Events


Rescue Ink is Coming for National Pit Bull Awareness Day!!

This year’s Pit Bull Awareness Day is going to be bigger than ever.  We are so excited to have our One Hundred Pit Bull Parade to be led by special guests, Rescue Ink.  There will be a festival and lots of fun for all.  It’s all still in the works, but Save the Date!!!  You can R.S.V.P here.

Learn more about Rescue Ink’s hit Nat Geo show here and check out their cool website here!  For sponsorship opportunities, download Love-A-Bull Sponsorship Package contact info@love-a-bull.org for more information.  We are also accepting registration for vendors and donations for our silent auction.

Come join us for Pints for Pits!

Third Base in South Austin is hosting Pints for Pits from 5-9 August 14, 2010. Come out with us and have a beer or two with your best friend!! We just can’t get enough of Beer and Pitties!!!

This location has a great outdoor patio, so bring your pooch and your pocketbook — and invite your friends and family (and their dogs) to join us! It will be fun way to get to know each other and show our pittie pride at this dog-friendly hang-out spot.

We will have T-Shirts for you and your pooch, stickers and other goodies for sale. There is also going to be a live screen printing of bandannas for your pooch, with services donated by Industry Print Shop, as well as a Washers Tournament (with cash prizes!). It should be a blast!!!

And, of course, we will continue our tradition for the early birds with a limited supply of a new edition, collectible pint glass.

PLEASE spread the word to others — we want a big turnout. It will be a great time! You can RSVP here

Come Join Us for a Fundraiser Benefiting Love-A-Bull and Other Non-Profit Rescues on July 17th.

Bark Park Austin

RSVP at Meetup.com!

Second Annual Pints for Pits, April 30, 5-10 PM

Join us for the Second Annual Pints for Pits!

Shangri-La, a cool watering hole on the east side (1016 E. 6th Street), is hosting the second annual “Pints for Pits” fundraiser for us from 5-10 pm on Friday, April 30th. They’re donating a keg, and we get the proceeds from sales of $2 draws, plus any donations we raise.  This place has a great outdoor patio, so bring your pooch and your pocketbook — and invite your friends and family (and their dogs) to join us! It will be fun way to get to know each other and show our pittie pride at this dog-friendly hang-out spot.

We will have t-shirts for you and your pooch, stickers and other goodies for sale.

PLEASE spread the word to others — we want a big turnout. It will be a great time!

Get Your Love-A-Bull Merchandise Now!

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.

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peopleshirts

We also have Unexpected Pit Bull calendars — $10 for non-members, $8 for members.

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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.

Join Us for Our Valentine’s Day Fundraiser at Nomad Bar

Join us on Feb. 12, starting at 5 PM at Nomad Bar, and support Love-A-Bull!

Wanted: Volunteer PR Coordinator

Love-A-Bull is looking for a volunteer to take the reins in a brand new position: public relations (PR) coordinator.

The PR Coordinator would need to be

  • Media-savvy
  • Social, outgoing, talkative
  • Reliable
  • Able to pitch intriguing stories to news outlets

The PR Coordinator would get to

  • Contact local media sources about our services and events
  • Find and connect with other local and state groups that have similar missions and interests
  • Handle interviews
  • Issue press releases
  • Spread the word about our events and services through social media like Craigslist, Holly’s Hot Happenings, Do512, Austin360, News8’s Community Events Calendar, and any other possible free posting

There’s a potential for additional responsibilities as our organization grows and our services expand.

This volunteer opportunity would look great on anyone’s resume, and you would be part of an essential, highly-valued team of core volunteers.

If you are interested in joining our team as the PR Coordinator, please send an email to info@love-a-bull.org and explain why you are a match for the position.

Love-A-Bull Turns One!

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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!

Holiday Gifts through Love-A-Bull!

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.

dogshirts

peopleshirts

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.

 unexpectedcover

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!

Holiday Pet Photos on December 5

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Promoting Positive Perception of Pits

Check out a great article by Love-A-Bull’s Meghan Turner on Best Friend’s website about our Pit Bull Awareness Weekend events.

Promoting Positive Perception of Pits by Meghan Turner
http://network.bestfriends.org/golocal/texas/13597/news.aspx

A Big THANK YOU!

The National Pit Bull Awareness Day Celebration (Oct. 24 and 25) was a HUGE success. Thank you to special guest John Garcia and all the sponsors, vendors, and volunteers that helped us pull it off!

Hundreds of people and their dogs were in attendance throughout the weekend events. We gathered tons of signatures for our anti-BSL petition, talked about our free training program, spread awareness about pit bulls and owner issues, and raised funds for our programs and initiatives.

Congratulations to our raffle winners! Please contact lydia@love-a-bull.org to claim your prize.

