What a pittie if you missed Pit Bull Appreciation Day!

October is Pit Bull Awareness Month, but Laura Vena would rather use the word “appreciation.”

“‘Awareness’ sounds like a warning or alert, but ‘appreciation’ is what we want people to feel for them,” Vena said. “Most people have their favorite dogs, so let’s celebrate the blockheads!”

Vena is the founder and director of Blockhead Brigade, a nonprofit that unites people who want to volunteer for the well-being of dogs with the humans and their dogs who need assistance. Blockhead Brigade was established in 2017 and was inspired, of course by a dog, a shelter pit bull named Willa.

“She was so well behaved,” Vena said. “As gentle as she was, I’d never leave kids alone with any dog, but our nieces and nephews loved to cuddle with her when Willa was in the room with us. She died in 2015. At that time, there was more bad attitude about pit bulls than there is now.”

One myth about pit bulls in particular, Vena said, is that so many of them enter shelters because they’re unloved. The reality is that they’re very much loved, and many families have them. There are many reasons for their overrepresentation in shelters, but Vena cites housing issues as a big one. Refusal to rent to families with dogs represents 14% of shelter intake, and 12% of that population are pit bulls. To keep families together, Vena wants to educate the public about misrepresentation of pit bulls.

When Vena founded Blockhead Brigade, she wanted to train people on how to keep their dogs, pit bulls in particular, where they belong — at home with their people, To this end, she earned her certification in applied animal behavior at the University of Washington.

“I want to reclaim the pit bull — I appreciate them, I love them,” she said. “If there is a stigma that exists, we have to challenge that. My goal is to find out what a dog needs. If their needs aren’t satisfied, they bubble up, sometimes in bad ways.”

Pit bulls may have inspired Blockhead Brigade, but like a true community organization focusing on diversity, Labs, Chihuahuas, German shepherds, or any breed or mix needing behavior training or assistance are encouraged to come. All breeds are welcome at their free pack walks and events, too. Blockhead Brigade offers group and individual behavior training and socialization, provides resources for humans and dogs in need, and pays veterinary bills in emergency situations when they have the funds. (Side note: Nonprofits by definition get their funds from grants and donations, so if you, too, want to support keeping dogs healthy and at home with their humans, donate here.) Blockhead Brigade also offers free programs that focus on socialization for dogs — the popular Community Pack Walks take place at Colorado Lagoon, Orlena Avenue and Vermont Street, 9 a.m. every Saturday; and at LBX, Worsham Avenue and McGowan Street on Sat at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

Blockhead Brigade hosts events and activities, such as the ninth annual Pit Bull Appreciation Day, which padded into Marina Vista Park last Saturday, Oct. 10. Pit Bull Appreciation Day is also open to blockheads and all their friends of any breed, and all kinds of dogs joined the pack that day, including a greyhound who identifies as a pit bull. They all weathered the wind and drizzle to enjoy an afternoon of activities, opportunity drawings, a Pack Walk, and goodies from vendors. Adoptable dogs from Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) showed up, and some went home with new human friends.

Besides fun, Vena said that events like Pit Bull Appreciation Day create a safety net and bring people together, forming what she called connective tissue to build relationships. A couple of strong connections exist between Blockhead Brigade, Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) and K9 Kismet, a nonprofit that works to create second chances for vulnerable dogs.

“As someone who has spent years loving and advocating for pit-bull-type dogs, Pit Bull Appreciation Day holds a special place in my heart,” said Nici Daniels, K9 Kismet’s executive director. “I've had the privilege of knowing so many extraordinary pitties in my life, each with their own personalities, quirks, challenges, and incredible capacity for love. But what makes this event so meaningful is it's about bringing people together, building community, sharing knowledge, and creating connections. It's an opportunity for someone who's never spent time around a pittie to meet one, ask questions, and perhaps walk away with an entirely new perspective. Because sometimes all it takes to challenge a stereotype is one conversation, one experience or one dog who changes everything you thought you knew.”

Daniels and Vena strongly feel that working to change the way that people understand pit bulls will lead to also changing their world in the best-possible way.

“I was always someone that did grassroots work,” she said. “I figured that if you aren’t supporting people and animals to keep them in their homes, you’re missing a great opportunity to reduce suffering.”

Besides being an advocate for pit bulls and their people, Laura Vena is, an artist, a published writer and an educator of humans. Find out more about her at lauravena.com.

YOURS DROOLY

A bunch of lucky dogs got a kennel break on Pit Bull Appreciation Day. Attendees got to see firstpaw why these pit bulls and mixes thereof deserve to be appreciated right into someone’s house.

