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Long Term Animals / Staff Picks / Pit Bull Hall Dogs

Pit Bull Hall is an adoption & education effort jointly operated by the East Bay SPCA and BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls).

Visit the guests of Pit Bull Hall here.

Read more about the history of Pit Bull Hall, and how this partnership between two very different animal welfare organizations evolved.

There is no way around it: pit bulls have a bad rap. They can be friendly, loyal dogs, and they can be tough dogs to own, especially with regard to dog-aggression and facing the prejudice of a fearful community.

The breed has been unfortunately popularized by an element of dog owner not always intent on the best for the breed, and the breed also has its aficionados fiercely loyal to its smart, goofy nature.

This has proven problematic for shelters like ours, dedicated to doing the right thing and ensuring that all adoptable animals have a home (not just the desirable ones). Shelters who commit to keeping adoptable animals alive until they find a new home risk having their kennels full of unwanted animals if they cannot be adopted. This prevents the shelters from saving the lives of any more animals until these are adopted.

Pit bulls, as with other less desirable breeds, older dogs, or even just "ugly" dogs, take longer to adopt, take more resources than a dog that is adopted quickly, and take a special adopter, one committd to the dog.

How does Pit Bull Hall work?

Pit Bull Hall is the place for two kinds of people: those seeking information and education on the bully breeds to see if one might be a good choice for their home, and those people who are already pit bull fans, wanting to ensure they make the very best choice when adding a pit bull to their home.

Pit Bull Hall dedicates five kennels in our Oakland SPCA facility to the very best pit bulls rescued from the public shelters in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. These dogs have been temperament-tested by BAD RAP, have lived in BAD RAP foster homes, have been trained by BAD RAP and are adopted to people who have been approved by BAD RAP's very thorough adoption process, ensuring that the adoption will be a success.

Direct media inquiries here.