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A first ever show highlighting dog owner support work Patrons of the busy community-based  Zocalo Coffee House  in San Leandro have been enjoying their coffees and convos next to 19 oversized images of what are very likely their neighbors and their neighbors� dogs. We couldn�t think of a better place to launch our  �Stories from Our Streets� Photo Project , which was created to celebrate the human-animal bond in our community while raising awareness about the obstacles many pet owners face when trying to keep their dogs during disruptive times – pit bull owners especially. Shot over several months during BADRAP�s owner support and pet wellness events, photographer Kathy Kinnear�s sensitive and candid images always seem to find the heart of the moment. A paragraph that explains the unique story, situation or challenge faced by that pet owner accompanies each photo. Until December 30 The show stays up until the end of December and then will be moved to other v...

As discussed in  Part 1 , lead reactivity can be a serious problem that should not be ignored, especially if it’s developed into its more aggressive form. The good news is the behaviour can be avoided or, if it�s already a problem, successfully modified. Avoiding Lead Reactivity There’s  a lot you can do to help avoid your puppy or adult dog from developing lead reactivity. Remember, most lead reactivity and aggression, whether towards people, other dogs, animals or inanimate objects, develops due to past unpleasant or scary experiences. Try to avoid such experiences by reading and responding appropriately to your dogs behaviour and body language. This is easier said than done, as research suggests  people are not proficient at correctly interpreting dog behaviour and emotions .  You can read more about how to accurately interpret canine body language  here  and  here and see a quick video demonstration  here  and a more detail...

First the bad news . This map shows the number of bank owned (foreclosed) homes being offered for sale  this week  in just one slice of Oakland – East Oakland, to be exact. (Source:  Zillow ) It’s a shocking graphic that grows as the map reveals more pieces of the hardest hit parts of the SF east bay. Behind every blue dot is a displaced family and/or an evicted tenant. Approximately 47% of those homes likely owned one or more dogs and/or cats when they were told they had to move. (That figure comes from the  American Pet Products Association , who likes to keep tabs on the number of American families who own pets). Where did all those families and all those pets go? Many have been heading  east,  in search of affordable living. Faced with a dearth of pet friendly rentals, thousands are forced to leave their pets behind every year. In Oakland, where pit bulls have traditionally been among the top three most popular breeds, we can practically draw a strai...

Next to chihuahuas and small dog mixes, dogs described as pit bulls are some of the  most popular dog  ‘types’ in all of CA. In the SF bay area, we can boast some of the best mannered ‘block heads’ you will find in the country, thanks to the dedication of hundreds of responsible dog owners and advocates who live here. If you’ve signed up for BADRAP’s  Pit Ed classes , this primer (with homework!) is for you. Classes are designed to help you and your dog learn how to be a better team. Your pet will learn self control around intense distractions, and you’ll learn safe, humane handling skills so he can be a the best behaved dog in your neighborhood. We cover current events that affect our dogs, understanding  dog tolerance levels , basic obedience, socialization, responsible ownership must-knows, keeping your dogs safe from negative experiences, and basic problem solving. If you’re not in the SF area, we hope some of the info here will be a help as you sort o...