Gay Couple Attacked With Wrench Because Their Pink Poodle is "un-American".

[DonRedwood]

Funny...I thought it was more un-American to attack people with wrenches...



A gay couple in Oregon says it was their pink poodle Beauty who prompted a man to violently attack them in broad daylight last Friday.

David Beltier and Jeremy Mark were near a strip mall in Hillsboro with Beauty when 22-year-old George Allen Mason, Jr. allegedly spotted them and began hurling homophobic slurs in their direction.

"Your poodle is a weird color and that's just un-American," Mark recalled the suspect saying. "Fuck you, you fags." At that, Mason allegedly stepped out of his SUV, and began assaulting Beltier with his fists.

"After that, he turns around, he goes back to his car, runs back to his car and brings out this long wrench-looking crowbar tool or something like that, and he comes back after me," Beltier told KATU.

More at: http://gawker.com/5988859/gay-couple-attacked-with-a-wrench-over-pink-poodles-un+american-color

The good news is the people around them came to their rescue and helped to stop the guy.

[hobbit709]

1. Anyone who dyes their poodle pink should be beat.

Not for being gay, but for doing that to the dog.

[hlthe2b]

5. The cruelty to the animal (and potential risk from the dye) was my first thought as well..

I certainly hope this wasn't a homophobic attack, but damn, if I wouldn't like to see them answer for such maltreatment of their dog.

[Puzzledtraveller]

8. Ditto I'm not cool with that at all

[DonRedwood]

11. check. you are ok with beating "fags" with a wrench because they dyed their dog.

Great. And if it was a grandma? beat her with a wrench too?

[Puzzledtraveller]

16. Really?

You saw that in my one post? REALLY?!!!!!!!! Get real!

[hlthe2b]

20. You are being very very dishonest. NO ONE here has dismissed the horrific act.

The picture does grab the attention, however, and it is only human to react to that photo. Knowing the harm that CAN come from dying animals (and why some jurisdictions have outlawed this act), it is only natural to respond to it.

NO ONE HERE IS DEFENDING A HOMOPHOBIC ACT. NO ONE!

[redqueen]

27. Sadly not many are bothering to read before making the dog the focus.

I'm with Don on this.

[hlthe2b]

28. Posting the photo ensured that most would make that an initial focus.

I sincerely hope YOU are not going to accuse ME of being homophobic.

[redqueen]

33. Of course not... but it is astounding to me that you would doubt it was a homophobic attack.

The reactions to his story are just... Ugh.

[DonRedwood]

38. Thank you for backing me up redqueen...

it isn't about pink dogs. It's about joking and saying it is ok to beat up a gay dude for a pink dog.

Not a joke. Not when you've been attacked for being gay.

[redqueen]

51. No, it is far from a laughing matter.

I wish I could say I was surprised by the 'lighthearted' response to this story.

[hlthe2b]

46. I NEVER NEVER said it was not a homophobic attack. I admitted I responded INITIALLY to the photo.

[redqueen]

49. I know, you never said that...

I read your comment saying you hoped it wasn't one, and that really threw me. I don't know how it could possibly be interpreted any other way. I think it might have been that comment, coupled with the attention on the dog, which gave the impression that you were actually dismissing the homophobic attack.

[boston bean]

52. Seems like a major miscommunication has taken place in this sub-thread.

There are two issues, dying your dog pink is considered animal cruelty by many and when they see a dog dyed pink, that is where their mind goes.

I don't think that means that anyone here thinks a gay couple should be beat because they dyed their dog pink. Or that article here does not give a good example of homophobia or that they don't see the issue.

Thems my two cents!

[redqueen]

56. Yeah, unfortunately that is exactly what hobbit said in his derailing post.

That people should be beaten for putting Kool Aid on a dog.

He had nothing at all to say about the homophobic attack, of course.

[boston bean]

61. that would be that poster.

So, I guess there is one!

Point still stands. The one catching the flack here, focused on animal cruelty because of the picture.

hlthe2b is a good person, who has been a great ally to women and lgbt from what I have seen on DU. She also loves pets.

I think a major miscommunication occured from her first posting on down.

[Demo_Chris]

89. I agree 100%! n/t

[DonRedwood]

32. people who dye their dogs should be beaten... is the response I am talking about

in reference to a story about gay people being beaten.

I'm sorry if that offends me.

I'm sorry if I can't ignore people saying its ok to beat them because they have a pink dog. I'm sorry I can't ignore they were called fucking fags and attacked.

