Organization works to debunk canine's stereotype

A pit bull's reputation alone could strike fear in the average person. However Cydney Cross, a behaviorist dog trainer and teacher for the nonprofit Out of the Pits aims to change the negative stigma attached to the breed.

Out of the Pits was established nearly 18 years ago when Cross worked rescuing greyhounds. After an experience with a greyhound rescue group that wouldn't care for a half-greyhound and half-pit bull mix, Cross and a friend worked together to create Out of the Pits, she said. At the time, there were a lot of people helping greyhounds, but not pit bulls.

In need of a home: Lexi, a half-pit bull and half-husky mix is one of the many pit bulls that are in need of a home (Courtesy of Cydney Cross)

In 1996, Out of the Pits began educating the public about the nature of pit bulls and introducing spay and neuter programs for the breed.

The organization consists of a core group of 18 to 20 volunteers. "We have a handful of people that come and go as schedules allow from many walks of life," Cross said. "We are a small organization, and in rescue/sheltering, people come and go because of the stress and sadness involved."

Last year, Out of the Pits spayed and neutered about 350 dogs for free, she said. Next year, Cross hopes that the organization can financially support the spaying and neutering of 500 dogs.

Due to the group's reputation in the pit bull community, much of its funding comes from private individuals. Recently, the group began to actively seek grants, due to the large number of dogs they care for, Cross said. "It's amazing in this day and age that people want to support pit bulls, and financially as well," she said.

Despite being based in the Albany, N.Y., area, Cross and volunteers of Out of the Pits travel across America to help pit bulls when they receive requests from the public. 

State of play: Jhumpa (right) a rescued pit bull of the Michael Vick dogfighting scandal, rests in the grass after a play date with brother Kapowie (Courtesy of Kathleen Pierce)

"We have requests nationwide everyday," Cross said. "We get 1,000 calls a week nationwide. The numbers are quite staggering."

Cross and volunteers have helped rescue pit bulls on many occasions. They made trips during Hurricane Katrina to help deserted dogs, and they also rescued two of football player Michael Vick's pit bulls after his 2007 dogfighting scandal. 

The high-profile case was spotlighted in the national media when Vick's Virginia home was raided by police, and several neglected pit bulls were found as well as evidence of dogfighting.

"Honestly, for the last 17 years plus we've been fighting for these dogs, and that wasn't the first time something like this happened," Cross said in regard to Vick's dogfighting case. "The dogs just happened to be owned by someone famous. It's nothing new, that was just a high-profile case."

Ready for the limelight: Grace, in her glitzy pink costume, participates in one of Out of the Pits public events (Courtesy Cydney Cross)

When not rescuing pit bulls, volunteers of the Out of the Pits organization spend time educating the public through various programs and events with the dogs. Out of the Pits has pioneered a series of highly successful in-school awareness programs that teach pet care and humane treatment of animals, Cross said.

"It's so important to train your dog and socialize your dog," Cross said. "Otherwise these dogs will be sitting in kennels dying."

The group also conducts public education clinics at shopping centers, fairs and other gatherings. They have dog therapy programs in addition to the elementary and secondary school workshop events, Cross said. However, the key aspect of their group is to promote spay-neuter programs.

A great challenge for the organization is the amount of requests they receive to help pit bulls, Cross said. "The challenge is the sheer numbers and their reputation," she said. "When you figure that 1,000 people are trying to give up dogs, sometimes after I hang up from a phone call, I think I can't help them all."

Cross said that many of the aggressive dogs she can't help are called "resident dogs." Resident dogs are those tied outside and usually living in yards, she said. "Resident dogs live with people, but aren't part of a family," Cross said.

"If we aren't in a place where we can take a dog, we have to delete the email request," an emotional Cross said over the phone. "You just see face after face, and they went through such unspeakable cruelty." 

Cross also said that the breed isn't for everyone. "This breed is so incredibly overcoming, and they love people above all else," she said. "But if a pit bull doesn't love people, they shouldn't be placed." 

Happy endings: Diesel, surrendered to the organization after a child's allergy case, finds a loving home through Out of the Pits (Courtesy of Cydney Cross)Despite the cruelty and abuse Cross and others at Out of the Pits deal with on a daily basis, she said her work brings her a great deal of satisfaction. 

"The most exciting thing is when someone calls you up and says, 'I never thought I'd want to live with a pit bull, but it's enhanced my life,'" she said. "That joy of making the right match, that's amazing."

Cross said she hopes that people give pit bulls a chance. "We want to get the truth out about these dogs," she said. "Maybe they don't want to live with them, but just look at them with an enlightened mind."