According to the ASPCA, roughly 390,000 dogs are euthanized in U.S. kill shelters every year—and a substantial portion of these pups fall under the category of “bully breed.” Luckily, there are organizations that help misunderstood dogs find forever homes; here in Bellingham, that organization is the Pittie Project PNW.
The Pittie Project PNW is a nonprofit that rescues bully breeds from high-kill shelters. From there, they’re given proper training and matched with owners who can give them the care they deserve. Under the helm of Founder Ashley Georgia, the organization began from a one-time project to adopt out 10 pitbulls in 10 months and is now a full-fledged 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Photo by Kristen Boehm
So far, the folks at the Pittie Project PNW have adopted out 416 dogs (and one cat, though Georgia says that was a one-off). They’re partners with the Whatcom Humane Society as well as Paws for Life Canines; in regards to the latter, Georgia notes “that many of their dogs that have been through the prison training program and have passed their good canine citizenship test prior to being adoptable.”
Georgia has a special fondness for these so-called “bully breeds,” an umbrella term that describes everything from boxers to bulldogs and Staffordshire terriers. That being said, she notes that the word “pitbull” can be misleading.
“I feel like the term ‘pitbull’ makes people feel like that’s a certain breed that they don’t like, but in reality if they did any research, it’s not even a real breed. It’s just a mix,” Georgia says.
But Georgia’s aim with the Pittie Project PNW is to do more than change stereotypes about pitbulls: She wants pet owners to reflect on their treatment of all breeds, and to stop viewing dogs as convenient or disposable. Moreover, she says blaming specific dog breeds for bad behavior can deflect blame off the people that care for them.
“We should be taking responsibility for our actions and how we interact with dogs—not just pitbulls, but dogs in general,” Georgia says. “How much effort are we putting into really knowing what’s best for them, how they think, how they interact?”
Counter to stereotypes, Georgia notes that well-trained pitbulls are intelligent, curious, and very loving. Several examples from the Pittie Project PNW: Princess Penelope, a sweet, obedient 7-year-old pittie who graduated the prison training program with flying colors and loves to go on hikes.
There’s also Jake, a quiet, well-trained 3-year-old who at the time of writing has been with the Pittie Project PNW the longest. He arrived at the organization in poor health, but has since made a full recovery and blossomed into “a really wonderful dog.”
If you’d like to meet these pups and more, there are plenty of ways to get involved. The Pittie Project PNW hosts an adoption fundraiser at Paws for a Beer in Fairhaven every third Saturday of the month, and they’ve also had special-event fundraisers at places like Lost Giants Cider in partnership with Bellingham Treehouse Yoga.
More frequently, Georgia hosts multi-weekly “pittie pack hikes” where volunteers can walk Pittie Project PNW pups on popular trails around Whatcom County (more info can be found on Instagram @thepittieprojectpnw). She also plans to introduce two new programs this summer: Adventure Days (where folks can bring a well-socialized dog along for a day of fun) and Sleepovers (which are similar to Adventure Days, except overnight). The Pittie Project PNW is also always on the lookout for transport volunteers, monetary donations, as well as donations of supplies such as blankets.
All in all, Georgia encourages pet owners to truly value their pups—because, as she notes, “dogs are adding the most value to our lives.”
“I do feel as though the stigma [of bully breeds] is on its way out. But I also feel like the way we view dogs has gotten worse—like, drastically—so that is what I think needs to change,” Georgia says. “They’re not a convenience to us. They’re a living thing. I think the more we can just be aware of that and hold ourselves accountable, that’ll maybe have a ripple effect.” Bellingham, thepittieprojectpnw.org