  • Southwest Airline Tickets: John Pope
  • $500 Tattoo Gift Certificate: Dwain Williams
  • $250 Lee Mannix Training Certificate: Deb Whitaker
  • $235 Blanton Museum Package: Joe Soto
  • Custom Jewelry by Eleven17Finery: Amy Herzog
  • $100 Gift Certificate from Midtown Grooming: Melissa Alvarado
  • OnGuard Bike Package: Patricia Hutt
  • $50 Gift Certificate to Cafe Josie: Susan Peters

Check out some of the photos of the events (below) and lots more here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=329268&id=543660631&l=89078ce855 and http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027189&id=1030100074&l=ccf3f60e1a

Family Fun Day (Oct. 24)

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Joe Seabrooke wearing a Michael Vick jersey--in the dunk tank!

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A bumblebee puppy

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The crowd at Family Fun Day


John Garcia and Samantha Foss from Best Friends

John Garcia and Samantha Foss from Best Friends

Pet Parade and Costume Contest (Oct. 25)

Getting ready for the pet parade

Getting ready for the pet parade

A lion

A lion

Arr, matey! Pirate dog

Arr, matey! Pirate dog

Best Friends' John Garcia and Love-A-Bull co-founders Lydia Zaidman and Meghan Turner

Best Friends' John Garcia and Love-A-Bull co-founders Lydia Zaidman and Meghan Turner

Bat-dog

Bat-dog

One of the contest winners--The Bat Bridge, and a bunch of bats!

One of the contest winners: the Bat Bridge, and a bunch of bats!

National Pit Bull Awareness Celebration on Oct. 24 and 25

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Please join Love-A-Bull in welcoming Best Friends Animal Sanctuary’s famous dog handler John Garcia to Austin on the weekend of October 24-25, 2009, to participate in a weekend of family-friendly events in Austin.

John is nationally known for working extensively to rehabilitate 22 of the 49 dogs (now affectionately referred to as the “Vicktory Dogs”) seized from the bust of the Michael Vick/Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting ring. He is best known for his work and public appearances with Georgia, a sweet, 7-year old toothless female pit bull who, despite being a victim of cruelty and abuse, responds with love to all she meets.

The weekend will feature these FREE events:

tinyheartA Family Fun Day with John Garcia
October 24, 5 PM – 9 PM at Zilker Hillside Theater
Free to the public! Dogs on leash are welcome. Chairs are not permitted, but blankets or towels are encouraged.

This fun-filled evening of activities will include:

  • A public screening of National Geographic Channel’s “Dog Town,” including footage of John working with the Vicktory Dogs at Best Friends (begins at 7:30 PM). Courtesy of The Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow.
  • Autographs with John Garcia
  • Games and crafts, including: henna tattoos, face painting, balloon animals, bandanna painting
  • Under Pressure t-shirt silk screening
  • Pumpkin patch photo booth
  • Dunk tank (dunk “Michael Vick” for charity!)
  • Raffle
  • Refreshments: Amy’s Ice Cream, Aloha Sno-Cones and Waffles, Zuzu’s tacos, Solar Natural Foods, Sweet Leaf tea
  • Pick the Pit Bull game, trivia, and prize giveaways
  • Information and adoptable pets from Emancipet, Happy Endings, Town Lake Animal Center, Best Friends, and Reunion Rescue
  • Booths featuring our trainer, Jessica Wilson and Haute Dog Magazine

tinyheartA Downtown Pet Parade and Costume Contest, led by John Garcia
October 25, 2 PM at Austin City Hall
Free to the public! Bring your leashed loved ones and the whole family for this walk through downtown. Austin Java and Lofty Dog will provide rest stops, and there will be prizes for the best dog costumes!  DJ Yoshi will be spinning tunes for your enjoyment. Free Parking in the City Hall Garage (entrance on Lavaca).


Sponsors

hautedoglogo

underpressurelogo

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You can be a sponsor and see your company logo featured prominently here!

Click here to find out how to sponsor.

Austin Mayor Proclaims Oct 24-25, 2009 “Love-A-Bull Weekend”

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Thanks to everyone who came to the proclamation to show their support for Love-A-Bull! We made quite an impression on city council.

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Rolling Roadshow Presents “Dogtown” for Family Fun Day

Thanks to the Rolling Roadshow at Alamo Drafthouse for spreading the word about our event!

On October 24 at Zillker Hillside Theater, Love-A-Bull will celebrate National Pit Bull Awareness Day with a Family Fun Weekend, including a free public screening of the National Geographic Channel show Dogtown. This episode features John Garcia working with the dogs rescued from Michael Vick. The screening is put on by Rolling Roadshow and will begin at dark.

More information on the Rolling Roadshow webpage at: http://www.originalalamo.com/Show.aspx?id=6930

Please come join us for this fun event!

