P.A.L.
From 2006 to 2009, B.A.D. (Bullies Are Deserving) Dogs was Liberty Humane Society's Pit Bull adoption and education program. The program was created when employees and volunteers noted that pit bulls generally face longer stays at the shelter despite their stellar temperaments. B.A.D. Dogs has evolved into the P.A.L. (Pit bulls Are Loving) program, comprising of four major components:
Training
Training is the cornerstone of the P.A.L. program. It is well known that training shelter dogs makes them more attractive potential family members to adopters, prepares them for a happy, respectful life in their new home, and provides the adopter with the tools to build a loving and respectful relationship with their new dog. P.A.L. volunteers, led by certified dog trainer Laura Garber, CPDT-KA, conduct weekly training sessions in and around the shelter that are targeted to the particular needs of each dog. In addition, P.A.L. team captains host volunteer dog walker workshops at 11:00am on most Saturdays to mentor new volunteers in dog handling techniques. If you’re interested, please visit NJPals.org to reserve a spot for an upcoming workshop.
Pre- and Post-Adoption Counseling
There are challenges that come along with adopting any dog into a new home. The P.A.L. program offers counseling to adopters before and after adoption. P.A.L. volunteers make periodic follow-ups with adopters to assure that the dog is settling in well to the home, and P.A.L. trainer Laura Garber, CPDT-KA, of WoofGang offers personalized guidance and counseling to adopters.
Education and Outreach
Pit bulls are an historically maligned breed about which many myths exist. The P.A.L. program seeks to dispel these myths and advocate for the breed. If you are seeking more information about the Pit Bull breed, the P.A.L. website is a great place to start!
Dissemination of Resources and Activities
Nowadays it’s rare that we ask our dogs to do the work for which their breed was intended. Canine sports are not only fun but also foster relationship-building – activities such as pet therapy, obedience and agility trials, and weight pull competitions. This mission came to fruition in 2008 when, through the work of the P.A.L. program, Liberty Humane Society's mascot, Sweets, was the first LHS dog to receive the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Award. The CGC is given to dogs who illustrate they possess the temperament and obedience required to exist peacefully with the environment around them. It was a achievement about which P.A.L. is very proud!
