Post by michele5611 on Apr 18, 2012 8:20:30 GMT -5
www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/04/17/National-pit-bull-advocates-to-address-local-concerns.html
The Lucas County Dog Warden's Office is partnering with BADRAP, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that has focused on "pit bull" issues for 13 years, to hold a public forum Wednesday.
The goal is to address questions or concerns the public has about "pit bull" type dogs, Dog Warden Julie Lyle said.
"Anytime we can bring someone in and help educate, it's a good thing," Ms. Lyle said. "We want our community to be as educated as possible about all things having to do with dogs."
The forum is to be at the EMS Training Center, 2127 Jefferson Ave., at 6:30 p.m.
BADRAP stands for Bay Area Dog- lovers Responsible About Pit-bulls. It is from Oakland, Calif. Founder Donna Reynolds said when the group started, residents in her area wanted nothing to do with "pit bull"-type dogs.
"Now they are the most popular dog in the shelter in the Bay Area," Ms. Reynolds said. "There used to be a lot of myths and stigma attached to them and they used to be the dog of the underclass, but that has changed."
Ms. Reynolds is considered an expert on "pit bull"-type dogs among animal humane organizations. She assisted in evaluating and rehabilitating the dogs that were owned and used for fighting by NFL player Michael Vick, who served time in prison for dog fighting.
She is to talk at the forum about that experience.
She said she wants to get people who are critical of the breed at the forum, and not just proponents. Several "ambassador" dogs are to be at the event, courtesy of the Lucas County Pit Crew, including Wendy, one of the first "pit bull" puppies spared by the Lucas County Dog Warden two years ago.
Previously, all "pit bull"-type dogs, even puppies, were automatically destroyed.
"It's absolutely amazing how our community has progressed in such a short period of time," said Jean Keating, co-founder of the Lucas County Pit Crew, a group that promotes adoption, education, and the responsible ownership of "pit bulls." "We've come a long way in a very short period of time and that's due to the willingness of people to educate themselves."
Besides the public forum, Ms. Reynolds will meet privately with the employees of the dog warden's office to help educate them about the breed and how to present the breed to the public when they begin adopting out "pit bulls" directly. Currently, the dog warden transfers "pit bulls" to the Toledo Area Humane Society, the Lucas County Pit Crew, and other rescue groups but does not adopt them out directly to the public.
Ms. Lyle declined to specify when the facility would begin a direct adoption program, although the Lucas County commissioners have confirmed it is in the works. Many shelters are planning to launch such programs May 21, the date when Ohio's dangerous dog law changes to no longer include "pit bulls" as automatically dangerous.
BADRAP will also offer dog warden employees tips on how to offer the dogs enrichment activities while they are in their care.
On Thursday, the Lucas County Dog Warden is to be host for a by-invitation lunch for the rescue groups and shelters that make up their transfer partners to meet with the BADRAP group. Discussion topics include how to make good adoption matches and fostering tips.
BADRAP is to travel to Dayton Friday and Saturday to meet with the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center and two shelters. All three do not adopt out "pit bull" type dogs but plan to start after May 21, Ms. Reynolds said.
One common problem that persists is that dogs are often identified as "pit bull" types when they are actually mastiffs or boxers, Ms. Keating said.
American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers, the two American Kennel Club breeds that "pit bulls" most closely resemble, are much smaller.
It's often common for any dog that bites to automatically be labeled as a "pit bull," regardless of its breed, she added.
"It's the dogs themselves that bring people around," Ms. Keating said. "You can't deny their loving nature when they are sitting in front of you licking you."
The Lucas County Dog Warden's Office is partnering with BADRAP, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that has focused on "pit bull" issues for 13 years, to hold a public forum Wednesday.
The goal is to address questions or concerns the public has about "pit bull" type dogs, Dog Warden Julie Lyle said.
"Anytime we can bring someone in and help educate, it's a good thing," Ms. Lyle said. "We want our community to be as educated as possible about all things having to do with dogs."
The forum is to be at the EMS Training Center, 2127 Jefferson Ave., at 6:30 p.m.
BADRAP stands for Bay Area Dog- lovers Responsible About Pit-bulls. It is from Oakland, Calif. Founder Donna Reynolds said when the group started, residents in her area wanted nothing to do with "pit bull"-type dogs.
"Now they are the most popular dog in the shelter in the Bay Area," Ms. Reynolds said. "There used to be a lot of myths and stigma attached to them and they used to be the dog of the underclass, but that has changed."
Ms. Reynolds is considered an expert on "pit bull"-type dogs among animal humane organizations. She assisted in evaluating and rehabilitating the dogs that were owned and used for fighting by NFL player Michael Vick, who served time in prison for dog fighting.
She is to talk at the forum about that experience.
She said she wants to get people who are critical of the breed at the forum, and not just proponents. Several "ambassador" dogs are to be at the event, courtesy of the Lucas County Pit Crew, including Wendy, one of the first "pit bull" puppies spared by the Lucas County Dog Warden two years ago.
Previously, all "pit bull"-type dogs, even puppies, were automatically destroyed.
"It's absolutely amazing how our community has progressed in such a short period of time," said Jean Keating, co-founder of the Lucas County Pit Crew, a group that promotes adoption, education, and the responsible ownership of "pit bulls." "We've come a long way in a very short period of time and that's due to the willingness of people to educate themselves."
Besides the public forum, Ms. Reynolds will meet privately with the employees of the dog warden's office to help educate them about the breed and how to present the breed to the public when they begin adopting out "pit bulls" directly. Currently, the dog warden transfers "pit bulls" to the Toledo Area Humane Society, the Lucas County Pit Crew, and other rescue groups but does not adopt them out directly to the public.
Ms. Lyle declined to specify when the facility would begin a direct adoption program, although the Lucas County commissioners have confirmed it is in the works. Many shelters are planning to launch such programs May 21, the date when Ohio's dangerous dog law changes to no longer include "pit bulls" as automatically dangerous.
BADRAP will also offer dog warden employees tips on how to offer the dogs enrichment activities while they are in their care.
On Thursday, the Lucas County Dog Warden is to be host for a by-invitation lunch for the rescue groups and shelters that make up their transfer partners to meet with the BADRAP group. Discussion topics include how to make good adoption matches and fostering tips.
BADRAP is to travel to Dayton Friday and Saturday to meet with the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center and two shelters. All three do not adopt out "pit bull" type dogs but plan to start after May 21, Ms. Reynolds said.
One common problem that persists is that dogs are often identified as "pit bull" types when they are actually mastiffs or boxers, Ms. Keating said.
American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers, the two American Kennel Club breeds that "pit bulls" most closely resemble, are much smaller.
It's often common for any dog that bites to automatically be labeled as a "pit bull," regardless of its breed, she added.
"It's the dogs themselves that bring people around," Ms. Keating said. "You can't deny their loving nature when they are sitting in front of you licking you."
I look forward to learning much here