This is why gay people have to fight so hard for every little inch of civil rights we win. Because even on DU people are ignoring the hate crime and saying it is ok because ...what? their dog is pink? their shirt is pink? someone had a lisp? These guys looked gay and someone attacked them with a wrench. It is NOT about the dog.

[DonRedwood]

9. did you read? He called them fags and got a foot long wrench to beat them.

the dog being pink is not the issue. The issue is, in broad daylight, this guy was trying to kill "fags".

So, you think it is ok to beat fags with a wrench as long as it is because they dyed their dog?

[hlthe2b]

13. No, I did not read it, but NEITHER DID I DISMISS the homophobic attack. DO NOT mischaracterize..

what you just did is horribly dishonest.

[DonRedwood]

35. I call crap on that.

dishonest means I am trying to hide the truth. The truth is what he wrote. IT is up there to read. People who dye dogs should be beaten.

I've been attacked for being gay before. Someone starts calling you a "fucking faggot" then it is no longer about the dog.

[hlthe2b]

43. Again, mischaracterizing me with words of others, NOT MINE... How very ugly

and YES, intentionally mischaracterizing what I said and attributing the words of others to me is DISHONEST.

[Arkansas Granny]

41. When the assailant is shouting "Fuck you, you fags.", chances are it's a homophobic attack.

[hlthe2b]

44. I never said it was not. Please don't join in the very dishonest mischaracterization of what I said.

nor attribute comments of others to me.

[Arkansas Granny]

48. I wasn't trying to mischaracterize anything.

I was responding to this remark you made: "I certainly hope this wasn't a homophobic attack".

I'm sorry if you took my statement the wrong way.

[hlthe2b]

50. It appears some here, including long term friends that know me far better than that, have done so.

Thank you, AG, for clarifying.

[Brickbat]

42. It was dyed with Kool-Aid. Hardly maltreatment.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

65. It was a homophobic attack?

[freshwest]

68. It appears that the dog's hair was dyed with Kool-Aid.

...Beltier and his boyfriend, Jeremy Mark, were on a walk with their pink poodle "Beauty" – one of three colorful dogs dyed with Kool-Aid for Easter. Beltier said he dyed the dogs for fun...

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Gay-Ore-couple-attacked-on-street-while-walking-pink-poodle-194538161.html

I think the dog will be okay. People used to dye rabbits, chicks and ducks for sale to people for Easter. Kool-Aid is a popular food product. We may dispute the wholesomeness of the drink, and there could be a problem in that the dog's fur might be tacky from the sugar. Possibly they washed the dog and the dye stayed. Probably used strawberry flavored drink mix, maybe even non-sugar, from this picture:

[eShirl]

86. normally one uses the unsweetened kool-aid packets when dying hair or fur

"...and there could be a problem in that the dog's fur might be tacky from the sugar."

[Liberal_in_LA]

80. Police did advise Beltier to remove the Kool-Air dye from Beauty's fur "for his safety,"

[RebelOne]

96. It was only Kool-Ade. People drink that.

I do not think it was harmful to the dog.

[TeeYiYi]

102. Seriously? That was your first thought? Damn. ..nt

TYY

[Smilo]

104. Yep, no excuse for the guy's attack, but what they

did is totally wrong.

[CountAllVotes]

6. +1,000

n/t

[DonRedwood]

7. I'm guessing you're joking...if not, well, I'm afraid I don't agree

And calling them "fag" and getting a wrench to beat the fags...

Sorry. My partner is small. I'm afraid to even put a gay sticker on my car because I fear for his safety if he uses the car.

I'm glad you can make light of gay people being beaten. I can't.

[hobbit709]

10. Gay has nothing to do with the cruelty to the dog.

No, I don't think gay people should be beaten. You can ask my little brother how I feel about gay people.

This is the part that started it it
"Your poodle is a weird color and that's just un-American," Mark recalled the suspect saying. "

[DonRedwood]

14. Sorry, I guess I actually read what you wrote.

I didn't read between the lines to understand you only meant it was OK to beat these two MEN with a wrench. The guy getting a wrench to beat the "fags" isn't important. Just two guys who dyed a dog who deserve to be beaten. Calling them "Fag" isn't important.

[DonRedwood]

23. And the "Fuck you Fags" part?

Just ignore that?

You're condoning violence against people who did something legal.

You ignore this is a hate crime.

If a dude beat your brother for dying his dog, with a wrench, calling him a "fucking fag" that's OK? As long as the dog has dye on it it is OK?

I just don't understand. I'd think you'd be against violence against "fags" because of your brother. If you think this guy did this because he hates pink I think you are wrong. He hates fags. He beat a fag. HE got a wrench to kill a fag.

