Community Corner

Pit Bulls Need Love Too

A local organization seeks to educate people about Pit Bulls and find responsible forever homes for Pit Bull-type dogs.

By Sarah E. Anderson

Pit Bulls often get a bad rap these days. Many consider them dangerous and vicious, but 100 years ago, they were the some of the most popular family pets in the country. In 2002, in a case involving American Pit Bull Terriers, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that no dog is dangerous because it is of a certain breed, yet in some places, such as Denver, Colorado, dogs that have Pitt Bull-like features are restricted. The ASPCA claims that the media is biased towards dog attacks that involve Pit Bulls. High profile dog-fighting cases, particularly the one involving Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, have helped form negative opinions of the dogs, but still, many claim there are no bad dogs, just bad owners.  

I tend to fall in the latter category. I feel that restricting a certain breeds of dog is the equivalent of shutting down a bank out of fear it will be robbed.  Whether they are raising and breeding the dogs to fight, or just neglecting the dog’s needs, it is my opinion that there should be more criminal punishment for bad pet owners and breeders.   

Find out what's happening in Douglasvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Jamie Lyn Brannon, the founder of BullyWag, Inc., an organization based in Douglasville that seeks to find a responsible home for dogs that fall under the Pit Bull category, and educate the community about the dogs. 

Patch: How did BullyWag get started? 

Find out what's happening in Douglasvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

BullyWag: BullyWag, Inc. began as mother and daughter wanting to do more to help change some people's opinion of Pit Bull-type dogs. As time progressed, we became disappointed and frustrated with the huge numbers of Pit Bull-type dogs (or dogs that "look" like Pit Bull-type dogs) being euthanized in the state of Georgia.  We then decided that our efforts should be somewhat re-focused to provide a positive look at Pit Bull-type dogs –promoting and highlighting their outstanding qualities. (Pit Bull is a term often used to identify several breeds including The American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Miniature and Standard Bull Terriers.)

Patch: What all does your organization do today? 

BullyWag:  We try to focus on bully type dogs, but we have also pulled many kittens and cats from Douglas County Animal Control and Coweta County Animal Control.  We've pulled puppies and dogs from Athens/Clarke, Henry County, Clayton County, Floyd County, Murray County, Douglas County, and Coweta County.  We get calls and e-mails from individuals almost daily looking to rehome their dog(s) and/or dog(s) that have been found/wandering the streets.  In some cases we have been able to give dog food, cat food, and even have a fence built, but we are very limited since we see very few donations.

Patch: Why did you choose to focus on Pit Bulls?    

BullyWag:  We fell in love with the breed about seven years ago and vowed that we would do what we could to help them find good homes.  Initially, this was just by cross-posting e-mails and exchanging information; then we decided we wanted to do more.

Patch: What can people in Douglas County do to help your organization right now? 

BullyWag: We are way past being desperate for foster homes for some of our dogs! We lost another foster recently. She turned over four puppies. We don't have a shelter and we can't have any more at our house. We already have 12 in boarding that are causing us to go bankrupt, not to mention that their boarding is not a way to live. I am begging for a few folks to step up and do a good thing. These are great dogs.  Many of them are multi-pet home friendly and good with kids.  What we need are good people who truly care and love the Pit Bull breed. Please forward to your friends and acquaintances if you are unable to take in one or more of our dogs. A foster home application is available at www.BullyWag.org

Patch: Have negative stories about Pit Bulls in the news affected adoption?  

BullyWag: Not sure if it has directly had a negative effect on us, but it certainly doesn't help.

Patch: What is your message to the people of Douglas County about Pit Bulls and Pitt Bull-type dogs?  

BullyWag: Every stray dog on the street is not a Pit Bull. A lot of them are due to careless owners and breeders. A lot of them are mistreated; most of them only want to be loved. Pit Bull-type dogs have a lot to offer society, but until we get the sloppy breeding practices and miserable owners under control and stopped, public uncertainty with regard to the breed will remain questionable.  If those who are in a position to make change would step up and do something instead of passing the blame, we might just be able to turn things around.

Patch: What advice would you give to someone who is considering a Pit Bull type dog as a pet?  

BullyWag:   Do some research and make sure this is the right type of dog for you/your family.

Patch: Pit Bulls are probably the most controversial breed of dog right now; what do you think can be done to change their reputation? 

BullyWag: I have a major problem with labeling. I think the mislabeling of dogs as "Pit Bulls" is greatly impacting the negative view of these dogs. It's present in shelters and in individuals...it's the same thing as racial profiling.  You can't tell someone's ancestry just by looking at them.

To learn more about how you can help BullyWag in their mission to save Pit Bulls, please visit their website at www.BullyWag.org or you can check out the picture gallery above if you interested in adopting one of the dogs.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here