RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -What is the first thing that crosses your mind when you hear the term “pit bull” or see a dog owner walking one down the street?
Gracie’s Guardians, the pit bull initiative of the Richmond Animal League, hopes a new ad campaign will improve your perception of the breed. October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month.
“We’re Pit Bull People” signs have gone up on Richmond-area billboards and GRTC buses.
“This [We’re Pit Bull People] campaign was started by the Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee and we are the second iteration of it,” Will Lowrey, with Gracie’s Guardians, wrote in an email. “The intent is to show pit bulls as family dogs, owned by normal people and help break down stigmas and barriers surrounding these dogs that often prevent adoptions by families looking for dogs.”
In addition to billboards and bus ads, the group will screen “Guilty ‘Til Proven Innocent” – a documentary about “breed discrimination.” The movie will be shown at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Byrd Theater.