The dog is not the point.

Beating fags because you don't like them is.

[redqueen]

25. And to make matters worse, the article refers to it as Kool-Air dye...

So it was probably dyed with Kool-Aid.

Doesn't stop people from jumping right over the homophobia and viciously violent attack to talk about the dog, though.

[hobbit709]

29. Ever read the ingredients in kool-aid?

I won't even put that crap in my body, much less put it on a dog.

[Downtown Hound]

67. I've drank Kool-Aid

And I'm still here and healthy. While not the best stuff in the world for you, it ain't gonna do any real harm unless you lived off of it for years. Lighten up.

[antigone382]

76. kool-aid =/= wrench

A one-time kool-aid bath is not going to hurt the dog.

[hobbit709]

26. No beating gays is NOT something I condone and nowhere did I say that.

If they were a hetero couple I'd still be against dyeing the dog.
I can separate the two parts 1. Pink dog and 2. gay people.
You evidently cannot.

[DonRedwood]

37. my whole post is about gay dudes being attacked for pink dog

and you said they deserved it.

nobody deserves it.

[Bluenorthwest]

62. If a dog with some Kool Aid on it's fur makes you so furious, you must be very active against

such things as dog racing. Here is a link to one of the many dog tracks in Texas, which is the State pictured in your avatar, one of just 15 that allow this cruel industry for profit.

http://www.gulfgreyhound.com/Home.aspx

Where does the greyhound racing industry get dogs?

Every year, the industry breeds tens of thousands of greyhounds, more than it can place at racetracks. This overbreeding is motivated by the desire to produce "winning" dogs. Thousands of greyhounds at each track are disposed of yearly to bring in a "fresh" group of dogs. A dog's racing career is usually over at 3½ to 4 years of age.

If able to live out his or her full life as a companion animal, a greyhound may live 13 or more years. Unfortunately, the industry kills greyhounds at various stages in the dogs' lives because they appear to lack racing potential or are injured. Many dogs, when they are no longer profitable, are adopted into good homes through rescue groups, but thousands are not. As with any business, profit is the bottom line; as a result, greyhounds are often destroyed using the least expensive methods, including gunshot. Reports of bludgeoning, abandonment, and starvation have also surfaced. Veterinarians humanely euthanize some greyhounds.
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/greyhound_racing/facts/greyhound_racing_facts.html

[sibelian]

75. I think people are maybe just a little taken aback by the focus of your sympathy.

Doesn't seem like a terribly sensible thing to be more upset about the dog than the assault, which interpretation would be difficult to avoid given that that seems to be all you're actually interested in.

Just a thought.

[TDale313]

58. +1000

Absolutely right. This was a hate crime, and this asshole targeted them because they were gay. I'm a huge animal lover, but the dog wasn't the point here. I'm finding people defending the attacker as in *any way* justified really disturbing. Hint: If there's a "but" after you're "beating people for being gay is wrong"... Maybe time for some soul searching.

[redqueen]

12. How very unsurprising that that is your focus. nt

[appleannie1]

15. It was kool aide. Are you ok with kids drinking it or

do you think their parents should be beat with a wrench too?

[redqueen]

30. OMG THANK YOU!

So nice to know I'm not the only person not jumping to conclusions in order to focus on the oh so much more important issue in this article.

WTF...

[appleannie1]

40. I just can't understand the horror of putting kool-aide on a dog when the guy could have killed the

owner. Good grief.

[magical thyme]

17. Agreed to a point. 1st thing I thought of when I saw the pic

is that it is cruelty to animals and not acceptable, so their veterinarian should give them a good lecturing. Dyes are chemicals and not good for skin and if they permeate the skin, not good for the insides.

And I also felt relief that the vile jerk who attacked the dog's people didn't attack the dog.

Beyond that, though, I hope the attacker spends some serious time cooling his heels in jail for a hate crime.

[uppityperson]

54. The dye was Koolaide. Same stuff kids drink and put into their insides.

[freshwest]

69. Much cheaper than hair coloring products. Wonder what flavor would look good on me?

I am seriously going to check this out.

[magical thyme]

70. thank you...I feel much better knowing that

s'long as it doesn't attract ants or random licking, lol. Their doggie certainly doesn't look embarrassed or unhappy in the pic, either.

Now I'm wondering if I could dye my rapidly whitening hair some hot pink or purple with koolaid?

[Occulus]

78. In response to your last question, yes.

Teens- and adults- have been using Kool-Aid as temporary hair dye since... well, forever. My nieces have used it in their hair to add a streak of purple or bright red or whatever they like.

