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Herald-Citizen Photo/Megan Trotter _ Paul Izbicki gets an action shot of Jodi Preis and Harlan walking toward the camera in Dogwood Park.

Gainesboro wom an and pet help with Pit Bull documentary

By MEGAN TROITER
HEMLD-CITIZEN Staff

It was at an event promoting BSL

awareness that she met Libby Sherrill

Gainesboro resident Jodi Preis and her dog Harlan are out to help change the perception of the Pit Bull breed by their participation in the documentary,

COOKEVILLE

Film to look beyond the myth of the

dangerous dog
man Shepherd, Bull Mastiff, American Bulldog and Siberian Husky
these

of Knoxville who asked if she could interview Preis for her documentary. "The film's core message is that BSL is ineffective at stopping dog attacks because it targets dogs and not people. All dogs, regardless of
breed, deserve a chance to be a great

"Beyond the Myth," which

will

be

shown at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Cookeville Performing Arts Center.

dog with a responsible human. That

Bull-type dogs out there that don't fit that mold we'|re not saying every "Dogs are the product of their envi- Pit Bull-type dog is a wonderful dog. ership - specific breeds, or even ronment and upbringing, and 'prob- You can't say that about any breed." of lem dogs' are the result of 'problem Shenill first started working on her mixed breeds, of dogs. As the owner of the local rescue dog owners,"'Preis said. "Laws that documentary as a project in graduate focus on the appearaace of a dog, school at the University ofTennessee organization, Bless the Bullies, Preis rather than a dog's behavior after witnessing negative comments is known for being outspoken against and/or the irresponsible dog owners from her neighbors when a friend these types of laws. BSL isn't only that condone and encourage bad with a pair of Pit Bulls visited her about Pit Bulls, she says. Across the behavior only leave a community home. She put together the pre-procountry there are cities who have put more vulnerable to the truly danger- duction packet for school, and then strict laws or even bans on owning ous dogs in the community."
bread and breed specific legislation (BSL) passing laws against ownbreeds.

The film explores the Pit Bull and this includes mixtures of

doesn't mean that there aren't Pit

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Jodi preis shares a quiet moment with her pitt bull, Harlan, ,"

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?lT$' B'baruomdn, dog, in

documentary on Pit Bulls
1

changed after seeing the film. after she graduated, started to uled to be euthanized. They realized they had been a actually put it together. "He's a great dog, and an victim of the media." The first shoot with Preis at a incredible breed ambassador, Tickets to see "Beyond the Pit Bull event turned out unus- and I always take him to events Myth" are $10 and a portion of
able because of too much back-

From Page

animal shelter in Missouri just one day before he was sched-

that their mind was totally

ground noise, so they met uP

several months ago to

interview again

Dogwood Park. Preis has been on camera

before in brief news interviews at meetings o[ cities proposing breed bans, but this shoot was more difficult for her. "I was extremely nervous," she said. "But Libby is so easY to work with, and once I got into my groove and immersed in the subject that I am so Passionate

in

film

her

about, my anxiety just sliPPed away. I've been to screenings of

'Beyond the

Myth'in Knoxville

and Louisville, and as far as seeing myself on the big screen,

to show the public the 'true' Pit the proceeds will go to nonBull temperament and goofY profits that advocate for Pit Bulls and fight BSL. personality," Preis said. "I hope that any stereotypes "Behind the Myth" has been at about 19 different the- someone may have walked into shown aters around the countrY and the theater with are changed, Shenill has at least nine more and they come to understand dates booked. The response and see our dogs no differently from the public has been over- than any other canine family companion, because that's whelmingly positive. people come into exactly what they are," Preis "I have had the film with an opinion about said. 'At the end of the day, no Pit Bull-type dogs being inher- matter the breed, a dog is a dog, ently vicious or more dangerous and we cherish their roles in our than other dogs and being families. No one should have to scared of them. They see them experience the devastation of as monsters." Shenill said. "You losing their family companion don't know who those people simply because of the way he or

that is still totally weird to me!" Pteis' co-star for her sesment

are when they come into the film, but I have had peoPle

she looks."

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