John Garcia and Love-A-Bull on 101X

As our National Pit Bull Awareness Weekend celebration approaches, we’re going to be featured on the Morning Show with Deb and Jason on 101X (101.5 FM)!

Tune in to 101.5 FM on Wednesday, 10/21, at 9:15 AM to hear Deb interview our special guest of honor, John Garcia, Best Friends’ rehabilitator of Michael Vick’s dogs. He’ll also talk about our weekend full of events.

Flyers for Love-A-Bull’s Pit Bull Awareness Weekend

Help us spread the word about Love-A-Bull’s Pit Bull Awareness Family Fun Weekend on October 24 and 25!

Download, print, and post these flyers at pet stores, parks, workplaces, vet offices—anywhere you can! Or, save to your computer and e-mail them!

(Choose the look you prefer; both flyers have the same basic info.)

NPBADflyer   Family Fun Weekend Flyer

Mayoral Proclamation for Love-A-Bull’s Pit Bull Awareness Weekend

National Pit Bull Awareness Day is October 24, and Love-A-Bull is celebrating with a weekend full of family fun!

The Austin City Council will recognize Love-A-Bull’s event with a special Mayoral Proclamation during the city council meeting on Thursday, October 22, at 5:30 PM.

We would love for members and interested community members to attend this city council meeting to hear the proclamation and show our support. Wear some Love-A-Bull or pittie pride gear!

Raffle Tickets for Pit Bull Awareness Weekend

Raffle ticket sales will benefit Love-A-Bull. The drawing will be held on 10/25/09.
Tickets: $2 each or 3 for $5
Download and fill out tickets here.
Contact lydia@love-a-bull.org for more info.

Two Roundtrip Tickets on Southwest Airlines (Limitations and Blackouts Apply)
Donated By Christ Paulis

Hill Country Tattoo $500 Gift Certificate
Donated By Nathan Haynes, Owner
2124 E. 6th Street, Suite 102, Austin, Texas 78702, 512-243-6666, www.hillcountrytattoo.com

Lee Mannix Center For Canine Behavior $250 Gift Certificate
6901 Old Bee Caves Road, Austin, Texas 78735, 512-371-3647, www.lmccb.com

Custom Jewelry by Eleven17Finery, $125 Value
(Donated by Tammy Portwood/Eleven17Finery)
Peridot, Quartz, and New Jade all Delicately Hand-Wired on a Sterling Silver Chain and Clasp, www.eleven17finery.com

OnGuard Bike Package, $125 Value
(Including JoeBlow Bike Pump, Topeak Alien DX multi-tool, Bulldog LS Lock)
Donated by OnGuard Locks, www.onguardlock.com

Midtown Grooming $100.00 Gift Certificate
1207 Baylor St., Austin Texas 78703, 512-477-8079, www.midtowngrooming.com

Blanton Museum of Art Package, $235 Value
(Including 15 Tickets to B Scene, 10 Guest Passes and Journal Gift Package)
200 Martin Luther King Blvd, Austin, Texas 78701, 512-471-7324, www.blantonmuseum.org

Café Josie $50 Gift Certificate
1200 B West 6th Street, Austin, Texas 78703, 512-322-9010, www.cafejosie.com

Examiner covers Pittie Pride and Memorial Walk

The Pittie Pride and Memorial Walk, which was both a chance to show off our great dogs and a way to remember the victims of dog fighting who cannot speak for themselves, was a great success. Despite the possibility of bad weather, nearly 40 members and their dogs attended the walk. We attracted quite a sight downtown!

Read the Examiner article about the walk here: http://www.examiner.com/x-20590-Austin-Dogs-Examiner~y2009m9d13-Austin-shows-its-Pittie-Pride-Love-A-Bull-hosts-a-pride-and-memorial-walk-for-Pit-Bulls

Pints for Pits, Sept. 27

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Love-A-Bull member sells her team spirit on eBay

Love-A-Bull’s Lydia Zaidman placed her team spirit up for auction on eBay after the Philadelphia Eagles signed dogfigher Michael Vick to their team. The winning bidder chose which team Lydia would root for for the rest of the season. The proceeds from the auction went to Love-A-Bull.

KEYE-TV featured this story on their evening news.

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Poochinis and Pet-icures, July 9

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Art For Animals Benefit

The Art for Animals Benefit was held on May 28, 2009 at the Maranda Pleasant Gallery to celebrate the efforts of Love-A-Bull and Austin Pets Alive!. The event featured music, refreshments, a raffle, local artwork, and was sponsored by MettaSound Veterinary Imaging.

Love-A-Bull protests illegal BSL in Madisonville

Love-A-Bull members went to Madisonville, TX, to protest the passage of breed-specific legislation in that city and to try to educate city leaders about safer, more effective alternative dog laws. Breed-specific legislation is not legal in Texas.

Read the coverage at these links:
KBTX Coverage
Best Friends Coverage