Marcus Wahl holds a pit bull-Shitzu cross on Sept. 7 at the third annual Pit-A-Palooza fundraiser put on by Prairie Pit Bull Rescue. The event raised $3,700 to help re-home rescued pit bulls.
In an effort to break down misconceptions surrounding pit bulls, Prairie Pit Bull Rescue held its third annual Pit-A-Palooza fundraiser last weekend.
There were vendors, live bands, dogs and a silent auction at Gyro Park in Lethbridge on Sept. 7.
“It’s a way to get the community out and show more about our group, get people touching our dogs and have a good time,” said Natalie Kent, a volunteer at the rescue
The organization surpassed its goal by $700, raising $3,700 for the society.
Kent said the majority of the funds were raised through the silent auction and most of it will be spent on vet bills.
Prairie Pit Bull Rescue has been operating in and around Lethbridge for nearly 18 years and events like this help attract new volunteers and find dogs a permanent home.
“This is just the first day that I tried [volunteering], I was just seeing what would happen,” said Marcus Wahl, a first-time volunteer who hopes to stay involved with the cause.
People got the chance to meet and play with dogs that were available for adoption on the spot.
“We typically do have a few adoptions from each event that we throw, so there will be some going home today,” said Kent.
The rescue relies heavily on volunteer work both for events and care of their dogs.
They also accept donations of money and supplies.
“We love that the dogs are in homes because that really means a lot to the dogs, sometimes that is the first home they’ve ever had,” said Kent.
She added that the rescue would like to one day have a public space to act as an adoption centre, but they will never stop having foster homes.
Ten years ago, Prairie Pit Bull Rescue decided to specialize in the breed because they realized that they are banned in many states and have an unfair reputation.
There are ten states in which pit bulls are banned or unwelcome and only one Canadian province.
Ontario has an active ban on the breed and requires dogs born before 2005 to be muzzled and spayed or neutered.
Last year, Quebec decided against enacting a ban when Public Safety Minister Martin Coiteux said that there was no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of a ban on specific breeds.
A study conducted by the American Temperament Test Society in 2017 disproved that pit bulls are inherently aggressive toward humans.
“The breed is awesome, we love it… they are so easy and lazy and goofy,” said Kent.
Prairie Pit Bull Rescue will be at the Lethbridge Pet Expo next Saturday to show off their dogs, there will be an admission fee of $5.