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Veteran Worries Possible Pit Bull Ban Could Take Away His Service Dog

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Former Army Sgt. Chris Middeford and his service dog, Mira. (Credit: CBS)

Former Army Sgt. Chris Middeford and his service dog, Mira. (Credit: CBS)

Mike Parker

Reporting Mike Parker

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CHICAGO (CBS) – A serious dog fight is brewing in Chicago. Some city officials are mulling over a possible ban on the pit bull breed after a jogger was attacked Monday morning, but a disabled Chicago Army veteran is worried he’ll lose his service dog as a result.

As CBS 2′s Mike Parker reports, the animal that helps former Army Sgt. Chris Middeford get through the day is Mira and she is a pit bull.

In 2003, Middeford was a young Army sergeant serving in Afghanistan. Without warning, an improvised explosive device blew him out of his vehicle.

“I have a traumatic brain injury, four anchors in my right hip and my whole lower back is shot, and on top of that I have PTSD,” Middeford said.

After years of hospitalization, he’s now out on his own with Mira, a 5-year-old pit bull, who helps him by calming him down, picking up things he drops and helping him stay balanced when he walks.

Middeford got the dog from Bensenville-based “Pits for Patriots,” a group that trains heavily-in-demand pit bulls as service dogs for disabled military veterans and first responders.

“Once they become trained, loyalty is an understatement,” Pits for Patriots’ Greg Yearwood said of the breed, “They are just the best animals to be around.”

When Middeford first met Mira, he was worried because of the breed’s reputation. He’s not anymore.

“I was completely amazed,” Mitteford says. “She’s a lap dog.”

He’s concerned that if the city bans the breed, Mira would be taken from him.

“I’d leave Chicago, I would. In a heartbeat,” he said.

Ald. Bob Fioretti (2nd), who suggested Tuesday that a pit bull ban he studied, said Wednesday he now believes it is unlikely.

“We’re going to make sure that he keeps that dog here in the city of Chicago,” Fioretti said.

Fioretti said that, later this month, he will introduce an ordinance that simply “cracks down,” on pit bull owners who violate registration and leash laws.

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8 Comments

MIKECONFORTI

Why do you people make triple digit saleries for reporting old news. We all know that someonewrites these stories and you people read your teleprompters to tell us what we already know. The whole story is old news. When will all of you earn your pay and report the real news. Now why’t you quit dragging your unnews on for 10 to 12 hours a day. There is nothing new to report in all of that time.

January 4, 2012 at 10:13 pm

Afro

I agree with Mike here in a city that has 12 to 52 shootings per day you could be reporting on the real stuff like 10 injured 5 dead

January 4, 2012 at 10:22 pm

Afro

Shame on this guy for even thinking a ban, If it werent for the fact never mind you people see what this flip flopping hypocrite is doing he was about to be hung out to dry. He’s still the idiot that jumped the gun crying ban Pit Bulls he thought everyone would just hop on that waggon with him. This guy is a political joke.

January 4, 2012 at 10:19 pm

Afro

@Mike this is a different guy and dog but yeah same ole story Dog haters wanting to ban Pit Bulls for their ignorance.

Fioretti said that, later this month, he will introduce an ordinance that simply “cracks down,” on pit bull owners who violate registration and leash laws.

Why is he only going after the Pit Bull owners for this? Ald. Bob Fioretti is a Pit Bull hater!

January 5, 2012 at 5:24 am

Smash Crasher

Ban the HUMAN IDIOTS who raise these beautiful animals to be vicious.

January 5, 2012 at 6:04 am

PitBullsMaimPeriod

I guess they are only bad dogs until they maul one of you or one of your family members. Oy vey people.

January 5, 2012 at 7:43 am

THEE Yard Ape

How about commenting on this young HERO ??? People had better stand up for this veteran and what is right for him!!!! He has sacrificed enough.

January 5, 2012 at 8:58 am

Pamela Sisson

Breed Banning DOES NOT work! Look at the FACTS and STATS! They cost MILLIONS of TAX payer money and they do nothing to lower attacks. Look at Denver! They’ve had a ban on pits for 20 years and they have one of the WORST bite stats in the US! The netherlands removed their ban after 20 years because bite stats increased dramatically and it cost them millions of dollars. Enforce a RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP bylaw, just like Calgary Alberta in Canada. It is WAY more cost effective AND it works. Dog bites are the lowest they have ever been in that city and it costs ALOT less than a ban does. Time to make PEOPLE responsible and pay the price for not taking care of their animals! PERIOD! A DOG IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!!! FACT (Ask any dog expert)

January 5, 2012 at 12:29 pm

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