BADRAP's Owner Support Work

Creating change in our most challenged communities

Why do so many pit bull type dogs land in the shelters? Foreclosures, landlord evictions and a general lack of resources including affordable dog training are some of the key reasons pit bulls end up in crisis. Our years within the pit bull community has taught us that one of the best approaches to turning the tide for the dogs is to work directly with the residents of some of our most under-served neighborhoods. We can get positive change immediately simply by providing owner support and resources to dog owners who are otherwise unable to afford or access help:

Free and low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, microchips, free leashes/collars and behavior counseling and dog training.

Most dog owners love their pets and want to be responsible. Breed specific laws including mandatory spay/neuter laws target and stereotype dog owners and alienate them from the people who should be their key source of responsible owner information - their local shelters and city agencies. Communities respond more favorably when solutions to dog-related challenges embrace the human-animal bond rather than tear it apart.

Build It and They Will Come

It's probably the most important work any dog activist can do. Our group brings resources and information - marketed as 'Celebrate Your Pit Bull' events - to select east bay neighborhoods 4-5 times a year. By building positive relationships with fellow pit bull owners, we're able to bridge gaps and learn what people's bigger challenges to dog ownership are so those issues can be addressed. While many of our supplies are donated, we work with local veterinarians to find low-cost surgeries and then we pay for them out of our general fund. The good news is that the demand for our spay/neuter surgeries is growing, with increasing numbers of dog owners who are willing to wait in long lines to secure a surgery or get a voucher.

Photos from some of our past Shots Fairs:

• Richmond
• East Oakland
• Watsonville
• Vallejo

Question: Aren't spay/neuter clinics becoming more common?

They are! But the wait to get an appointment can discourage pet owners. In the SF bay area, the average wait for an appointment can be three months or more. Unaltered dogs can reproduce during that time, and dog owners may change their minds and decide not to follow through with s/n plans. With so much need, timely, offering accessible surgeries is critical. Outreach work brings surgeries straight to our communities so the benefits can begin working immediately.

Question: How much do spay/neuter surgeries usually cost?

We're spending between $90 - $300 per surgery, depending on the weight and condition of the dog and how quickly we need an appointment. However the public can pay several hundred dollars for the same. See this list of current PRICES for s/n surgeries in Contra Costa County, for example. No wonder so many people avoid getting their pets fixed.

Question: How do you get change when so many people don't want to fix their pets?

It's more important to build a trusting relationship with communities so we can help dog owners make good decisions for their pets. The less "agenda" we bring to conversations and outreach events, the more we can learn from each other. When people trust that we really do care about their pets, it's much easier to have discussions about responsible pet ownership - including obedience training and spay/neuter options. More and more people are asking for training and following through with spay/neuter surgeries now, in part, because it's becoming a socially acceptable practice in their communities. Changing culture doesn't happen overnight, but making responsible ownership fashionable is much easier to do when dog owners feel supported rather than punished.

From a shots fair client:

Thank you guys so very much. Charly was neutered, micro-chipped, and given his rabies vaccine. Without you guys, meeting my pitbull debts would have been extremely stressful. That awesome leather collar donated by Ana, was just the icing on the cake, he is doing great. Love you guys. - Ruben Paredes Jr.

Please Help

To help us continue and expand this work, please donate so we can the meet the needs of more dog owners in our community. Thank you.

DONATE

BADRAP Outreach Events, Making Waves and in the News:

• Best Friends Network
• Change.org
• Contra Costa Times