The Minnesota SWARM Lacrosse is hosting bring your dog to the game day!!

March 27th at 1pm at the Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue will have a booth set up before the game for other attendees to visit as well.

Tickets can be purchased through us for $10.00 each. That includes one human and one dog. Our goal is to sell 41 tickets. Tickets can be purchased by emailing info@mnpitbull.com 

This will be a great opportunity for socializing, getting the breed out there in a positive light, and having FUN with your dog!

Join us!!!

First of all, THANK YOU to all of our wonderful volunteers, fosters, and adopters for putting in countless hours to help make Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue rescue succeed this year. We are excited to see what 2011 has in store for us!

Number of Owner Surrenders- 318 owner surrender applications. Out of 318 dogs needing our help we were only able to save 9 dogs. These numbers only include dogs that already had a family but they could no longer keep the dog for various reasons including: moving, stray, having a baby, not enough time, aggression issues, training issues, or just simply didn’t want the dog anymore. 

Number of Pit Bulls Needing to be Saved from Death: Countless....

Intake- 47 dogs (animal control, humane societies, and owner surrenders)

Why was MN Pit Bull Rescue ONLY able to save 47 dogs this year?

Our rescue is based solely off of available foster homes. This means we can only SAVE as many dogs as we have FOSTER homes for. We would love to save at least twice that number in 2011 but can’t do it without your help! If you want to help us save more dogs in 2011 please consider becoming a foster home or encouraging others to do so.   

Adoptions- 44 dogs

   

Foster to Adopt Program- 10 dogs

New foster to adopt program

Toward the end of the year we rolled out our new “foster to adopt” program. This program ensures that the adopter and the adopted dog receive the training that they need to become a successful team.  We have found great success with this program and will continue to improve the program in 2011.

Events

We participated in numerous events this year including:

Acapulco Fundraiser- Thank you to Kelly Dorek who put this together and helped us raise over $300.

St. Cloud Pride 

Twin Ports Pet Expo

Twin Cities Pet Expo 

   

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo- Bella found her forever home through this adoption event!

   

Renaissance Festival/Pet Fest

Paws on Grand 

 

Duluth Superior Pride 

   

Twin Cities Pride- We LOVE this event and we raised over $1,000 in donations for puppy breath.

   

Pit Bull Awareness Day- Our first awareness day as an organization and it was a success! We had a lot of food and socializing with other pitties and their owners. 

   

Pins for Pets- We put a bowling team together to support MN SNAP and got in the top three for fundraising with raising $400 in donations for them.

Adoption Days- We had over 20 adoption days this month at Chuck and Don’s. Thank you to all the fosters and volunteers who helped get our available dogs and the breed out in the public eye!

 

To see more event pictures please visit our facebook page!

Canine Good Citizen

Two of our alumni received their Canine Good Citizen certificates this year: Sally and Mugsy. Congrats to them and their families! We hope to have more of our current and alumni dogs certified in 2011. CGC is an awesome title to have on Pit Bull and we encourage all of our families to go through the training and hopefully pass the test.

Purchase Pittie Party tickets here!

There is a Famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi that’s been bouncing around in my head these past few months. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” I find that I have been questioning myself as a weak person because I truly cannot forgive Mr. Vick for the crimes he has committed. It seems as of late everyone has “jumped on the bandwagon” of forgiveness. Just as of a few days ago there was an article released stating that our own President had called to congratulate the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles for giving Mr. Vick a “second chance”. It should be noted that the President has not called the organization that has given many of Mr. Vick’s abused and mistreated dogs a second chance. I understand that everyone truly does deserve a second chance, but who is to say this is really Mr. Vick’s first crime. For someone to be as big of a monster to organize a dog fighting ring. I find it hard to believe he hasn’t made many “mistakes” in his life. But being someone who was seen as the next big star, it has allowed for many eyes to look the other way. Why then, are we so quick to assume this was the first big mistake he has made in his life? Can’t it just as easily be assumed that it is just the first time he truly got caught? Look again at his crime in these terms: Dogs are scientifically proven to have the brain function of a two year old child. Would we be so quick to forgive a man (a pro athlete none the less) who was torturing and killing two year olds? I suspect there would be a lynch mob lined across the country asking for his head. But because it was an animal we apparently have a much easier time disassociating ourselves from the reality of it: This is a person who bankrolled and participated in a “murdering machine”. Has our opinion of someone atoning for their crimes really come down to how many points they score for our fantasy football team? Have we really stooped to the level of believing someone has changed just because he makes more millions for millionaires by winning football games? Mr. Vick recently stated in an interview: “I would love to have another dog in the future. I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process, I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love and my passion for animals, I think it would be outstanding. And if I ever have that opportunity again, I won’t take it for granted.” Would you allow a convicted child killer to babysit your children? Not likely.

By: Matt Davalos 

Lately, there has been more debate over vaccinating our dogs/cats. Here are some links that I found helpful when trying to research the debate. By Minnesota law, Rabies is required but what about the numerous other vaccinations that the vet tries to sell you on? Does your dog/cat really need them?

Critter Advocacy

Holistic Care for Pets

Stop the Shots

Supporters, we sadly need your help! Our little Grace took a tumble this morning with her foster Dad (thanks to the ice and our lovely MN winters!) and she is at an emergency vet receiving oxygen to help her breathe while the fluid build up from the fall hopefully begins to relieve so that she can breathe more comfortably on her own again. =( If you've ever had a pet receive trauma care, you know it comes with a hefty price tag. ($1,000+) If you are in a position to donate toward Grace's care, we greatly appreciate it!!! You can donate via our razoo page: http://www.razoo.com/story/Minnesota-Pit-Bull-Rescue If you are not in a position to donate please send all positive thoughts her way!!!  =) 

Like anything related to your pets, there are a lot of options, and your job is to gather data, be informed, and make the best decision for your lifestyle and your particular dog!

