B-More Dog challenges and assists Baltimore to be more compassionate
Great causes are sometimes born of great tragedy. The Baltimore Dog Owners Guild or B-More Dog is one of those great causes. This small group of responsible dog owners is working to help others become the kind of person every pet deserves.
In 2007, brought on by events that spurred this otherwise unrelated group of dog owners into action B-more Dog was founded. Baltimore County had considered banning a number of the breeds of dogs making up the generic “pit bull” type following several serious incidents in the county. All of these incidents were the result of a perfect storm of circumstances and could have been prevented. Fortunately, in their wisdom, the County Council decided against discriminatory legislation but the gathered dog owners got the message loud and clear. Their dogs were all but endangered and if they did not take preemptive action they might lose the right to have the pet of their choice.
B-More Dog is a non-profit educational resource. Their goal is to educate and encourage people to become exemplary pet owners with exemplary pets so to fight the stigma and stereotype so often associated with “pit bull” ownership. By attending fairs, events and providing pet owner classes such as B-More in Control at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) and the Maryland SPCA they offer guidance, tools and resources for pet owners. They visit public school classrooms and discuss safety around dogs and kindness to animals with their B-More Humane program. While they do not provide rehoming services, B-More Dog helps pet owners faced with having to give up a dog by offering solutions to keep their pet instead.
B-More Dog was founded on the premise of hope. “We want people to do right by their dog” says Erin Sullivan, co-founder and President of B-More Dog. “We hope to show our city that good, responsible, law abiding people have “pit bulls” and it is not the dogs themselves that are the problem.” Ms. Sullivan believes that understanding your dog is the key to success. “You can’t expect the local dog park alone to provide socialization for your dog. That is up to you. Some dogs are fine in a dog park, some are not. Before you take your dog, you must ensure good obedience and even then, go alone first. Scope it out before ever taking your dog.”
It is not just about the local dog park, their Pit bull 101 program, a free seminar-style class designed to dispel myths and discuss truths about the various breeds of dogs making up the “pit bull,” type is also hosted at BARCS. Additionally B-More Dog promotes low cost options for spay / neuter, vaccinations and microchipping and offers resources to help with health care for “pit bull” owners struggling financially. What B-More Dog is not, is a rescue. While a number of members are associated with rescues, and rescue is near to the hearts of many members, the mission of the organization does not include re-home dogs. “Because of the time commitment involved if nothing else, were we to focus on rescue, B-More Dog would not be able to provide educational and advocacy programs.” Says Sullivan. “We support rescue, but as an organization, that is not our mission.”
So what is the message B-More Dog hopes to impart? “That through responsible pet ownership we can combat the difficulties faced by our dogs and the people who love them. By increasing our membership we can build a movement, a tribe of responsible owners that benefit our dogs and our community.” says Sullivan.
One of the very refreshing aspects of speaking with Ms. Sullivan is that dog fighting, so often part and parcel to conversations involving “pit bull” type dogs, was secondary to social needs in our conversation. While B-More Dog clearly recognizes the tragedy that is dog fighting and takes very seriously the plight of dogs condemned to this short and often tragic life, their focus is on helping pet owners. As a young organization they choose to help in the most effective manner possible. It seems B-more Dog may intend to take a more active role in local anti-dogfighting efforts in the future, but at the moment they are limited by resources and membership. According to Sullivan, members and volunteers are what they need most.
Dog fighting is awful in every sense, but may not be the biggest problem facing “pit bulls” in our city. Uneducated dog owners who do not understand that they have a working breed of dog in need of guidance, training and stimulation both physically and psychologically are perhaps as big or even bigger of a problem in terms of public safety and breed /type discrimination.
People who get a puppy and then leave it in the yard behind a fence or on a tether where the dog remains under-socialized and frustrated might be brewing a serious problem. As a terrier, the various breeds making up the “pit bull” type, the dog will be inclined to do everything to the fullest degree. They will be whatever is expected of them as they want nothing more than to please their person. Having Sullivan and B-More Dog seeking to help by providing the needed guidance, tools and resources is already having an effect. By touching the lives of people who might not otherwise know better, by offering real life solutions from real life people who have faced the same problems, frustrated pet owners or those simply in need of some help are made to feel a kinship. They are responsible pet owners seeking to learn one step at a time so they too can join the B-More Dog tribe.
When asked what B-More Dog means to her, Erin Sullivan's reply is simple, “Hope”.
Please visit B-More Dog by
clicking here. Or visit them at one of their upcoming events.
Sept. 12, The 2009 Pigtown Festival, 11-1, located between the 700-800 block of
Washington Blvd. in southwest Baltimore. For more info
click here
Sept. 27, B-More In Control Workshop at the MDSPCA 12-1:30, located at 3300 Falls Road, Baltimore. Please RSVP by email to
bmoredog@gmail.com
Sept. 27, Dog-A-Thon, 10-5, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, Md.
Oct. 10, Baltimore County Humane Society's DogFest, 10-4:30, Shawan Downs, 1401 Shawan Road, Hunt Valley, For more info.
click here
Oct. 17, BARCStoberfest, 11-4, Patterson Park, corner of Eastern and Linwood avenues, Baltimore. For more info.
click here
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B-More Dog challenges and assists Baltimore to be more compassionate
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