Featured Story
A 2012 Thank You!
Thanks to Pit Bull lovers like you, our 2012 calendar raised more than twice as much money for deserving Pit Bull charities than ever before!
Check out the summaries in this feature story to see how your money served pit bull dogs across the country!
BAD RAP
Oakland, California
Securing the future of the American Pit Bull Terrier as as cherished family companion.
Last year, the The Unexpected Pit Bull helped us build an addition on our Rescue Barn, which gave us laundry and allowed us to save the lives of some very special dogs including Star.
This generous group of dog loving photographers pour their hearts into incredible calendar photos and then give 100% of the profits away to rescue groups. One hundred percent of proceeds donated!
In the new year, their generosity continues. Thanks to the TUPB's vision, we've been able to buy ... drumroll please ... on-site accommodations for interns in the form of this small guest cabin! How fabulous is that? The cabin will make Pit Ed Camp more affordable and will also allow us to welcome out-of-area adopters and other special visitors. Look how cute this thing is! It will live right next to the Rescue Barn so - of course - the foster dogs will also get a chance to try out real world house skills with visiting guests. Would we have it any other way?
We're thrilled, delighted and downright giddy about the chance to continue this important work and help other communities get the info they need to help their dogs back home. Thank you Unexpected Pit Bull Calendar!
Best Friends
Kanab, Utah
Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog Campaign
Through your support of Best Friends Animal Society Pit bull Initiative, we have been able to educate legislators and spearhead the drive to repeal breed discriminatory laws in Ohio and in Florida. Click on the link or play to see how your dollars are helping Best Friends Animal Society and Miami Marlins pitcher Mark Buehrle speak out against canine profiling.
Together, with your continued support we can bring about a time of No More Homeless Pets. You are wonderful!
Out of the Pits
Albany, New York
Showcasing the true nature of the Pit Bull and its ability to perform as a therapy, sport, and working dog.
Out of the Pits (OOTP) is dedicated to educating the public about the true nature of the American Pit Bull Terrier. The proceeds from your purchase of The Unexpected Pit Bull 2012 calendar was directed to our Fix-a-Bull program! OOTP provides qualified low income owners free or reduced cost spay and neuter procedures as a resource for managing overpopulation of pit bulls and pit bull mixes in our shelters or abandoned and abused in our communities. The OOTP Fix-a-Bull program has assisted in more than 1,000 procedures and has a constant backlog of more than 150 applications for assistance. Clearly, the need for spay and neuter assistance is in high demand and we're tireless in our efforts to support this very important program. Since inception, OOTP has rescued thousands of dogs and through a rigorous adoption application process we have successfully placed more than 1,500 pit bull and put bull mixes in loving and responsible homes.
Awareness is everything! OOTP is constantly distributing information and educational materials about responsible pet ownership and promoting the loving nature of the pit bull breed. We always put our best paws forward and promote training and temperament testing. We are very proud of the OOTP rescues and their people who, together, achieve Therapy Dog and Canine Good Citizen designations. The Therapy Dog team is a group of love-a-bull Therapy Dogs that perform on-site visits to schools, adult communities, and other community events. The overall objective of OOTP is to promote the true and loving nature of the pit bull breed. We are guided by our love, understanding and appreciation for this amazing breed. Thank you to all our friends from The Unexpected Pit Bull who share our mission!
PSPCA
Pennsylvania, PA
Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Thank you for supporting the Pennsylvania SPCA by purchasing a 2012 calendar. The money we received from The Unexpected Pit Bull allows us to help dogs like Blue, a pit bull who was saved from neglectful owners by the Pennsylvania SPCA Humane Law Enforcement Team. Blue was mistreated, but that didn't affect his warm personality and love for ear rubs! Because of your gift, Blue received the necessary care he needed to move beyond his rough past and go up for adoption.
Blue is an excellent example of how amazing pit bulls are, and we are happy to announce that he was recently adopted into a loving home. Your simple act of purchasing The Unexpected Pit Bull calendar made a world of difference for Blue and the other homeless dogs in Philadelphia. From the PSPCA staff and all of the shelter dogs...thank you!
Safe Humane Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Court Case Dog Program
Bumble is a big goofball (not unlike his namesake from the Abominable Snowman). He is earnest and eager to please, and he makes everyone who meets him happy, especially his foster mom: "Every day I spend time with him, walking him and working to continue his training, and I can't help but think that I'm the lucky one to have such a great dog in my life, one who has been through a lot and come out on top." Bumble was found by Chicago police officers in deplorable conditions, and his owner was charged with animal cruelty. He spent nine months at Chicago Animal Care and Control, becoming part of Safe Humane Chicago's Court Case Dog Program. He was so very dog-friendly at first and then became cautious after an incident at the shelter with another dog – something we reported to interested rescues and helped to keep our Bumble at CACC longer. Not to mention that some forget that dogs like Bumble are Court Case Dogs, just dogs who have been through a lot in their lives, not "pit bulls."
Then donations from the sale of The Unexpected Pit Bull calendars helped a local rescue find a way to transfer him out. That money went straight to his vet care (he checked out a healthy boy!). And here's a photo showing him after on-leash play with another dog at the vet's office. Our team is delightfully teary eyed. Some of those donations also went to the same rescue to help them transfer out another special group of Court Case pups. Milkshake and her Small Fries (born at the city shelter) were taken from convicted felons who had dogs tied on chains outside, unprotected and malnourished. And guess what? Five of the six Small Fries have already been adopted! Thank you, Unexpected Pit Bull, for providing for these and other Safe Humane Court Case Dogs! In the words of the Court Case Dog Program specialist, all of us working together "might be a small team of people in the greater scheme of things, but we are moving mountains and making a difference." Follow the stories and successes of the Safe Humane Chicago Court Case Dogs on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/SHCCourtCaseDogs.