I don't get the poutrage from the dog lovers here. This was absolutely harmless to the dog. It probably can't even see the color in the first place.

[uppityperson]

90. Indeed you could. I had teens bleaching and koolaiding for a while.

[Brother Buzz]

22. I don't condone beating but.....

Berating might be appropriate in my world. Poodles are very dignified dogs and painting them pink is tantamount to humiliation in my eyes.

[IdaBriggs]

34. Kool Aid. Not animal cruelty. Kool Aid.

An obviously well loved animal who is a part of their lives.

A poor choice of words on your part that seems to be getting you a great deal of grief. Perhaps an edit is in order?

May I suggest:

SUBJECT: Violence is NOT an acceptable response to anything --

COMMENT: But I feel sorry for the poodle!

(Use your own words, of course.)

[Sunlei]

39. silly visual judge, we use coolaid and easter egg dye to dye dogs , plus we EAT the same dyes.

[sibelian]

74. What utter nonsense.

check this out, then, Mr Animal Lover:

http://www.xarj.net/2008/cat-painting/

That's a lot of beatings! Will I fetch your baseball bat?

[progressoid]

87. Doubt they would have been beaten for this kind of dye job:

[justiceischeap]

91. They probably used Kool-Aid. nt

[TeeYiYi]

100. You're fucking hilarious...

...No seriously! HI..LAR...IOUS! They had it coming? Jeezus.

What if it was a rainbow? Then what? Would the little faggots deserve to be knifed? Shot?



TYY

[AndyA]

2. Jayne Mansfield had a pink poodle, didn't she? Can't get more American than Mansfield!

Disagree with dyeing the dog pink, but I'm not sure what harm it could do to the animal. Seems like it might be harsh in its skin, but lots of people dye their hair, so maybe not.

So many people are right on the edge of insanity, aren't they? Inequality takes a big part of the blame, as does a lack of respect for others. The attacker probably thinks he's a good American Christian, upholding values that he feels everyone should share. Glad he didn't have a gun.

[myrna minx]

3. K&R. I hope that creep is charged with a hate crime.

[appleannie1]

19. That is what police are calling it. Hope the DA agrees

[HappyMe]

4. That's horrible.

Live and let live.

I don't think that dying your dog a weird color is a good idea though.

[MaineLinePhilly]

18. What is American vs un-American?

I'm sick of people thinking they have the mark on what it means to be an American. I can agree that I wouldn't dye my dog, but this in no way justifies the attack.

[redqueen]

21. Glad to hear the community stopped the attack,

and that that monster and his girlfriend were both arrested.

[demwing]

24. And that's American

The majority coming together to protect the minority

[Jenoch]

31. Of course the assault should not have happened.

And of course the perp should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. And of course the poodle should not have been dyed. Where are the animal rights people on this topic?

[IdaBriggs]

36. Its kool-aid, not animal cruelty.

[Jenoch]

47. If a circus dyed a bunch of poodles

the ARAs would all object vociferously. Dyeing the dog's fur to amuse the owner's may not be particularly harmful (who knows what Kool Aid will do to the dog's skin?) to the dog, but it just isn't right.

[uppityperson]

55. seriously."who knows what Kool Aid will do to the skin". Not like anyone would ever drink the stuff!

[Jenoch]

73. I should have worded it differently.

I don't know what the citric acid will do to the dog's skin, do you?

I don't think dyeing a dog's fur for the amusement of the owner is really a good thing. I'm sure the dog doesn't really know the difference, but that does not make it a good thing to do.

("Hey everyone, look at us! We colored our dog pink, aren't we clever?&quot

[lumberjack_jeff]

45. "brings out this long wrench-looking crowbar tool or something like that"

A tire-iron?

[Bake]

103. That's when I'd have introduced him to my two friends, Mr. Smith and Mr. Wesson

NO questions asked. If a person isn't entitled to defend against a fool with a tire iron (tell me THAT'S not a deadly weapon!), then self defense just doesn't mean a damn thing.

Bake

[Kalidurga]

57. It's an ugly shade of pink...

But, no where near as ugly as a hate fueled attack. I think we should drop the charges of animal cruelty though, unless someone can prove that Kool-aid dye is actually harmful, harsh, or actually does humiliate the dog. Maybe she likes being pink, I don't think anyone has bothered to ask.

I hope that the guy is prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that people that know him shun him for being a violent homophobe.

[sibelian]

84. I quite like it...

I don't think it belongs on any poodle *I* might own, though...

[talkingmime]

59. I hate to break it to Mr. Mason, but poodles aren't indigenous to North America to begin with.

[Little Star]

60. ******People are talking past each other in this thread******...

