income residents.

“Targeting a specific breed isn’t in the best interests of anyone because we need to target individual behaviors and people and not breeds of dogs,” he said. The city’s new animal control director, Doug Rae, has instituted a policy to try to curb euthanizations, including among pit bulls. Humane Society of Indianapolis Executive Director John Aleshire also prefers laws that are not breed-specific.

It’s the second attempt in as many years to pass breed specific laws in Indianapolis. Last time around, after a pit bull nearly killed a local toddler, a council member proposed banning the breed from the city.  A majority of council members opposed it.

The city council of Springfield, Missouri turned down a proposal that would have allowed some animal rescue groups to take pit bulls from the city pound and find new homes for them.

Instead, the city, which doesn’t allow unclaimed pit bulls and pit bull mixes to be adopted,  plans to continue killing any that come into the shelter.

Councilwoman Mary Collette proposed changing that policy, but was outvoted, 6-3.

If a dog’s owner doesn’t claim it within five days of Animal Control officers capturing it, it is euthanized, rerports TV station KY3.

Collette argued rescue groups should be able to save the animals just as they do breeds, and suggested rescue groups could sign waivers promising that they wouldn’t sue the city if a dog bites and injures a person.

Despite that, the majority of the council agreed that the risk of a lawsuit payout is too great.