Shoshanna, in the cowboy hat at the beginning of the article, got the message across and has gone home forever.

We appreciate Blockhead Brigade for the connections it creates, especially the most important ones in the world. Pass it forward and adopt or foster a shelter dog.

Until Halloween, you can pick your own “treat” – an adoption fee – frim the pumpkin at the shelter! LBACS hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 7700 E. Spring St. at the entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors).

Rally (ID#A746783) takes treats eagerly but gently. This terrific dog has been at LBACS for over a year, making him a Longtime Legend. His foster has been at his side day and night, walking him, training him, and doing everything that a doggie roommate can. He loves riding in the car and, of course, snuggling with his human friends. He’d like to make the home thing permanent. Please meet him!

Sunshine (ID# A760099), age 2, barks in her kennel, but here in her pen with a continuous parade of humans and dogs, not a yip out of her was heard! It was so good for her to get out with her foster and get a real dose of sunshine. Volunteer Kristi said that Sunshine is a dream to walk. She’s curious about her surroundings but doesn’t pull on the leash and isn’t reactive to bikes or humans. Bring some rays of Sunshine into your home!

Biggy (ID#A746792), 4 years old, boasts the unique talent of saluting the public with one ear. He’s a charming fellow — he so enjoyed his time at the event. He’s a chill character who loves his peeps.

TAIL-WAGGIN' AND NOSE-BOOPIN' EVENTS

Meet the bees and their bee-ple at the Howl-O-Ween Festival!

If your kids are interested in bees, nature and Halloween, then they’re in for a treat! When the family walks the nature trails to trick-or-treat at El Dorado Nature Center's Howl-O-Ween Festival, they’ll see a frame of bees in an observation hive and learn all about how the Long Beach Beekeepers work hard to keep this amazing species around for generations to come. Costume up — a bee suit would be neat, in my bumble opinion — and learn how bees make the world hum.

Howl-O-Ween Festival takes place Saturday, Oct. 17, at El Dorado Nature Center, 7500 E. Spring St., Long Beach. Free event

Haute Dogs presents the Interfaith Blessing of the Pets

“It's important to recognize and honor the great bond and relationship between pets and their people,” said Justin Rudd, organizer of the Interfaith Blessing of the Pets. If you’re lucky enough to live with an animal and one is lucky enough to live with you, bring your friend to this lovely beachside event, be they dog, cat, bird, bunny, reptile, pig or hissing cockroach. The Interfaith Blessing of the Pets is one of the world’s largest interfaith pet blessings. Spiritual leaders from many faiths and beliefs will bless your friend, and an Indigenous Aztec blessing ceremony with copal smoke will bless all, from homes to forests to oceans to forgotten animals in shelters or on streets. More than 200 well-behaved animals are expected to attend.

If you’ve lost a pet or your roommate is too ill or cranky to attend, bring a photo, ashes, a collar or a loved toy for a remembrance blessing. The Interfaith Blessing is a free event and is sponsored by Haute Dogs. More information here.

The Interfaith Blessing of the Pets takes place Sunday, Oct. 18, 5 p.m. at the Granada Avenue Boat Launch Ramp next to Rosie's Dog Beach, 1 Granada Ave. at Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach. The event lasts about 40 minutes.

Frost Fund’s Annual Fall Festival Fundraiser

Only a few tickets left for this neat event! Pull on your Western boots, button up your flannels, gallop across the county line, and celebrate autumn with Frost Fund at Chapman Crafted Beer! Enjoy an evening of yummy food, line dancing, local brews, raffle prizes, autumn-themed games and local vendors. Your doggy can dress up, too, and enter the costume contest, and children are more than welcome. Strollers are fine, too, but watch out for paws and wagging tails. Through social and news media, Frost Fund finds placement in local and out-of-state rescues, sanctuaries and forever homes for dogs and cats in dire need of rescue. Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) pets have been beneficiaries of their volunteer efforts. Like many small nonprofits, Frost Fund is financed through donations and fundraisers like this one, so purchase tickets here. Early bird tickets are on sale until Aug. 23. If you’re currently a student, use code YOUTH at checkout for a discount, and bring your student ID at the event.

The Fall Festival Fundraiser takes place Oct. 24, 4 p.m.–8 p.m. at Chapman Crafted Beer, 123 N. Cypress St., Orange. Ticket prices vary.

Need a low-cost veterinarian, information about trapping community cats, places to volunteer, pet food, veterinary assistance, rescues and shelters to adopt from — anything pet related? Follow this link for resources. Please add your own ideas in the Comments section.