BAD RAP (organization)

BAD RAP (acronym for Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls) is an animal welfare and rescue group based in Oakland, California, devoted to caring for and improving the public image of pit bull terriers as pets.

BADRAP

Description

BAD RAP is a 501(c)3 federal non-profit located in Oakland CA. It was incorporated in 1999 to address the needs of homeless dogs, specifically homeless American Pit Bull Terriers, and to provide support and resources to animal welfare organizations who deal with pit bulls. The organization also focuses on providing owner support to families who own pit bulls in the form of training, spay/neuter assistance and other resources.

Programs include a volunteer foster care program for homeless dogs, "Pit Ed" dog training classes for the public, and AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification prep classes with regular testing events. BADRAP also advises shelters around the country in best practices for creating viable adoption programs for their sheltered pit bulls. From 2005-2008, ran a "Breed Ambassador" program inside the East Bay SPCA and from 2008–2010, inside Oakland Animal Services. BADRAP hosts animal welfare professionals in conferences and workshops and offers hands-on training to help them gain a working knowledge of the breed in quarterly, week long camps hosted in Oakland CA. Their public outreach work includes free ‘Shots Fairs’ and a spay/neuter voucher program into low income communities.

In its first two years of operation the organization rescued 74 dogs, of which 72 were successfully adopted, Since their beginnings, BADRAP places approximately 40 dogs a year in new homes, although their primary purpose is education and advocacy work. In 2006, BAD RAP received the American Humane Association's award for Best Practices in Behavior and Training for its Pit Ed and Canine Good Citizen Prep classes.

History with Federal Dog Fighting Cases

In September 2007, BADRAP was contracted by the federal government to participate in evaluating 49 pit bulls from Bad Newz Kennels, Michael Vick's dog fighting operation. as part of nine-person ASPCA-lead evaluation team. BAD RAP member Tim Racer later returned to VA to re-evaluate 48 of the pit bulls alongside court appointed attorney Special Guardian/Master Rebecca Huss and assisted in recommendations for placement. This work lead to the release of 47 of the dogs to rescue or sanctuary. Co-Founders Racer and Reynolds were nominated for Sports Illustrated's 2007 Sportsman of the Year award for their role in the rescue of the dogs.

After the gag order was lifted on those who were helping in the Vick case, BADRAP members and dogs appeared on several television shows including CNN, the Rachael Ray Show, Animal Planet and ESPN's E-60. Media coverage also included articles in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Bark Magazine and Sports Illustrated.

In April, 2009, BADRAP participated in a closed-door meeting in Las Vegas with several animal welfare leaders to encourage the Humane Society of the United States to end its decades-long stance that recommended the euthanasia of all dogs seized in fighting operations. That meeting resulted in a policy change and a working group of six organizations including BADRAP was formed to monitor the changes.

In August 2009, BAD RAP representatives were again contracted by the federal government to evaluate two groups of dogs that were seized as a result of what is being called the largest federal dog fighting sweep in the midwest. Several rescued dogs from that case went on to work as competition obedience dogs as well as certified therapy dogs.

External links

• badrap.org - official site