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We ARE the majority! #TheMajorityProject

02•10•15

This post is sponsored by The Animal Farm Foundation and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the The Majority Project, but OMD! only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Animal Farm Foundation is not responsible for the content of this article.

AFFLogowhite3

I love my three dogs to the ends of the earth. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them, and it’s my job to take care of them, keep the safe, fed, trained, and loved.

Two of those three dogs happen to be pit-bull-type dogs, and I discovered very early on that it’s also my job to defend and advocate on their behalf. There are just so many myths about “pit bull” dogs, and many people don’t take the time to learn the truth. We were having dinner with a colleague and his wife, and he said, “Oh, we’re both terrified of pit bulls.” But he wasn’t sure why. He just knew what he heard about them on the evening news.

In an effort to challenge the negative stereotypes about “pit bull” dog owners, Animal Farm Foundation created The Majority Project, a photo collection illustrating how countless “pit bull” dog owners make valuable contributions to their communities and families every day. Animal Farm Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation, which has been rescuing and re-homing animals, as well as making grants to other humane organizations, since the mid-1980s. It is Animal Farm Foundation’s mission to secure equal treatment and opportunity for “pit bull” dogs.

Plus, Animal Farm Foundation partnered with actor and “pit bull” dog owner, Jon Bernthal to create a video about the project, which you can check out below!

The Majority Project with Jon Bernthal from Animal Farm Foundation on Vimeo.

We jumped on the chance to participate because those of us who love and care for these dogs need to stand up and give our dogs a voice. Emmett was the first pit-bull-type dog we welcomed into our lives, and he’s been challenging stereotypes since day one. In one of the very first training classes we took with him, a woman asked us if we’d put him down if we had kids. Since then, Emmett has trained and worked as a therapy dog – around kids of all ages, sizes, and ability. He’s traveled around the country, stayed in hotels, been on photoshoots, napped a whole lot, met people and dogs and even a couple more cats. It’s important to me to take him with me whenever it’s somewhere he’ll have fun and be safe because, well, I like having him with me, of course. But, more importantly, he spreads joy and love, and he changes hearts and minds.

We were thrilled to take part in this campaign, although I probably should’ve planned better! We didn’t snap this pic until after Cooper had spent the day running, jumping, and playing at doggy daycare. As you can see, he can hardly hold his head up, the little dear! (Yep, another myth busted: “pit bull” dogs can and do thrive in group play sessions like doggy daycare!) Emmett, on the other hand, pretty much always looks relaxed.

We ARE the majority!

But, then Newt corrected me. She reminded me that SHE is the “pit bull” dog owner around here. So, we let her be a part of the campaign, too. (Another myth busted: “Pit bull” dogs can be in families with cats and other tiny animals! Newt and Cooper are best buds and spend a good chunk of their afternoon wrestling with each other.)

Newt is the majority

As dog owners – no matter what kind of dog you love – we need to treat them all as individuals and empower pet owners to be responsible. That is the only way to create safe communities – NOT by targeting a specific dog breed. Creating and enforcing non-discriminatory Responsible Pet Ownership laws is the most effective path to building safe, humane communities. Reckless dog owners cannot be correlated with any particular breed or type of dog; the only factor reckless dog owners have in common is their problematic behavior resulting from a disregard of public safety and animal welfare.

“Pit bull” dog owners: Help change public perception of the average “pit bull” dog owner by disproving existing stereotypes! Join The Majority Project by visiting themajorityproject.com, printing and personalizing an “I am the MAJORITY” sign and submitting a photo with YOUR dog! And join them on Facebook or Twitter!

We ARE the majority!

17 Comments
Filed Under: Animal Welfare, OMD! Tagged With: Animal Farm Foundation, breed-specific legislation, bsl, responsible dog owners, The Majority Project

Comments

  1. Felissa (Two Little Cavaliers) says

    02•10•15 at 9:53 am

    I love that Newt is the Majority! So sweet keeping those big dogs in line around the house.

