posted 03-25-2003 01:32 PM         

Thank-you for your support. I can't bring myself to go down to the pound cause I know I'd be coming home with them allllll....I just can't afford that and my dog would loose it.

I will email you directly with a link to all the breeders in the USA..these people really piss me off....just sit back and listen to their jerky ways.

Cheers

posted 03-26-2003 04:58 PM         

There are tons of ways that you can help the dogs in the shelter without actually adopting one. Most rescues/shelters are always in need of foster homes (not sure this would be an option for you, either), both long-term and short-term. If a dog needs to get to it's new home (sometimes these homes are several states away), they'll need transportation, and one of the more common ways of doing so is for people to divide the trips into "legs" and have volunteers take the dogs for part of the trip. If you have any training experience, you could help train some of the dogs, thus making them more adoptable. Pit bulls are high energy dogs, and have a hard time with "kennel life". Exercise is great, even if you only pick one dog and walk it once a week, that dog will appreciate it, and it will be good for both his (her) mental and physical health. If the dogs are allowed to have toys, you can try to find some 'tough" toys that they'll be able to play with (kongs, rhino bones, etc, you can even "make" toys, old bowling balls are great for some dogs, or blankets/pants/shirts cut up and tied to make tug toys (not to be left with the dog alone)). If your shelter does "adoption days" at petstores, etc then you could volunteer to help out there, if they don't, start bugging them about it . If the dogs aren't allowed access to a fenced area, then maybe see if the shelter would be able to use some of those cable "runs" (the things where a line runs between two trees/poles, and another line hangs off of that & connects to the dog's collar, sliding along the first line) so the dogs can get some exercise.

For owner education, there are a couple sites that provide informational packets/sheets/pamphlets that you could maybe print and give to the shelter to give to potential adopters. You could also try to beg/plead/convice local trainers to offer discount basic obedience classes for adopted pit bulls (or all adopted dogs). Or local vets/shelters to offer discount spay/neuter (if you cut of the dog supply at the source, there will be less in shelters ). You could also put some information sheets in local petstores, etc where clueless owners may pick them up.

As for sites/links, here are some that may help you out a little...

A pit bull breeder in PA (not sure where), she is a responsible breeder, and also takes in some rescues. She may be able to direct you to someone close to your area. http://hartagold.com/

Pit Bull Rescue Central. http://www.pbrc.net

Pit bulls on the web (make sure you check out the "pet pit bull" part). http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/

Diane Jessups informational pit bull site(make sure you check the "sheltering/BSL" page). http://www.workingpitbull.com/

American Dog Owners' Association. http://adoa.org/

BADRAP. http://www.badrap.org/rescue/

Spindletop pit bull & amstaff rescue (this is their links page, but they have some stuff on the other pages too). http://www.spindletoppitbullrefuge.org/links.html

posted 03-26-2003 05:10 PM         

Hi Rottymommy, there are tons of links...Russ is working on a site...its under construction right now, but we are so happy to be putting this together. I'm helping with the info check out these links...lots to learn and many have different opinions on things, but one thing is for sure and that is this breed is very unique and completley miss understood.

Cheers
http://www.forpitssake.org
http://www.magicway2k.com/getagrip/pitbullmission.htm

This last one is Russ's...still being worked on..so if anyones got suggestions please feel free to email me!