DEDICATION: ANIMAL FARM FOUNDATION

Securing Equal Treatment and Opportunity for “Pit Bull” Dogs

The American Dog Reports

Photos courtesy of Animal Farm Foundation

Every so often, a dog comes along who manages to find her way into the heart of just the right person. A “Pit Bull” dog named Petal did just that. Left abandoned at the city animal shelter, Petal lost hope until she found Jane Berkey and became the inspiration for Animal Farm Foundation (AFF).

When AFF was founded in the 1980s, the mission was to restore the image of the American Pit Bull Terrier and protect them from discrimination and cruelty. But in 2011, Animal Farm Foundation changed its mission statement; it now reads, “Securing equal treatment and opportunity for ‘pit bull’ dogs.”

“Over time, we realized that the dogs we were helping—and the dogs being discriminated against—were not necessarily purebred American Pit Bull Terriers, but dogs that people called ‘Pit Bulls,’” said Jane Berkey, the founder and president of Animal Farm Foundation. “As time evolved, we came to understand that ‘Pit Bull’ is not a breed or a breed mix, but an ever expanding group that includes whatever an animal control officer, shelter worker, dog trainer, politician, dog owner, police officer, or newspaper says it is.”

Fortunately for dogs, Animal Farm Foundation has expanded its resources to support not only American Pit Bull Terriers but all dogs labeled as ‘Pit Bulls.’

“Whether a dog is discriminated against because of his appearance, a breed label, or a stereotype, or because of a DNA test, a pedigree paper, or the human crimes committed against him, we know that every dog deserves to be viewed as an individual,” says Kim Wolf, Community Engagement Specialist for AFF. “Our goal is to give the underdog a level playing field, the same chance that every dog deserves.”

AFF also operates a shelter in upstate New York that rescues and rehomes dogs labeled as “Pit Bulls.” Although AFF is located in a remote, rural location, Kim notes that AFF adopts out nearly 100 dogs a year.

But AFF continues to focus on the big picture. “Instead of taking in more dogs or building more shelters, we need to change the way society views companion animals. Animal Farm Foundation is committed to empowering shelters, rescues, and adopters to recognize the individuality of every dog—from a purebred Pug to a shelter dog labeled as a ‘Pit Bull’ mix. We can affect the most change when we work with the communities themselves, which is why we’re rarely in the office,” Kim explains.

To achieve this goal, AFF awards grants and operational/educational support to organizations across the United States that share this goal, from volunteer-based rescue groups to national animal welfare organizations. Opportunities range from marketing support to reimbursement for spay/neuter surgeries to programmatic funding. Prospective grantees are also encouraged to submit custom proposals for projects that assimilate “Pit Bull” dogs into the circle of compassion, particularly those that focus on the individual dog rather than the label assigned to him.

“There is nothing unique about dogs labeled as ‘Pit Bulls,’ they’re just the ones who need our help right now,” Kim says. “People sometimes ask me if I’m putting myself out of a job by advocating on behalf of ‘Pit Bull’ dogs. The bad news is that history has shown that a segment of the canine population—from Bloodhounds to Dobermans to German Shepherds and even Chihuahuas—can be targeted over time. The good news is that Animal Farm Foundation will be there to ensure that each individual dog gets his fair chance, free of prejudice and hype. I’m proud to be part of such a progressive, common sense movement!”

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