Happy First Birthday to Love-A-Bull, as we proudly celebrate a full year of significant accomplishments and activities:

• Launch of the Free Training Program to members (to date, over 80 dogs have participated in the program, with over 10 dogs achieving the Canine Good Citizen distinction)
• Four Love-A-Bull members and their dogs actively working as therapy teams
• Pittie Pride Memorial Walk, on the opening day of NFL season (Sept. 13), to protest Michael Vick’s signing by the Philadelphia Eagles and to remember the many victims of dog fighting.  Over 40 dogs participated in the walk from City Hall to Jo’s Coffee, along South Congress Avenue.
• National Pit Bull Awareness Weekend (Oct. 24-25), featuring special guest John Garcia, handler and rehabilitator of the Vicktory Dogs from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and Official Proclamation from Mayor and Austin City Council as “Love-A-Bull Weekend” 
• Receiving the Achievement and Project Support Awards from the Animal Farm Foundation in recognition of the accomplishments of Mocha, a breed ambassador, and grant funding to recognize the Canine Good Citizen distinction
• Successful events at Pints for Pits at Shangri-La, and Art for Animals at Maranda Pleasant Gallery, to raise funds and awareness
• Assisting with repeal of breed-specific legislation in Madisonville, Texas
• Outreach and participation in the Violet Crown Festival, City of Austin vaccination clinic, Pet Fest in San Marcos, Barktoberfest, Barkitecture, South Congress First Thursdays, Ice Cream Festival, movie night at the Alamo Drafthouse, Poochinis and Peticures at Lofty Dog, the Thunderbird Subs Turkey Trot, Holiday Photos throughout the year, and other community events

Please join us, support us, and get involved, as we embark on the next year of exciting programs and activities.  We cannot achieve our goals without your help and participation!

Tagged: advocacy, dog, national pit bull awareness day, nonprofit, pit bullFiled under: Events

Why not celebrate this season with gifts for family and friends, and help Love-A-Bull at the same time? We have a supply of adorable Doggie Tees as well as Human Tees and Hoodies in a variety of styles, sizes and colors, available NOW.

We also have Unexpected Pit Bull calendars — $15 for non-members, $12 for members. They’re great gifts for co-workers, Secret Santas, or anyone with a spot in their heart for pitties.

You may pay online via PayPal (http://love-a-bull.org/about/support/ ) or in person. Contact us (info@love-a-bull.org ) if you have any questions or want to schedule an order pickup.

Thanks and happy howl-idays from Love-A-Bull!

Tagged: calendar, clothing, dog, gift, holiday, nonprofit, pit bull, tshirtFiled under: Events

Proposal from Love-A-Bull, addressing “public awareness campaign” related to adoptions (Recommendation # 1:  Increase Live Outcomes)
www.love-a-bull.org
info@love-a-bull.org

(Note:  This proposal does not necessarily “fit” the established recommendation categories, so we have chosen to present it with Recommendation #1 “Increase Live Outcomes” because of the public awareness component, but if there is a desire to concentrate on this issue as a separate item, we are open to that.  It is Love-A-Bull’s intent to bring forth a “starter proposal” as follows, for the purpose of initiating the discussion of pit bulls and pit bull mixes in the shelter system.)

In order to achieve a 90% live outcomes goal, it is important to address the challenging issue of re-homing pit bulls and pit bull mixes that currently constitute approximately a third (or more) of the shelter population.  These dogs suffer from a lower adoption rate (and higher euthanasia rate), because of several reasons:

• Stigma/negative stereotype attached to breed label
• Over-breeding/population (sheer numbers in the community)
• Behaviors that are mis-identified (kennel frustration = aggression)
• Lack of awareness of community resources for adopters (training, support network, information, etc.)
• No breed-specific rescue in Austin
• Lack of housing options for potential adopters

Other contributing factors:

• Tendency to label any dog with large head, stocky or muscular body as “pit bull,” regardless of other characteristics which may more closely align to other breeds
• No behaviorist/trainer on staff at TLAC to correctly identify behavioral or temperament issues
• No organized, consistent effort to counter media stories with accurate information

