Pit Crew Update from Connie

I just wanted to share with  you just  how incredible you guys are.  After busting you butts last week, you did it again yesterday! And we got 2 apps on our Pit Crew dogs, I admire, respect and appreciate  your commitment more than you will ever know. 

Here is a low down of what we have accomplished and how BF’s and Pet’s Mart Charities track it: 

HCAS

• SUMMARY:  From Qtr 1 to Qtr 2, the following changes have been noted –

• Pit Crew volunteers have increased from 26 in Feb, to 32 in May.  Additionally, Pit Crew members have been participating in training classes with shelter pit bulls to increase adoptability.

 Between Jan and Feb, there was (1 )outreach event, (1) offsite adoption event, and (1 )shot clinic, for a total of (3) events.  Between Mar and May, there were (2) promo events, (10) adoption and outreach events, and (2) humane ed efforts, for a total of (14) events.

• Jan had (5) adoptions, Feb had (8).  Mar saw (14) adoptions, Apr (11), and May (10), for an average increase of (5.2) adoptions per month.

• In Qtr 1, there were no community training partner activities, but a volunteer trainer offered 1-2 classes per week to volunteers and adopters.  Since that time, a training partner has just been selected and will work on post adoption efforts, and the existing volunteer trainer has increased his regular training class availability to several times per week

• In Qtr 1, there were only 2 media efforts for the partnership.  By the end of May, there were 13 efforts on behalf of the program, the Facebook presence has grown, and there are Pit of the Week postings every week on the BFAS Network site

• Of the most successful components and activities at this shelter partner are outreach activities and training to increase adoptability of the dogs.  We expect to see in increase in owner retention with post adoption efforts starting in June.

Our Pit Crew

• Pit Crew
  • March – there were a total of 32 Pit Crew volunteers, with training sessions and volunteer meetings held on the 6^th and 12^th. 

   

  • April – there were a total of 35 Pit Crew volunteers, with a Pit Crew meeting held on 4/3.

   

  • May – there were a total of 32 Pit Crew volunteers, with a volunteer brainstorming meeting held for the Neighborhood Pit Bull Day event.

• Media
  • March – 3/11 Press Release on Ernie Sims event encouraging responsible dog ownership with Pit Crew.  3/24 Press Release announcing partnership between BFAS and HCAS.  3/25 Press Release on Pit Bulls on Parade with Ernie Sims in Tallahassee.  3/25 Pit Bulls on Parade in Tallahassee FL  Read article here

• April – 4/4 Partnering Up to Help Pit Bull Terriers.   Read article here  4/10 TBO presented a positive print article on “Are Pit Bulls being unfairly targeted.  4/12 Tampa Tribune presents print article on Dolly the pit bull visiting FL legislature to support SB722.  4/12 Dolly the pit bull visiting FL legislature was also captured on news station, television.  4/22 St Pete Times presented positive print article on the HCAS Pit Crew (front page).  4/23   Read Tampabay article here  on the shelter partners program.

•   May –5/24  Read this
• Neighborhood Pit Bull Day events to Raise Community Awareness.  5/25 Advertisement posted with Northeast News & Tribune and the South Tampa News and Tribune for Neighborhood Pit Bull Day.  5/27 Advertisement posted in the Friday Extra for Neighborhood Pit Bull Day.  5/27 Press Release for Neighborhood Pit Bull Day.

• Ongoing - Weekly “Pit of the Week” postings are published on the BFAS website, and each Pit Crew maintains a Facebook page with regular updates and information sharing.  Additionally, the Friends of HCAS website and HCAS Twitter account feature adoptables and local information.  There is also a Pit Bull Ambassadors of Hillsborough County Facebook page that regularly posts adoptable pit bulls in the Pit Crew program.

• Specifically within the shelter

• April - the 8 kennels that have been set aside for pit bull training classes (dogs safe from euthanasia) were decorated so that they stand out to the public and promote the program.  Installed new play yard fencing for future use with playgroups.

• May – have taken time out to highlight a special pit bull dog in the shelter, Blossom.  Blossom was returned twice, through no fault of her own, and has saved two other dogs’ lives in her service as a blood donor.  She is a pit bull ambassador with a high level of training and is patiently awaiting a home.

• 

  Awesome Blossom

   

• Events:  

• March – 3/5-3/6 Humane Society of Tampa Bay’s annual Bark in the Park event with Rescue Ink – Pit Crew held booth with adoptable dogs present.  3/12 Educational and Pit Bull Awareness event with Ernie Sims (NFL player), the Pit Crew, and shelter dogs.  3/26 Educational and fun show event for pit bulls with Ernie Sims, the Pit Crew, and shelter dogs, in Tallahassee (4 other shelter reps showed up to meet with Connie on how to implement a pit bull program in their shelter).  There were 3 offsite adoption programs held at various locations in March. 

• April – 4/9 responsible owner session held at local school.  4/10 offsite adoption event at Walgreens.  4/17 responsible owner session held at local school.  4/17 offsite adoption event at Walgreens.  4/23 on site adoption, rescue and community outreach event at shelter called HOP – Help Our Animals, which resulted in 6 pit bull adoptions.

• May – 5/18 visited Congressman Bilirakis’ office with 3 shelter pit bulls to discuss Pit Bulls for Patriots.  5/20 met with Veterans Advisory Board with 3 shelter pit bulls.  5/21 microchip clinic in Ybor City.  Local advertising efforts through community outreach and postcard/flyer distribution for Neighborhood Pit Bull Day (event on 6/4).

• Community Training Partners   BFAS has selected a trainer, Mary Birrell, to assist with post adoption support.  This is currently in the process of being planned out, and scheduled to begin in the month of June.  The shelter currently utilizes a volunteer trainer, Duane, for classes. 

• March - there were 8 CGC classes held for adopters and shelter dogs, with 3 dogs completing their CGC.

• April - there were 5 regular training classes held per week, for a total of 20, which include CGC activities.  4 shelter dogs completed their CGC. 

• May – there are basic obedience and training classes held every Wednesday night, and dog handling and basic obedience held every morning at the shelter for shelter dogs.

• Spay/Neuter Activities

• March – a total of 37 s/n vouchers were in limbo, and 15 surgeries had been administered.  (45 vouchers were distributed at a shot clinic with Ernie Sims on 2/26).

• April – 29 vouchers were in limbo, 30 surgeries had been administered, with a total of 120 remaining for distribution.

• May – 5 vouchers were in limbo, 7 surgeries had been administered.  (60+ vouchers made available on Neighborhood Pit Bull Day, June 4^th).

• The remaining vouchers are in the field at the HSTB Spay/Neuter clinic and with HCAS animal control officers for distribution to dogs in need.

• Other 

The state of Florida has reviewed a section of the law regarding dog fighting (SB722), whereas confiscated dogs would be viewed as victims and individually assessed.  The bill has passed the legislature and is expected to be signed by Governor Scott soon.   

Connie and HCAS staff met and formed a partnership with Pits for Patriots, a program that will utilize pit bulls from the shelter as service dogs for veterans.  An article was posted on pg 58 of Bella Dog magazine.    Read article here  

• Connie completed a “How to Kit”– How to implement a pit crew.  The final copy needs to go through our in-house creative team before distribution.
• Connie and staff member, Pam Perry, attended the Longmont internship on 2/23-2/26.
• Connie attended All Staff Week at BFAS from 5/1-5/7, which included training, informational sessions, meetings and brainstorming sessions with the team.
• May – final planning and organization for Neighborhood Pit Bull Day (event on 6/4).
• Meeting with community “leaders” to discuss ways to reach youth in the area.