I’ve been busier than a cat trying to dodge the proverbial roomful of rocking chairs and it’s late in the month, but I didn’t want to leave October without putting in my effort for Pit Bull Awareness Month (by the time this article gets posted, Oct. 25, which is National Pit Bull Awareness Day, will have passed).

National Pit Bull Awareness Day was founded in 2007 by Jodi Preis of Cookeville, Tennessee, out of a desire to provide education about and foster awareness of the myths and misinformation regarding what are generally nice, sweet dogs. The ones I’ve met certainly are—probably thanks to the people I hang with. In 2011, to honor the memory of Tiffin, the first pit bull she owned, Preis had the entire month of October designated as National Pit Bull Awareness Month in order to further help dispel the bad rap that this breed bears. (Read Preis’s stories of National Pit Bull Awareness Day and her Bless the Bullys rescue and education information here.)

Pit bulls may be referred to as American Staffordshire terriers, American bull terriers and a couple of other things; it’s always debatable as to whether they’re synonymous.

“Pit bull is actually a grouping of several breeds of dogs,” said animal advocate Kym Cloughesy, whose dog Momma Delaney was selected by Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) as the representative for National Pit Bull Awareness Day. “Depending on who you speak with, some fall into that group and some do not.”

See if you can pick out the pit bull. You may be surprised. Or not. Image courtesy of Pick the Pit.

For better or worse, you know them when you see them. If you’re aware of them, you can see certain pittie traits in a mixed breed dog. We see many pit bulls happily wagging their way down Second Street and Pine Avenue with their owners who have rescued them, and we pet them with permission. We also see them in our shelters as results of people who refuse to spay or neuter their pitties—ACS manager Ted Stevens said that although impounds from pit bulls and Chihuahuas have been decreasing, pitties made up 22 percent of the September shelter population and Chis are 25 percent. Combined, he said, they’re 75 percent of dog euthanasia.

Landlords, potential adopters, insurance agents and other individuals see them, too. When they do, their hair stands on end and they either fend them off with flaming torches or run shrieking Twisty the Clown from American Horror Story were standing in front of them with a weapon (OK, I’m exaggerating, but it’s Halloween, I’m in the spirit, and I know who the monsters are—they’re not the pit bulls.). Sure, the Internet is rife with pit bull terror tales and videos if you look for them. You can also find attack stories featuring Airedales, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers (what, those gentle babies? Yup.) and standard poodles. I read one about a poodle attacking a pit bull. Should landlords also discriminate against retrievers and poodles?

San Pedro resident Merrilee Adler and her brother, Todd Titterud, make no bones (sorry) about pit bulls’ unearned bad rap.

“I feel that it’s ignorance—they just don’t know pit bulls,” Adler said. “Different dogs over the years have gotten bad reputations—German shepherds, Doberman pinschers—in my opinion, there are no bad dogs. People make them bad.”

Adler and Titterud live with Gable, pictured above. Gable was a Long Beach Animal Care Services rescue and is one of the most ridiculous, sweet dogs I’ve met. Gable insists on friendship with every other canine he meets, be it Chihuahua or Great Dane, and refuses to take no for an answer. Titterud, the learning resources director for the now-defunct Brooks College, shares his sister’s scorn for breed-specific discrimination and has researched a lot of pittie lore.

“There was a teacher at Brooks College who rescued pitties—that’s when I first fell in love with the breed,” Titterud said. “The ‘bad dog’ reputation is completely unfounded. More owners have been bitten by dogs that aren’t on the scare list. A hundred years ago, pit bulls were the most popular breed in America. They were bred to be work dogs and pull work carts—they’re very loyal and protective. You look at the old movies before Rin Tin Tin—pit bulls were the favorites—Petey the Pup on the Our Gang series, for instance. And then there’s Nipper, the RCA Victor dog. He was a pit bull.”

The Pit Bull Rescue Central website has a wealth of information about pitties, and there’s and education and games page for kids. And if you were considering adding a pit bull to your home, hearth and heart, there’s a whole lot of them available for adoption in shelters and rescues. If you want to be one of the people who want to lead the way out of ignorance and misinformation by example, you still have a few days to adopt one before the end of Pit Bull Awareness Month. And if you can’t do it by the thirty-first, you can always be super-early for next October.

Visit Long Beach Animal Care Services Facebook page to read contributions for National Pit Bull Awareness Day and to see some great photos!

