Wowza, it was a big year! January is the natural time to look back over the past year and tally up the results, so to speak. This year, Love-A-Bull sends a big, enthusiastic, heartfelt thanks to all of the generous supporters and volunteers who made such magical things happen. Without you, none of this would have been possible.

We accomplished a lot in 2011. Here are some highlights.

• Trained 140 dogs through 23 free four-week classes
• Expanded training programs to North Austin

• Graduated 9 therapy dogs in brand new Pit Crew therapy dog program
• Gained 15 CGC certified dogs in our membership ranks

• Offered medical assistance for 50+ families and their pit bull type dogs
• Spayed and neutered more than 150 community dogs through the Pit Stop Program
• Adopted out 56 great dogs to loving homes
• Expanded to 40 active foster families

• Hosted the Texas-Sized Pittie Pride event for National Pit Bull Awareness Day, with an estimated 1,000 participants
• Signed up 40 pit bull type dogs for free spay/neuter surgery
• Made our national tv debut on Animal Planet’s “The Pit Boss” tv show
• Were featured in CultureMap Austin’s top stories of 2011 piece
• Registered 300 “unofficial world-record” photo shoot participants

Here’s to a satisfying 2011 under the belt, and an even brighter 2012 to come!

Tagged: adoption, events, foster, home, media, Meetup, PBAD, Pit Crew, rescue, spay/neuter, therapy, trainingFiled under: Events, Media Coverage

As you know, Love-A-Bull is a 501(c)3 organization — basically the fancy way of saying we have our non-profit status. What’s it really mean for us? As opposed to a federally funded program or a local business, we’re more reliant on fundraising, membership dues, and occasional grants to sustain our programs and initiatives.

Sure we can stand there and give you the spiel about why this is so important and where the money actually goes until our lips turn blue.

But it’s much better when we can tell you an actual story when someone (Eddie) reached out to us for assistance, and we were able to help them (Eddie & Shorty), because of the support we receive — and of course our partner organizations.

December 21, 2011

My name is Eddie Diaz. Love a bull helped me get my dog Shorty fixed. I am mentally ill and will be using Shorty as a therapy dog/service dog. I am on fixed budget and in order for Shorty to start his training he had to be fixed. I found trainers to help with his training but no one could help get him fixed so he could start his training. My wife met love a bull at pet expo and love a bull was in touch with us in hours. I cannot thank you enough for helping me with my dog, because for me he is more than a dog. He is able to alert me when I am having episode, and he is always there to lick my face when I sad. I know y’all try to save pit bulls, but today you saved me. Thank you just doesn’t seem enough, but thank you truly.
– Eddie Diaz

Eddie ~ we’re so happy that we could help out!

Eddie Diaz and his dog Shorty

Shorty

Tagged: advocacy, community, nonprofit, spay / neuter, therapy, trainingFiled 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