Event

Beyond the Myth Toronto, Ontario at Pawsway

Beyond the Myth is a film about dogs commonly referred to as "pit bulls" and those who love and defend them. It explores the contributing factors behind the public's generalized fear of "pit bulls", and examines the conflict existing between advocates and opponents of breed discriminatory laws, commonly referred to as breed bans. It investigates the myths associated with the breed, challenges the idea that they are inherently vicious, and presents eye-opening research regarding the media's role in influencing people's opinion on "pit bulls".

Libby Sherrill, the filmmaker and former producer for Home and Garden Television (HGTV), first decided to tackle the film as a grad student at the University of Tennessee. Three years later, her theme has been honed to reveal the perils of breed-specific legislation as carried out in three cities that ban pit bull-type dogs: Denver, Miami, and Cincinnati along with San Francisco, which requires the animals to be spayed and neutered. Denver enforces their ban more stringently than most, killing more than 4,000 pit bull-type dogs since 1989.