24 J u s t o « t * September 15.2000
Leader of the pack
Portland woman gets bitten
by doggone good idea
by
Continued from Page 23
flcxir, he regularly addresses the plight of animals
that are used for research or consumption.
According to Cole, Troen’s statements
offend some HIV-positive churchgoers who
claim they are alive today because of medica
tions tested on animals. Troen also lights his
own candle for mistreated animals and sits in
silent protest during part of each service.
“Rev. Cole encourages us to speak out for
justice,” Troen says, disappointedly. “The
church claims it will expose and oppose oppres
sion in all of its forms.”
Troen thinks the church doesn’t want to
acknowledge the oppression of animals because
the issue is so sensitive and complex. Still, he
says, “I just cannot understand it from gay peo
ple, who should understand oppression.”
Cole rebuts: “Roger would like M CC to
take a leadership role in fighting for animal
rights. We acknowledge there is merit in this,
hut we don’t have the resources to take it on.”
nimal activism is not new to Troen. He says
he started learning about animal welfare in
the ’70s when he attended some informational
conferences in California. In October 1986,
Troen and a group of other activists secretly
infiltrated the University of Oregon research
labs and liberated hundreds of animals.
“I had three rabbits, 100 rats, 30 mice, 11
Roger Troen: gay man, animal lover
hamsters and my aunt’s car,” he says. He dis
tributed some of the animals to people on the
Oregon coast; some were sent to Canada.
His crime was discovered when a veteri
narian found a U of O tattoo on one of the
rabbit’s ears. Troen, 58 at the time, was tried
the next year and sentenced to 90 days of
house arrest.
He still owes the university $20,000. “I
could write a whole book about it,” Troen says.
For now, he’s content to publish his
newsletter. j n
K a TY DAVIDSON is a Just Out staff writer who
can be reached at katy@justout.com.
O riana G reen
aurie Morton has pretty much always
lived in a pack. First, as a member of a
traveling hodgepodge of kids who fol
lowed their fathers up and down the West
Coast as they dredged harbors. Then, as a last
century hippie who lived with a dog pack.
Now, as publisher and editor of the brand
barking-new Dog Nose News, Morton is sur
rounded by her dog, her staff and all of their
assorted canines. Yes, they all have dogs—
although it’s not a requirement—and they’re
all welcome at the office.
Morton’s cattle dog, Hank, is the office
greeting committee. She describes him as a
“budget purebred because he has black spots. I
picked a cattle dog because I love Eastern
Oregon, and I researched for a rugged desert
dog,” she explains. “We operate with time
outs,” she adds, clarifying how potential chaos
is averted.
So how does someone decide to start a
newspaper for dogs’ best friends? Rather
impulsively, it seems.
Although Morton has earned her living as
a writer for many years, her most recent
assignment was to compose dull training man
uals. “I quit because I was bored...this is way
more fun than trucks,” she enthuses.
At the end of last April, Morton had
trouble finding a dog trainer offering
advanced classes, and the proverbial light
bulb lit up. “I called my partner, Marcia, on
the phone and told her I decided to start a
dog newspaper.”
Good partner of more than a dozen years
that she is, Marcia Cutler was supportive from
the get-go. She has even signed on as book
keeper and proofreader.
Crunching some numbers made them opti
mistic that this could fly— or make that run.
More than 350,000 Portland Metro house
holds have dogs.
“I see this as a contribution. I’m filling a
niche because there’s an enormous dog popu
lation, and a majority of owners are proactive
dog people. Their dogs are family members,”
Morton explains. “The owners want to under
stand how they communicate.”
Morton also has a deeper, more emotional
reason for her new venture. “Some of my very
best friends in my life have been dogs. I lost
27 friends to AID S in eight years, and I
became angry at the world. Once I came out
of the shock, I decided I’d be more happy
directing my time and energy toward dogs,”
she says quietly.
Dog owners make many sacrifices for their
pets, Morton says. “You have to be willing to
make changes. It is a lifestyle, like having a
3-year-old for life,” she says with the voice of
experience.
And just like parents, dog caretakers are sali-
Continued on Page 25
Always Ready to Serve Y o u !*
All day play with large
inside and outside play areas.
Positive training classes:
basic obedience, puppy, and agility!
r-'f-U;.::
North
Portland
#503-234-0155
Hospita
Commitment to service
M y 13 years of experience
in sales and partnership with
-
the (oldwell Banker system
will ensure you of receiving
the attention you deserve.
Patrick J. Henry,
Your Coldwell Banker Professional
Call me at (503) 224-7325
for all your real estate needs.
Cell: (503) 789-6002
Drive with Pride
Like any family member
our pets need good healthcare.
At North Portland Veterinary
«/
Hospital, we provide the very
best medical care along with
big d oses of tenderness
and compassion.
is my number one priority.
>v •
C O L D W e iX
BANKER □
B a rb ara S u e S e al P ro p e rtie s
285-0462
2009 N.Killingsworth
3303 SE 20th
1/2 block South of Powell Blvd.
1
j
•/ !Y
1 ™
■■
w\K
Schedule your appointment
today with:
C h ristin a Sigwart
5 0 3 -2 5 6 -3 7 0 0
REY REECE DEALERSHIPS
0 L D S -IS U Z U -V 0 L K S W A G E N -U S E D
clsigwart@hotmail.com
122nd & East Burnside
www.vwcitv.net