Last edited Wed Mar 6, 2013, 03:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Gay couple attacked with wrench....EVERY PERSON IN THIS THREAD THINKS THAT IS WRONG

Poodle dyed pink with kool-aid... Some people feel that is animal cruelty others do not think kool-aid harms animal

Un-American....No one seems to give a fuck


Did I get this right or did I get this right? Why yes I did. Stop talking past each other people and read what each other are actually saying.

Edit to: correct the word died to say dyed. Duh!!! sorry all.

[yellowcanine]

63. It may not be unAmerican but it is a terrible thing to do to an unsuspecting poodle.

[RebelOne]

97. I doubt the dog cared less, as I am sure it was completely painless. n/t

[yellowcanine]

99. It's the principle.

It is just wrong.

[KamaAina]

66. What's gay about a pink poodle?

That's the name of the strip joint down the street from me!

[Rex]

71. Your poodle is un-American?

George Allen Mason, Jr. is not only un-American, but a domestic terrorist to boot! What a total moran.

[freshwest]

72. Here's the perp. A bagger looking for someone to hate on. Fortunately he wasn't carrying a gun.

[Cali_Democrat]

85. And if the NRA and their right win enablers had their way

Every bagger in the United States would be carrying concealed weapons legally.

[freshwest]

95. Can you imagine the carnage if instead of being forced to use his fists and go for a wrench if a gun

had been in his possession?

Or if instead of turning around, or getting out of his car and running, he'd fired some rounds?

What amazes me is the kind of thinking process or non-thinking that goes on to actually lay hands on another person in anger whose looks you don't like, or think they are despicable, whatever.

If you dislike them so much, why touch them at all? Why not get as far away as you can so you won't see them?

Where in the hell do people get off with thinking they get to control others?

My only idea as to why, is that the perp was rigidly controlled by his parents, and anytime he sees someone 'coloring outside the lines' or something like that, he feels that he will be punished since the world isn't in order, or things are not in their proper place, etc.

People are nuts.

[datasuspect]

88. he's got "trailerface"

looks like anybody you might find in bumfuck Uhhhhmerica buying nachos at the gulp and blow.

[Scruffy Rumbler]

77. Pink dog is 'un-American" says

asshole homophobe driving a Land Rover? Isn't that a furrin car?

And since when is freedom of expression a bad thing. Good on these two men to have enough self confidence to walk around with a pink dog! Knowing full well the fundy homophobes that live in a ring around Portland, including Hillsboro.

How is dying a dog a color such as pink cruelty? He and other dogs don't see colors so that wouldn't matter. Being a dog of another color probably gets him all kinds of GOOD attention. Kool-aid as a dye is neither sticky (no sugar in the little packets) or long lasting. I hope they do a rainbow tie dye for Pride!

[Liberal_in_LA]

79. Police did advise Beltier to remove the Kool-Air dye from Beauty's fur "for his safety,"

[SpartanDem]

82. Glad this guy was caught. But stop dyeing your freaking dog, it's not a toy.

[sibelian]

83. "Un-American"?

???

I thought being American was all about having the freedom to do what you liked. Up to and including dying one's poodle a silly shade of pink.

Should have been titled: "Homophobe shows some sense of the aesthetic but no other discernable kind"

[markpkessinger]

92. Translation . . .

Asshole couple gets attacked by another asshole for being assholes.

I'm sorry, I'm a gay man, but what that couple did to the dog was WRONG!

[Lex]

93. Doesn't excuse the attack. nt

[markpkessinger]

94. I don't excuse the attack . . .

. . . but neither do I excuse this couple treating their dog like a fashion accessory.

[RebelOne]

98. Can't you get it through your head that it was only Kool-Aid?

Humans drink, so I do not think it was detrimental to the dog.

[markpkessinger]

105. A dog is not a fashion accessory n/t

[Honeycombe8]

101. I think it's animal abuse to die dogs.

Any hair color is toxic to some degree. Animals also know when their appearance has been changed, sometimes. Furthermore, it is disrespectful to another creature, to try to make it appear like a stuffed toy. Dogs are not toys.

I am totally against such a practice.

Of course, the guy attacking those guys for their unAmerican dog and being gay....obviously criminal and a hate crime.

[MadHound]

106. Funny thing is, pink poodles were definitely in vogue during the '50s and '60s.

And in some places that lasted into the '70s. A neighbor down the road had a pink poodle when I was a kid. Very strange thing to say, even worse that the asshole had to get violent.

That being said, no dog should ever be dyed, for any reason, that is animal cruelty.