What is the Pit Bull Alliance?
An association of local animal welfare organizations and concerned individuals working together to address the over-population of bully breed dogs in the greater Kansas City area and to mitigate the negative image associated with bully breeds through training and education.
Vision
A safe, responsible, humane home for every bully breed dog in Kansas City
Mission
To leverage the resources of local and regional animal welfare organizations focused on addressing bully breed over-population and promoting responsible bully breed ownership.
Goals/Objectives
- Spay/Neuter 70% of all bully breed dogs in the greater Kansas City area by the end of 2008
- Support and promote strong and effective breed neutral dangerous dog legislation on both a local and state level.
- Provide education programs to all schools, youth programs and community organizations in the targeted area about bite prevention, dog safety and responsible pet ownership.
- Provide responsible dog ownership and handling training to all bully breed owners
Overview
By forming a coalition of existing animal welfare organizations and individuals to partner with Kansas City Animal Control to promote bull breed spaying and neutering, education, and responsible dog ownership, Kansas City would be freeing up limited resources to focus on the duties necessary and typical of a city animal control department.
Essentially, the coalition will be taking on the "pit bull problem" so the city can concentrate on enforcing leash laws, capturing stray dogs, managing dangerous dogs, and responding to cruelty calls, which are all duties necessary for any animal control department to be effective in its service.
Meanwhile, the coalition will be infiltrating neighborhoods in the metro through intense marketing campaigns, volunteer efforts, media attention, and outreach to encourage as many metro residents as possible to alter their pit bull type dogs, receive vaccinations and rabies shots, attend free educational seminars, attend obedience training classes, learn about responsible dog ownership, and receive leashes, collars, and other items necessary to keep dogs under owner control.
Animal lovers and welfare organizations are currently spending a lot of time and resources proving breed-specific legislation is ineffective policy. If the time and energy of activists, lobbyists, and volunteers could be harnessed to instead benefit pit bull type dogs in high-risk neighborhoods, Kansas City could expect tremendous results.
By backing this program and supporting this coalition, Kansas City has the chance to set a precedent for cities across the nation in animal welfare, specifically dealing with the most popular breed right now, the pit bull type dog. Additionally, the city can direct their focus on turning animal control into a city department that is respected and trusted by all Kansas City residents while the coalition actively unites to directly impact the overpopulation and irresponsible ownership of pit bull type dogs.