Join Our Pit Crew

Kenosha has a "pit bull" problem: The problem is not that Kenosha's "pit bull" dogs are a menace to society- they're not. The problem is "pit bull" dog overpopulation in the Kenosha area. The problem is that over 50% of the dogs being housed at Safe Harbor are consistently "pit bull" dogs and these dogs are consistently our least adopted dogs.

Safe Harbor Humane Society has a "pit bull" solution: Safe Harbor's Pit Crew, a community group made up of shelter volunteers, shelter staff and other passionate members of the community, intends to change the way people think of this grouping of dogs all together. They realize that society likes to demonize these dogs as a "dangerous breed," unworthy of adoption and, in many communities around the nation, even unworthy of life.

The Pit Crew hopes to use community education and outreach, free or reduced price spay/neuter programs and dog training to change the entire way our community views "pit bull" dogs. This grouping of dogs is not to be feared or avoided. They are not a special breed to be praised or demonized, but to be respected and protected. Each "pit bull" dog should be judged as an individual dog, with individual characteristics that make it the dog it is. With grant funding and community support, Safe Harbor's Pit Crew intends on using programming like basic dog training for all shelter "pit bull" dogs to showcase the fact that these well-trained and obedient dogs are not only adoptable, these dogs may be the best deal in town! They also hope to offer Canine Good Citizen certification reimbursement to owners of "pit bull" dogs who are willing to enroll in and graduate from the CGC course.

If successful, the Pit Crew believes these types of promotions have the power to change our community's outlook on owned "pit bull" dogs, which in turn will result in higher adoption rates and manageable populations in the Kenosha area.

Be part of the solution: To join Safe Harbor's Pit Crew or to find out more information, contact [email protected] or visit safeharborhumanesociety.org.