Hick Town Documentary Highlights Denver's Dog Discrimination

Denver's notorious breed ban was featured in a clip shown to a sold-out crowd at the premiere of the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 11. Folks from around the land had gathered to pay tribute to the late film director and home-town hero, George Hickenlooper; the packed house included Kevin Spacey and Spencer Garrett, stars of his last film, Casino Jack.

The clip dealing with pit bulls was one taken from the documentary series Hick Town, where George was given unprecedented access to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper — his cousin and the soon-to-be Governor. The clip featured the Mayor and his staff discussing the fate of an alleged "pit bull" named Forrest.

Cliff Froehlich, the Executive Director of SLIFF, said he chose the clip because of a lobbyist. He thought it fitting to show the impact a lobbyist can have, given the subject matter of George's last film. That lobbyist, an attorney for Best Friends Animal Society managing their Saving America's Dog campaign, was his wife ... namely me.

Forrest, the star of the clip, lived peacefully with his owner outside of Denver until he escaped from his yard and ended up in the Mile-High City infamous for its doggy death row. In questioning the Mayor about the situation, George asked what the dog's crime had been. The Mayor's blithe answer: simply being a "pit bull" in Denver. George countered, "Wasn't that discrimination?" To which the Mayor responded, "I guess if you are a pit bull it is."

It would be nice if Colorado's soon-to-be Governor realized that "pit bulls" are just dogs. George, through his insightful editing, recognized this. As the camera panned in on Forrest's sweet face on death row, he wagged his tail, hoping for a miracle.

That miracle came through, maybe due to the fact that George was filming, or  possibly because of all the attention the city was getting because of the National Democratic Convention coming to town. Best Friends Animal Society brokered a deal with the city and drove a van to Denver to transport the dog to Stray Rescue in St. Louis, George's old home town. Forrest is one of the few "pit bulls" that have made it off of Denver's doggy death row.

Forrest's travels didn't stop there. Chef David Edelstein had been following Forrest's case. He had rescued another pit-bull-type dog and since that time had become acutely aware of the real life consequences of canine profiling. He adopted Forrest, and ended up adopting Kane, another death row dog banished from Denver.

David Edelstein didn't stop by saving individual dogs. His outrage with Denver's policy has grown into a mission. He gave up the restaurant business and formed Team Pit-A-Full to fight breed specific legislation and the stigma surrounding these dogs. He and his "team" are making a difference, speaking truth to power.

When asked about his campaign to change Denver's policy, Edelstein states, "I believe the time has come to call the City of Denver on the carpet for their ignorance, political game playing, and their abuse of their 'home rule city' privileges and authority."

Somewhere, I hope George Hickenlooper is looking down on Forrest and smiling.

Photo Credit: George Hickenlooper Courtesy of IDP Distribution