The Pawsitive PitCrew is an initiative to counteract misinformation about pit bulls and bully-breeds with education, communication, and resources for the community.
10 Tips for Being a Powerful Advocate for Pit Bulls
Lives are saved whenever these terrier mixes are adopted into loving homes, landlords step up to welcome them, or legislation is passed in their favor. But there are even more ways to help your community say no to stereotypes and yes to supporting all dogs, including pit bulls. Here are 10 tips you can try:
1) Set The Record Straight
You know all the stereotypes: Pit bulls are vicious, born to fight and dangerous around children. Need help getting the truth out there? Bad Rap, an organization devoted to improving the breed’s reputation, provides excellent in-depth responses to these major myths and more on their website.
2) Showcase Their Strengths
Organizations like Animal Farm Foundation (AFF) advocate for dogs labeled as pit bulls by showcasing them as helpful citizens. AFF funds the training and placement of shelter dogs as K9 detection dogs in various schools and law enforcement agencies across the country.
3) Show & Tell
Use visuals to promote pitties as the wonderful family companions they can be. Share My Pit Bull Is Family, a lovely collection of family photos compiled by the National Pit Bull Awareness Campaign complete with all sorts of families and their beloved pets.
4) Help Them Be Their Best
Well-trained, well-socialized dogs make the best ambassadors by showing even the most skeptical adopters how wonderful all dogs can be! Connect adopters with a professional trainer in your area.
5) Seize the Day
National Pit Bull Awareness Day is on October 27. Here are a few ideas on building a positive buzz:
- Offer adoption discounts
- Hold a pit bull-related event and register it
- Visit classrooms and spread awareness to kids
(Whatever you plan, don’t forget to alert the media!)
6) Get Creative
Nothing is too out-of-the-box when trying to capture the public’s attention and help get pit bulls adopted. Check out the Pit Crew from Louisiana SPCA, for example. Never underestimate the power of a pun. How about Pittie Palooza?
7) Get Them in Therapy
What better way to promote these dogs’ lovebug potential than certifying them as therapy dogs? Staff or volunteers can show off your pups’ TLC skills in places like schools, hospitals and nursing homes.
8) Help Ban BSL
Keep your ear out for cities near you that may try to enact breed-specific legislation (BSL). BSL almost always targets pit-bull type dogs. Read up on the ASPCA’s BSL policy statement to help you debunk the myth that these discriminatory laws protect the public. And check out this BSL-legislation map from Animal Farm Foundation. Take a look at Mypitbullisfamily.org, which makes it easier to find non-discriminating housing for all breed types.
9) Honor Them With An Event
Invite your community to say “we love pit bulls” loud and proud by putting on an awareness event. It can be an adoption event, a fundraiser – anything goes, as long as your pitties are the stars of the show!
10) Grab Your Virtual Megaphone
Use the hashtag #AllDogsAreIndividuals to spread the word that we shouldn’t judge dogs on how they look!
©ASPCApro 2019