“Pit bulls are wonderful, loving animals that deserve the chance to have a good life.”
~ Pit Bull Rescue Central

Virtually Pets

Out of 49 dogs on Long Beach Animal Care Services’ adoption page, nine have been identified as pit bull types—about 20 percent. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t mixes in there as well—the shelter states that the software they use insists that the user identify a breed and that visual ID isn’t always accurate. Two candidates are pictured below; follow this link to see these dogs in their best light through the professional photography skills of volunteers Sara Cozolino and Jim Nista. Meet them all on the shelter side of the Companion Animal Village at 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS.

 

Jane is a 10-year-old senior, but there’s life in the old girl yet. Shelter staff says that she’s spry and sweet, which is a lot of s’s. If this brings up a lot of yeses, come down and meet her. Ask for ID #A527815.

Eleven-month-old Sausage is appropriately named because he’ll put you through the grinder with his energy and playfulness! After that, though, he’s ready for a snooze or a stately pose. Sausage loves playing tug-of-war and will love you, too! Ask for ID# A53295.

Trinity is in need of a good home. This sweet girl’s owner was forced to give up his dogs because of a living arrangement and has no choice. Trinity and her siblings are stuck in boarding until they find a home, and Sparky and the Gang are trying to help the owner out. Please e-mail [email protected] if you would like an appointment to meet this stunning girl. She’s housetrained and has had all her shots.

Kibble

On Sunday, I volunteered at the Haute Dog Howl’oween parade, produced by Justin Rudd, a team of tireless, hardworking volunteers, enthusiastic participants and spectators, and a heck of a lot of dogs (and one cat, and a large snake). Below are my two favorite presentations: the All Dogs Go to Heaven float (they promised to include Cats next year) and, of course, the Crazy Cat Lady (actually a very young and beautiful Dee Marín). After all these years, it’s finally cool to be one. See the photos and videos, including the historic pumpkin drop, here.

Yes, they do.

Check out the slippers!

And speaking of Halloween, make sure that your pets are indoors for the next few nights, and please keep the trick-or-treat chocolate away from the dog!

Pet Projects

Mayor’s Animal Care Town Hall, Tuesday, Oct. 28, El Dorado Park Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach, 6:00PM – 8:00PM

Mayor Robert Garcia and the Department of Animal Care Services invite you to a special town hall to discuss animal care in Long Beach. This will be an opportunity to meet Animal Care Staff, volunteers, and community leaders. Rescue partners, animal advocates, and pet guardians are encouraged to attend and join in a hopefully positive conversation about the future of animal care in Long Beach.

Second Annual HOWL-oween Pet Social to Benefit Friends of Long Beach Animals, Wednesday, Oct. 29, Pine Animal Hospital BARK-ing Lot, 900 Pine Ave., Long Beach, 6:00PM – 9:00PM

Bark! Bark! Day Care, Pussy & Pooch and Pine Animal Hospital are teaming up to present a yowling good time! Your pets will enjoy the costume contest (maybe!), awesome prizes for themselves and you, tasty bites and libations, and a DJ. There will be lots of treats for tricks as well! Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $10 in advance (click here to purchase) and $15 at the door. All proceeds to benefit Friends of Long Beach Animals.

Free Pet Adoptions for Armed Forces service people and veterans, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8 – 9, spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, hours of operation

SpcaLA and Animals for Armed Forces Foundation honor and say thanks to our dedicated service men and women by providing free pet adoptions. The adoption discount applies to active-duty, reserve, and veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, and immediate family members. Potential adopters must provide documentation of service and meet spcaLA adoption requirements. The adoption fee is waived for the first 50 pet adoptions, with a limit of two per household. Additional fees such as medication and e-collars may apply. For hours and more information, click here.

Holiday Bone-anza, Sunday, Nov. 16, Good Neighbor Park, 2800 Studebaker Rd., Long Beach, 10:00AM – 5:00PM

Celebrate our new dog park and help raise money for water lines into the park. Friends of El Dorado, with the help of their sponsors, will be bringing in holiday snow to play in, and there will be a DJ, a raffle and a silent auction, face painting, elves (eek!) and food trucks. Pet contests will entertain in a number of categories—find the info here. Join the fun!

Black Dog and Tan Chihuahua FUNd-raiser, Sunday, Nov. 16, Seaport Marina Hotel, 6400 E. PCH, Long Beach, 3:00PM – 8:00PM

This gorgeous flyer can speak for itself very well, with the exception of the small print. Tickets are $45 online and $50 at the door. Purchase tickets here.

spcaLA November Foster Class, Sunday, Nov. 16, spcaLA P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, 10:00AM – noon

Foster pets need temporary loving homes! Help a pet better his or her chance at adoption. SpcaLA is looking for foster parents for pets of all ages and needs. The organization provides the supplies, you provide the love and caring. Potential fosters must complete and submit an application, available here, prior to attending a foster class.