Colleen Lynn- Advocate or Just Over Reacting?

Her attack and her statements

Colleen Lynn, a former resident of Seattle, Wash. has made a name for herself in the pit bull attack victim community. However, how much of her "story" is just that, a fairy tale? There are two stories about the attack, one from Lynn herself and then one from the dog walker. The key to this story is that the dog, Bull, was leashed the entire time.

Lynn's first account of the attack: June 18, 2007 call in report to animal control. She was out jogging when she came upon another lady walking a dog. The dog walker moved from the sidewalk to the parking area on the side of the street while Lynn passed. Lynn slowed down when passing but did not stop until after the dog had jumped up onto her. She used her right arm to guard her face. The dog latched onto the right forearm of Lynn and proceeded to drag her into the grass. The dog walker had the leash the entire time and was attempting to pull the dog off of Lynn.

Lynn's second account of the attack: June 19, 2007 sworn statement to animal control. She was out jogging when she came upon another lady walking a dog. The dog walker moved from the sidewalk to the parking area on the side of the street while Lynn passed. As Lynn passed the dog stepped in front of her. Lynn stopped and the dog then jumped up on her. She used her right arm to guard her face. The dog latched onto the right forearm of Lynn and proceeded to drag her into the grass. The dog walker had the leash the entire time and was attempting to pull the dog off of Lynn.

Lynn's third account of the attack: February 24, 2010 during a debate she was involved in on breed discrimination. She was jogging and preparing to pass the dog walker. The dog walker moved aside and the dog broke free from the lady's control. The dog then jumped in front of Lynn and stood there. Lynn stopped where she was and the dog jumped on her going for her throat. She held up her right arm to protect her face and then the dog latched on. (In this recap of the attack Lynn did state that the dog walker knew the dog was potentially dangerous before it attacked.

The dog walker's account of the attack: in an interview with a journalist date unknown. She was out walking the dog when Lynn came jogging up from behind. The dog walker was unaware that Lynn was approaching, and did not move out of the way. Lynn proceeded to pass the dog walker and the dog on the right side where the dog was positioned. Lynn had stumbled while passing the dog on the right, either from tripping on the dog or losing her footing in the grass. She fell in front of the dog walker and the dog, at that time the dog had a hold of her right arm. The dog walker indicated that she believes the was startling either by Lynn approaching from behind or falling.

The scene

The area in which Colleen Lynn was jogging is a fairly narrow sidewalk with not much room between the sidewalk and a garden/retaining wall on the right side. To the left of the sidewalk there is a large strip of grass then the curb and the parking area where she claims the dog walker moved to while she passed. The area on the right to the sidewalk is a small grass strip roughly a foot and a half wide. While the grass on the left is nearly six feet from curb to sidewalk.

The dog walker was using a 5 foot leash when walking the dog that day.

Colleen Lynn's Cause

Lynn has taken her accident are plastered it across the internet and has taken a firm stance against Pit Bulls. Her website Dogsbite.org claims to be an advocate center for all victims of dog bites. However, the majority of the information is all on Pit Bulls. They have even gone so far as to link non-Pit bull attacks to Pit Bulls. Yes, they do post many news pieces on dog bites and attacks regardless of the breed, but they only focus on the Pits.

Lynn has been using her attack as fuel for a fire that is based on the media and not on the real information that is out there. If you oppose their cause they will ban you from their site and Facebook page. Even if you are a bite victim but you make any statement that says anything about other breeds of dogs being vicious or dangerous. They use dog bites and attacks as a cover for their hatred of one specific breed. Lynn has many followers but if you question her or bring up facts that go against her personal opinion she will single you out as a horrible person or a bad parent.