If you haven't seen it already, The American Dog magazine has launched the Humanitarian Awards - if you haven't voted already, you have until December 5, 2010 - and you can vote every day until then. There are some names you'll no doubt recognize like Best Friends Animal Society, Nathan Winograd, Rescue Ink and Shorty Rossie, as well as some you might not know - Tamira Thayne & Dawn Ashby of Dogs Deserve Better, Pinups for PitBulls, Surf Dog Ricochet and Sarge the Elderbull.

Even though I read and write about this stuff pretty much every day, I was still amazed by the number of people (and dogs) involved in helping dogs and the number of dogs helping people too. The categories range from general rescue groups, special interest groups (ending puppy mills or unchaining dogs), "spokesdogs" therapy dogs and service dog organizations. One concern close to my heart is also one of the largest categories: "Voice for Saving the Pit Bulls".

(One name that is missing is Mimi Ausland, the founder of FreeKibble.com, although their sponsor Halopets is listed. If you haven't signed up for your daily FreeKibble reminder do - two simple questions a day - learn a bit and donate a bit for free.)

While it's not clear if the winners are going to receive a huge cash prize for their cause-of-choice, the publicity, discussion and awareness raised is great too. In a way, the Humanitarian Awares are another "awareness event", which are as important for the education the public as they are for placing pets or raising money.

So please do vote every day and get to know some of the individuals and groups you don't see on TV or read about in the headlines. Share some of the links on Twitter or Facebook and email a few friends or better yet your government representatives a few interesting articles. Sign up for a blog or two. Make a small donation.

Working together we can improve the lot of dogs everywhere.

In Defence of Pit Bulls

Dino Dogan is promoting yet another Kenn Bell video (of "The Other Heroes of 9/11" fame), this time supporting the much maligned breed, the Pit Bull.



Let me be perfectly clear - IMHO Pit Bulls are not monsters, killers, vicious, evil or dangerous. I know because I work with dogs, and a kennel full of Pit Bulls is MUCH easier to deal with than a kennel full of Labradors or lap dogs.

Anyone who fuels the fires of prejudice against any breed (or race, creed or color), for fun, profit or cruelty is, pardon my French, a foutue idiote.

Let's use some common sense.

Let's ignore the press whipping up Pit Bull hysteria to sell papers.

Let's ignore uninformed and misinformed politicians trying to score points with uninformed and misinformed constituents.

Let's start treating Pit Bulls like dogs, and not like devils incarnate.

Let's not condemn all Pit Bulls because of the actions of a few bad owners.

Let's put an end to dog fighting.

Let's make Pit Bull Terriers a AKC recognized breed.

Let's end Breed Specific Legislation.

If you have never met a Pit Bull, please don't form an opinion until you do. Please do talk to someone who really knows the breed and who is a responsible dog owner.

By the way October 23 is Pit Bull Awareness Day - Let's Celebrate America's Dog!

Here are just a few other Pit Bull supporters, and a much better source of information than the guy down the street:

Pinups for Pit Bulls
Shorty's Pit Bull Rescue
Cesar Milan
Pit Bulls
Bull Dog Breeds
Pit Bull Rescue Central
Luv A Bull Pit Bull Rescue and Sanctuary
Don't Bully My Breed
Working Pit Bull Terrier Club of America
National American Pit Bull
Best Friends Animal Rescue


You can follow Dino Dogan on Twitter and Facebook. Follow Kenn via his website, The Dog Files.