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•11•15 at 10:10 am

      For a little lady, she sure does keep the big boys in line, that’s for sure!! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jodi says

    02•10•15 at 11:22 am

    I love this campaign. I’ve been following a thread on Facebook from a woman in Australia whose neighbor’s dog was killed by a pitbull. She is advocating to ban all pitbulls and shares the BSL and all the ways Australia is taking steps to eradicate this breed. Nothing anyone tells her will sway her opinion, I got to the point where I stopped following her thread, because I just don’t know how to change her ignorant mind.

    Thank you for loving and advocating for your dogs.

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•11•15 at 10:13 am

      Yikes. So sorry you got caught up in that, Jodi. Unfortunately, there are some people who are just unwilling to have a reasonable, educated discussion. I truly believe that logic, fact, and cooler heads will eventually prevail.

      Reply
  3. Deb says

    02•10•15 at 11:58 am

    I busted out laughing seeing Newt sitting in her box! I remember a couple of years ago when the majority campagn started and it has occupied a back corner of my mind ever since. I haven’t participated yet because I couldn’t really decide on a word. My two boys are both Pit Bull types but are individuals. They live with two cats and a toddler and I couldn’t be more proud.
    I think after years of contemplating this, I’m going to have to settle on “I am too multifaceted to be pegged in one word, I am a Pit Bull owner, I am the majority.”

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•11•15 at 10:14 am

      I think that’s PERFECT for your sign!!! I can’t wait to see your pic! 🙂

      I have learned that I can get Newt into photos if I give her a box or a basket to sit in… so funny and so predictable!

      Reply
  4. DZ Dogs says

    02•10•15 at 2:41 pm

    I love this!! I’m going to have to make a post too!
    Both Dante & Ziva also go to doggy daycare twice a week, they love it. Ziva was previously fear reactive so daycare was a huge accomplishment for us. 🙂
    Keep up the good fight!

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•11•15 at 10:14 am

      I can’t wait to see your post!! And that is a HUGE accomplishment – I’m so proud of you guys!!

      Reply
  5. Veronica says

    02•10•15 at 3:51 pm

    THANK YOU for blogging about The Majority Project! This topic is near and dear to our hearts and we love seeing this take off!
    Also,
    I love your blog and wanted to “pass the torch” unto you! I am nominating your blog for a Liebster Award! The Liebster Award is a fun way to recognize some of the awesome posts fellow bloggers are publishing. The award comes with a tradition of sharing a few things about yourself and spreading the love to other bloggers. Congratulations! Please visit my blog to read what it is all about: https://www.onedogorganic.com/honored-liebster-award-nominee/

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•11•15 at 10:16 am

      Thank you so much for the kind words and for passing on that award. This is so dear to my heart, too, and I’m thrilled to see all the attention that the campaign is getting!

      Reply
  6. Lara Elizabeth says

    02•10•15 at 4:11 pm

    I’m glad that Newt set you straight! The one thing I don’t like about living in Denver is that it is home of some of the worst BSL legislation in the country. I hope that work like this continues to spread the word.

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•11•15 at 10:17 am

      Ooooh… Newt’s always reminding me about who’s in charge around here! 😉

      Reply
  7. Amanda says

    02•10•15 at 4:34 pm

    Newt’s face! “Oh NO! They’ll think I LIKE these goofballs! My cat rep is RUINED!”

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•11•15 at 10:18 am

      HAHA! Amanda, you’re exactly right!! I didn’t even notice that at first – I was just glad she stayed in the basket long enough to get a pic! Hilarious! 🙂

      Reply
  8. LB Johnson says

    02•11•15 at 5:58 pm

    I’ll be spreading the word as well.

    LB Johnson – Author of The Book of Barkley (100% of profits go to animal rescue/welfare of ALL breeds)

    Reply
  9. Beth | Daily Dog Tag says

    02•12•15 at 7:10 pm

    Emmett and Cooper seem like wonderful ambassadors, as is every Pit bull I’ve ever met. I love this project and I truly believe it will help people see Pit bulls for what they are: individual dogs who make wonderful companions and members of the family!

    Reply
    • Maggie says

      02•15•15 at 3:07 pm

      Exactly, Beth! That is my hope, too!

      Reply

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