Ambassador and Advocate - For Pits' Sake
March 2008

For Pits' Sake is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1997 to provide safety and educational programs for children and adults, to assist in emergency situations, and to brighten the lives of others. In other words, to bring a little sunshine to those who need it - and that sunshine comes in a pit bull package.

Kris Crawford, founder of For Pits' Sake, Inc. trains pit bulls as successful search-and-rescue and therapy dogs.

"I provide services to the community with the use of the American Pit Bull Terrier, and by doing so I change the negative public perception of the breed," Crawford says. "When people who have seen my pit bulls work hear the words 'pit bull', they don't think of the vicious monster the media portrays, but rather they think of one of my dogs saving the life of a missing Alzheimer's patient, comforting a disabled child or teaching an abused child how to love."

Through their work, Crawford's pit bulls have touched, changed, and saved lives. They have even been called upon to help in high-profile cases, such as the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and the Laci peterson case.

Is this really a breed that should be kept from the public?

"I feel it is wrong and unfair to punish the innocent for the actions of someone else, and that's exactly what breed specific legislation does," Crawford says. "These laws declare an entire breed dangerous or vicious based on the actions of a few members of the breed. Breed specific laws are often a knee-jerk reaction from politicians who want to say they are doing something to stop dog bite incidences and fatalities after a highly publicized dog attack."

"We all want to prevent dog attacks; however, breed specific laws have proven to be ineffective in reducing dog bite incidents. Breed specific laws do not protect communities from fatal dog attacks and dog bite injuries. Focusing on one particular breed is also unfair to the community as a whole because it gives citizens a false sense of security and leaves them at risk of injury by dogs of all breeds that truly are dangerous. Lawmakers need to realize that any dog, regardless of breed, can be a danger in the hands of an irresponsible owner." Crawford advocates and provides educational programs as a means to help reduce dog bite incidents.

Though fighting stereotypes is a big part of what Crawford does, she admits that it's not why she uses pit bulls for search-and-rescue and therapy dog work.

"I use them because they are good at it!" Crawford says. "I don't take my pit bulls to work with disabled or abused children to fight stereotypes. I take them because they make a difference to those children. But by doing these activities, we are fighting the pit bull stereotype."

Crawford goes on to say, "Fighting stereotypes is hard work that involves some uncertainty and conflict. You never know how people are going to react, and by putting yourself out there you also become a target, especially when you start becoming well known. I have been verbally chastised both personally and professionally for my involvement with this breed. Over the years I have been threatened, lost my home or have been refused housing simply for owning pit bulls."

"When I first started doing things with my dogs, I could have hidden the fact, to some extent, that they were pit bulls. But I refuse to hide it because that's what they are, and I am so proud of what my dogs do and have accomplished." Crawford says. "I have had people who have seen the hardships my dogs and I have had to endure ask me what breed I will get next when Cheyenne, Dakota and Tahoe are gone. I always answer 'pit bulls'. To which they say, 'then you bring all the hardships for owning this breed on your self'," Crawford says. "If we gave up every time standing up for something was hard colored people would still be riding in the back of the bus and women wouldn't be voting!'"

According to Crawford, "The key to reversing negative stereotypes is to contradict them in direct interactions with individual people, in the media, and through education, and that's exactly what For Pits' Sake strives to do."

What Can Pit Bull Owners Do To Help Change Stereotypes

"The most important thing is to do whatever it takes to help change the public's perception of the breed," Crawford say. "I firmly believe that if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Everyone who owns this breed needs to realize that they are responsible for what happens to this breed, whether they like it or not. If you have a social, well mannered and trained pit bull, get him out where the public can see him, even if that's just taking him for a walk to the coffee shop. If your dog is not social, well-mannered or in your control, take steps to get him that way! Be ever vigilant to make sure that your pit bull will not cause a negative headline. It's the irresponsible pit bull owner who hurt all pit bull owners and ultimately the dogs end up paying the price."