2017 Summer Update
Thank you for your continued support to keep families together through ending housing and insurance discrimination. We know that our voice is being heard around the country because of your support. We’ve been busy in 2017. Here’s what we have been up to recently –
Twin Cities Pride:
TC Pride 2017 was our first time walking in the Pride parade. Our team had an absolute blast walking the route with our dogs to break stereotypes and to “Lick Discrimination”. We also attended the festival all weekend where we were able to pass out housing resources along with having critical conversations about the lack of housing in the Twin Cities. We are already looking forward to participating in TC Pride 2018.
Minneapolis Open Streets Events – All Summer Long:
This Summer you can catch our team at every Minneapolis Open Streets event. Not only will we be present to talk all things dog but we will also have our pop-up shop with us. Stop by and pick up some apparel to spread the word that your dog is family.
Dog Encounter Training with Minneapolis Police Department:
Keeping family dogs safe at home is our mission. We have teamed up with the Minneapolis Police Department to assist in creating a Dog Encounter training for officers to use while they are in the field. We are working to bring resources across the country to Minneapolis to help create change in training procedure after the recent shooting of two family dogs in a fenced backyard. We thank the Minneapolis Police Department for allowing us to host a meet up outside of the 4th Precinct where we were able to pass off some of our training materials.
Second Sunday Pack Walks with My Pit Bull is Family:
Join us EVERY second Sunday this Summer and Fall for a group outing at the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, MN. This event is free to attend with your well behaved dog of any type and children of any age. We believe that these pack walks are important to the work we are doing around the country to break stereotypes of these amazing dogs. To learn more about when and where our pack walks are visit our Facebook Page.
Minneapolis Housing Project:
In May, our volunteers called 243 “Dog Friendly” apartments listed on Rent.com and we found that there is an abundance of discriminatory housing policies. Of the apartments we called only 13 apartments truly accept all dogs and we found that there are over 25 types of dogs that are discriminated against in pet policies across the Twin Cities. We are currently in the process of following up with all of these apartments to see what services we can provide as an organization and which community resources we can connect management with to allow all types of dogs in these properties. Through changing pet policies to allow all dogs we know that there will be less dogs in our shelters due to owner surrenders and more rescue dogs will be able to find a place to call home.
Best Friends Animal Society National Conference 2017:
We attended the Best Friends Animal Society National Conference in New Jersey! Not only did we attend the event, we also were selected to be a vendor and a presenter! It was such an honor to be selected to present the work that we’re doing across the county and encourage rescue organizations to get involved in our mission. We also had an opportunity to spend time with Aladdin and his amazing mother Michelle at the conference. Aladdin is in the running for Hero Dog of the Year! To learn more about Aladdin click here.
Pictured Angie, Dustin & Shannon of My Pit Bull is Family.
Please watch our presentation from the Best Friends Animal Society National Conference to learn more about the work we’re doing along with how to get involved locally!
We know that through building partnerships around the country we will be able to tackle discriminatory housing policies when it comes to our four legged family members. In order to do so we need your help! If you are interested in launching a housing project in your area please let us know! Please email Shannon@mypitbullisfamily.org and we will launch a project in your city!
Strut Your Mutt – September 10 St. Paul, MN
Speaking of Best Friends Animal Society, did you know that My Pit Bull is Family is a Best Friends Animal Society — No More Homeless Pets Network Partner? Join our team for this year’s Strut Your Mutt event in St. Paul. It is our first year participating and we’re really excited about it! All team members will receive a My Pit Bull is Family swag bag at the event.
Join our team here!
Upcoming Events:
August 13 Pack Walk – Mpls, MN
August 20 Pittie Social – Wheaton, IL
August 27 Open Streets Franklin – Mpls, MN
September 9 Open Streets W. Broadway – Mpls, MN
September 10 Strut Your Mutt – St. Paul, MN
September 10 All Breed Obedience Training Open House – Woodbury, MN
September 17 Richfield Open Streets – Richfield, MN
September 24 Open Streets Nicollet – Mpls, MN
September 24 Edina Open Streets – Edina, MN
October 8 Pack Walk – Mpls, MN
October 25 Drink for a Cause – NorthGate Brewing – Mpls, MN
October 26 The Champions Screening – AMC Rosedale – Roseville, MN
October 28 National Pit Bull Awareness Canine Carnival – Mpls, MN
October 29 National Pit Bull Awareness Rescue Workshop Day – Mpls, MN
As always, if you know of housing that accepts ALL DOGS please let us know! We receive countless emails and Facebook posts daily of families searching for housing to keep their families together.
Thank you,
Shannon Glenn
Executive Director
MyPitBullisFamily.org