Proposed action items for TLAC:

• Launch concentrated PR campaign to increase awareness and spread positive image of pit bulls (television, radio, newspaper, social networking, adoption sites, shelter presence, community events, etc.):
• Create cute, informative “personal ads” that focus on dogs’ attributes, placed on kennels
• Feature on every kennel the free training info and support that Love-A-Bull offers      to adopters
• Change terminology to “pittie” or other similar moniker to soften breed stigma
• Display and incorporate visual examples of pits in home environments, doing therapy work, participating in agility, playing with other dogs, children, etc. in as many places as possible
• Use breed ambassadors as role models in public events, media stories, etc.
• Partner with Love-A-Bull to provide campaign support, resources and assistance to potential and new adopters as well as community at large
• Strive for more pits to be pulled for off-site adoptions and fostering
• Meet with Apartment Managers Association and other local rental management agencies to discuss lifting breed-specific housing restrictions

Timeframe:  Starting immediately, or as soon as practicable

Measurable: 
TLAC:  Track interest in pits through adoption applications, track numbers of adopted pits, and implement short survey of adoption applicants
Love-A-Bull:  Track those members joining Love-A-Bull via TLAC (or APA) adoption

Austin Pets Alive has also created a proposal, which can be viewed here: http://www.austinpetsalive.org/APA-Proposal-Adoption-Program.pdf

Tagged: adoption, advocacy, animal shelter, dog, pit bullFiled under: Alerts

As you may know, the Austin City Council recently passed a resolution directing steps to be taken to move Austin to a “No Kill” city (more info here: http://www.austinpetsalive.org/2009/11/no-kill-resolution-passed-unanimously/) .

The Animal Advisory Commission and staff of Town Lake Animal Center are working together with the community to discuss ways to achieve this goal. The timeline includes weekly public meetings on various topics designed to generated a comprehensive set of recommendations to be presented to City Council in March.

The meetings started Monday November 30, and run for the next 9 weeks or so. Please see schedule and info below, and feel free to attend any or all. You do not have to speak at the meeting. The meetings take place at 6:30 pm at the Austin Energy Building at 721 Barton Springs Road.

Love-A-Bull has expressed interest to the AAC and staff in being an integral partner in finding solutions to the issues involving pit bulls.

The AAC encourages all interested people/organizations to comment, make suggestions, or submit proposals on any of the AAC recommendations to make Austin a no kill city. That can be done one of these three ways:

• The first 10 persons to sign up to provide suggestions or comments will have 3 minutes.
• The first 10 individuals/organizations to sign up to present a proposal will have 6 minutes.
• Written responses may also be submitted 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

Should you choose to present a proposal, it should address the following…

• Which AAC recommendation are you going to discuss?
• Brief description of your proposal or solution.
• What resources and/or expertise can you contribute to the solution that you are proposing?
• What is your expected measurable impact and timeline?

Here is the schedule

Nov 30th: AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving

• Revise mission of animal services

Dec 7th: AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes

• Offsite adoptions

Dec 14th: AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes

• Increased capacity for adoption make-ready, behavioral
• Empty kennel usage
• Davenport building use after shelter move
• Increased public awareness.

Dec 21st: AAC Recommendation I: Increase Live Outcomes

• Large scale foster program

Dec 28th: AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake

• Reduce euthanasia of owned animals
• Increased return to owners
• Increased owner awareness of possible euthanasia
• Increased owner safety net services

Jan 4th: AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake

• Reduce feral cat euthanasia
• Increased feral cat spay/neuter, increased community care, and increased re-release rates

Jan 11th: AAC Recommendation II: Decrease Shelter Intake

• High volume, free and low cost spay/neuter
• Increased services available to the community

Jan 18th: AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving

• Public involvement and candor
• Increased public relations on all aspects of sheltering

Jan 25th: AAC Recommendation III: Structural Changes to Enhance Lifesaving

• Explore outsourcing possibilities
• Increased community involvement to reduce costs and increase lifesaving

Feb 1st: Finalize draft of implementation plan.

In compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, all agendas will be posted through the City Clerk’s office.

Tagged: advocacy, animal control, no-kill, pit bullFiled under: Alerts

The holiday season is a great opportunity to gently remind your legislators that they need to keep pit bull owners in mind when they’re writing legislation and voting on it.

Include them in your holiday card recipient list, and in your card, enclose a nice photo of your family and your dogs. (You don’t have to write anything political in the card; just sign and mail.) It’s a simple gesture that reinforces the idea that pit bull owners are caring citizens just like any other dog owner—and it makes it harder for them to consider laws that discriminate against us.

Send a card to your state senators and representatives at a minimum; you might also consider local representatives like your city council or county commissioners.

Tagged: education, holiday season, lawmakers, legislator, pit bullFiled under: Alerts

Click on the image to open a PDF document with clickable links.

Tagged: adopt, adoptable, dog, foster, pit bull, rescueFiled under: Uncategorized

LOCAL PIT BULL NONPROFIT AWARDED NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT GRANTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: November 17, 2009

MEDIA CONTACT: Lydia Zaidman (718) 791-5493

http://www.love-a-bull.org
info@love-a-bull.org

AUSTIN, Texas — Love-A-Bull, a local nonprofit education and advocacy organization, is proud to announce that it has recently been awarded two grants from the Animal Farm Foundation. Love-A-Bull has received the Project Support Grant to fund a program recognizing pit bulls attaining the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) distinction, and the Achievement Award Grant for outstanding achievement by one group member dog.

The Animal Farm Foundation was founded in the 1980s to improve the lives of dogs labeled as “pit bulls” and to protect all dogs from discrimination and cruelty. The Foundation awarded Love-A-Bull the Achievement Award in recognition of Mocha, a Staffordshire Terrier, and her achievement as a Canine Good Citizen and Certified Therapy Dog, and her appearances at public events and in the media. The grant specifically notes that Mocha “is opening hearts and changing minds about all dogs who appear to be pit bulls through her achievements, especially in the community of Austin, Texas.” Mocha’s guardian, Lydia Zaidman, is a co-founder of Love-A-Bull.

The Foundation also recognized Love-A-Bull’s training program, awarding funding for each canine member of the group who achieves the Canine Good Citizen status, a rigorous ten-step temperament and behavioral test administered by trained professionals through the American Kennel Club. The grant is intended to promote responsible pit bull stewardship, the primary focus of Love-A-Bull’s mission.

To underscore the importance of training, which is central to responsible dog ownership of any breed, Love-A-Bull offers its members a free, four-week training program, with sessions filling continually throughout the year. The training sessions are held at Southpaws Playschool and are led by experienced, professional trainer, Jessica Wilson. To date, more than 90 dogs have participated in the training, with more than 10 Love-A-Bull members’ dogs attaining the CGC distinction, and 4 working as Certified Therapy Dogs in hospitals and schools. More information on the free training program can be found on Love-A-Bull’s website at http://love-a-bull.org/programs/training/

Mocha, Canine Good Citizen and Certified Therapy Dog, Animal Farm Foundation Grant Award Recipient

About Love-A-Bull: Love-A-Bull is a 501(c)(3) organization, composed of over 450 local owners committed to responsible ownership of pit bulls and working to share information with the public on issues such as spay/neuter, rescue and training, active advocacy against breed-specific legislation, and promoting a more positive public image of these dogs. www.love-a-bull.org

Tagged: achievement, advocacy, American Kennel Club, Animal Farm Foundation, Canine Good Citizen, dog, free, grant, national, nonprofit, pit bull, therapy dog, trainingFiled under: Press Releases

Please write or call BET and express your opposition.

BET E-mail: https://bet.wufoo.com/forms/contact-us/

BET Phone: 202-608-2000 or 212-258-1000

VIACOM (BET’s parent company): http://www.viacom.com/contact/Pages/default.aspx

Please tell them you will boycott their sponsors, cancel your cable/satellite. PLEASE CROSS POST.

Tagged: advocacy, dog, dog fighting, michael vick, news media, pit bull, stereotypes, television showFiled under: Alerts