http://www.love-a-bull.org
info@love-a-bull.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February 24, 2011
CONTACT: Lydia Zaidman, 718.791.5493 or Lydia@love-a-bull.org
AUSTIN, Texas — Love-A-Bull, a nonprofit organization promoting responsible ownership of pit bulls through education and advocacy, has just launched an all-pit bull therapy dog program called “The Pit Crew.” Composed entirely of pit bulls, The Pit Crew is the first program of its kind in the country. The dogs and their owners plan to visit children and adults in need, including those living with mental and physical challenges. Studies have shown that dogs provide therapeutic interaction that can improve mood, build confidence, and repair hearts. Pit bulls, as natural “people-pleasers,” are an excellent fit for this type of activity. In fact, several of the dogs seized from Michael Vick now work as therapy dogs.
Mocha, a nine-year old pit bull rescued from a shelter in New York seven years ago by owners Lydia Zaidman and David Coulter, has been a certified therapy dog in Austin for two years. She has provided comfort and companionship to soldiers at Fort Hood suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and she has served as a “Barking Buddy,” patiently listening to stories being read by elementary school students who need to build reading confidence and skills. Her calm demeanor and warm eyes immediately ease these types of interactions and provide a stress-free relationship. She joins six other pit bulls in The Pit Crew’s first set of therapy-trained graduates that have attained their Canine Good Citizen staus from the American Kennel Club and are undergoing an eight-week training program at Gullett Elementary School in north central Austin.
Zaidman says, “The Pit Crew is a way to offer a unique community service and also rehabilitate the reputation of pit bulls at the same time. We hope that by showing the true nature of these loving dogs in a therapeutic setting, we can change minds for the better.”
Love-A-Bull is partnered with Julie Eskoff, Certified Pet Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT – KA), a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Evaluator, who has extensive knowledge working with all kinds of dogs. Eskoff spent 12 weeks volunteering her services while observing the pet therapy training program for Divine Canines and the Austin State Hospital’s Pet Pardners in-house therapy dog program. She also participated in the Delta therapy dog complex dog training program. Her two pit bulls, Moby and Pearl, work as therapy dogs.
For more information about The Pit Crew, please visit http://love-a-bull.org/programs/the-pit-crew/
About Love-A-Bull: Love-A-Bull is a 501(c)(3) organization, composed of nearly 1000 local owners committed to responsible ownership of pit bulls and pit bull mixes through education and advocacy. Love-A-Bull supports spay/neuter, re-homing and rescue, training, active advocacy against breed-specific legislation, and promoting a more positive and accurate public image of all pit bull-type dogs. More information available at http://www.love-a-bull.org.