Dry food? Canned food? Raw food? Grain-free? Here’s some thoughts from MN Pit Bull Rescue friends:

Blue Buffalo.Recommended by Amy S for dogs with food sensitivities and for healthy skin.

Dry, canned, treats, varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. From the website “Now you can feed your dog with the same care you’d feed a family member with the BLUE line of natural, healthy and holistic foods for dogs. All BLUE recipes contain real meat as the first ingredient, along with wholesome whole grains, garden veggies and healthy fruit.” Sold and Petcos, Petsmarts, Chuck and Don’s in the Twin Cities.

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lovers Soul.Recommended by Amy S and Angee Johnson.

Dry, canned varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. The website has an ingredients glossary, which I thought was interesting – they’re not scared to tell you what’s in their products! Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Taste of the Wild. Recommended by Sarah C (if she’s not feeding raw), and Lisa N.

Grain free.Dry, canned varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds, with flavor options. From the website “Made with real roasted meats and supplemented with fruits and vegetables, these grain-free formulas provide a superior taste sensation, highly digestible energy and natural antioxidants to support a healthy immune system and overall health.” Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Pinnacle Potato and Duck. Recommended by Barbara J-F.

Dry, canned varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds.Grain free formulas also available. From the website “Pinnacle is allergen-free so even pets with sensitive systems can enjoy the fine flavors and health benefits of Pinnacle’s superior ingredients.” Sold at Petcos and Petsmarts in the Twin Cities.

Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Vegetarian. Recommended by Nikki M for skin issues and food allergies.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. Grain free formulas also available. Nature’s Recipe is a Del Monte brand, and offers one formula of food that claims to be made from human-grade food. Sold at Petcos and Petsmarts in the Twin Cities.

Natural Balance Ultra Active.Recommended by Caitlin D. for active puppies.

  Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds, with flavor options. Natural Balance also offers food logs, which are great to cut up for training treats. They also offer organic and allergy formulas, which include grain-free options. Sold at Petcos, Chuck and Don’s, and other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Solid Gold Wolf King.Recommended by Caitlin D.

Dry, canned, treats, supplements, and health and coat care products, including grain-free options, and flavor varieties. Solid Gold website includes testimonials from customers. Sold at Petcos, Chuck and Don’s, and other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Fromm. Recommended by Caitlin D.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. Grain free formulas also available. Made in Wisconsin! Their holistic gold nutritionals include three fresh meats, eggs, and cheddar. Sold at Chuck and Don’s, or through Fetch, Inc delivery in the Twin Cities.

Wellness Core.Recommended by Brandy L. and Darcy K.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds, including Simple formulas for allergies, and Super 5 Mix. Grain free formulas also available. From the website “We use delicious, real-foods like deboned meats, free of added hormones and steroids, wholesome grains and fresh fruits and vegetables to provide the perfect balance of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the healthiest way possible.” Sold at Petcos, Petsmarts, Chuck and Don’s in the Twin Cities.

Canidae.Recommended by Jason B and Darcy K.

Dry, canned, treats in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. Grain free formulas also available. The website has a “cost to feed daily” calculator – interesting, and possibly helpful if you’re looking to calculate cost of dry vs. raw food, too. Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Orijen 6 Fresh Fish or Regional Red.Recommended by Michael Sweeney and Darcy K.

Grain-free, dry food in varieties for different sizes/ages/breeds. From the website “Considered too expensive by conventional pet food makers, our fresh regional ingredients are unmatched in any other dog or cat food on earth.” PET FOOD OF THE YEAR AWARD, 2010-2011 Glycemic Research Institute of Washington DC.Sold at Chuck and Don’s, and some other small/independent pet stores in the Twin Cities.

Costco Grain Free All Life Stages and Costco Puppy. Recommended by Laura H. for the price (savings cover the membership fees).

Because of the membership necessary for Costco, not a lot for a company website. There are some reviews online though – Google it! Sold at….Costco.

Raw. If you’re considering feeding raw, do your research, ask people who are feeding raw for the benefits and considerations. Below are a few links.

http://www.rawsforpaws.com

http://www.amazon.com – a variety of books on the subject

http://www.woodyspetdeli.com/ - a local raw pet food deli, offering cooked, raw, and ground food options.

A great book: Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs 

For all of the above, there is a ton of information available on the web, including reviews. Check out http://www.consumersearch.com/dog-food for some good information!

By: Brandy L.

 

Pins for Pets! 

 

The third annual Pins for Pets fundraising event was held on Sunday, August 15^th.  The event raises money for MNSNAP , Minnesota Spay Neuter Assistance Program.   As we support the mission of MNSNAP, we thought it would be fun this year to gather up rescue volunteers and supporters and make a team to participate in this year’s event.

 

We couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome:  we ended up with enough volunteers to fill 4 teams!!!  From there, we set our sights on a fundraising goal .  We wanted to raise $300 for MNSNAP.  Once again, our volunteers and supporters came through and we actually exceeded our goal, raising $400 in donations for MNSNAP!  All that generosity actually landed us in the top 3 fundraising teams for the event, so we couldn’t thank you all more. =)

 

We even had such a big group, they had trouble getting us all in the picture when we accepted our trophy. Watch out for our picture in the Chuck and Don's quarterly newsletter!

 

We are blessed to be able to count such wonderful people among our friends and supporters.  Hopefully next year will be just as much fun.

 

Big kudos also to our volunteers who pulled in the majority of the donations:  Adam Kaluza & Jessica Nelson, and Tracy Lemmens & Jason Bible.  And special thanks to Twin City Tees for outfitting all our team members in awesome "pit bullin'" shirts for the event, designed by volunteer Erik Anderson.