Bubblegum; 12 months old female, happy, bubbly personality, outgoing, very friendly and sweet.

Bazooka Joe; 10 months old male, easy-going and happy-go-lucky personality. Gorgeous lilac boy.

Those are "some" of the countless Pit Bulls held at the Kansas City Animal Control facility. Most Pit Bulls at the shelter are euthanised 5 to 10 days after their arrival, depending on their case and if not claimed by their owner.

Some of the Pits are selected to be candidates for adoption via "Halfway Home Pet Adoptions" and are given a little more time. Though the dogs are not part of MPR's program, we have been asked by the shelter to screen all applications for Pit Bull type dogs.

When MPR has room, we do our very best to pull Pit Bulls from the shelter. For the sake of our current dogs however, MPR can't bail dogs out until we make adoptions. Even if we could afford boarding (which we can't), we want to see our current dogs find loving homes before we bring more into the program.

MPR dogs have been evaluated and proven to have good disposition and stable temperament. They have been socialized, are receiving training and most of them are housebroken and crate trained. When a MPR dog finds a good home, it makes room in our program to rescue a shelter dog.

By opening your home to a MPR dog, you are saving TWO LIVES!

Once we bring in a new shelter dog in the program we can then proceed with proper temperament evaluation, proper training and socialization.

Boarding is a life-saving option for the few lucky dogs we can afford to help that way, but we cant do it unless we receive financial assistance from people like you.

We have several programs available. Every penny counts! Become a Helping Hand

As it is, we can't afford helping anymore dogs until our boarding dogs are in foster care. In the meantime, our boarding dogs are in desperate need of foster care. Not only is boarding very expensive, but living in a cage is hard for any dog as sociable as a Pit Bull.

Boarding is a life-saving opportunity for dogs that have no other options. For dogs that came from a difficult situation, boarding is often a step up in life. But boarding needs to be a temporary solution. In order to find a home, our rescue dogs need to learn how to be well-behaved family companions. You can make a difference... PLEASE open your heart and home for one of the sweethearts. They desperately need YOU! Become a Foster Home

The Dog Days of Summer are over, and in schools everywhere the pitter patter of new school shoes echo throughout the halls. Backpacks, lunchboxes, and school supplies fly off the shelves as parents prepare their children for the upcoming year ahead. As you send your child off to school this year, please don't let your four legged friend be left behind. Students come in all shapes and sizes, and this year we at Missouri Pit Bull Rescue challenge American Pit Bull Terrier owners to stand up to the front of the class and become not only a Pit Bull Owner but a Pit Bull Teacher. This may sound intimidating at first, and that is why we have provided a Student Pawbook to guide you as you and your canine companion learn what it means to have a true student/teacher relationship that will be rewarding, fufilling, and most importantly lots of fun.

No Free Lunch Program

The menu this year consists of loads of affection, tummy rubs, yummy treats, and a side of couch cuddling. The price for such a delicious fare is not cheap, but definitely affordable.

Mentally stimulating your dog is as important as a child learning to read. Training your dog for 15-20 minutes a day is extremely beneficial to you as well as your dog. The trust, respect, and bond that you and your dog share makes your training more meaningful to your dog. Training your dog regularly will increase this bond and level of respect. Also, mental exercises have also been proven to be just as exhausting for dogs as physcial exercise. Your student will be more confident, and most important he or she will be very tired. A tired dog is a well behaved dog. In addition to these benefits, dogs gain confidence by being challenged and succeeding. A confident dog is less nervous, less anxious, and less aggressive which makes for a happy dog and a very happy owner. It is very important to start small, praise the behavior that is desired, and then move on to a more difficult request. Start at a level where the dog will succeed, and continue to set them up for success. If your dog is more likely to hold a sit inside than outside, work on the sit inside until your dog has mastered the command. Then move to a busier area with more distractions.

Physical Fitness

It is recommended that dogs get 30 minutes of exercise 2-3 times daily. This regular release of energy will keep your dog calm and submissive. Most problems that occur in a home between the owner and his or her dog are a result of a lack of exercise. This is also when dogs are most likely to use the bathroom. By staying on a regular exercise schedule your dog will have plenty of opportunity to use the bathroom outside which leaves less chance of him or her going inside the house. Sticking to a regular schedule helps your dog understand this concept even more as they will get use to bathroom and walking breaks the same time every day.

Foreign Language

Dogs communicate in a language unlike our own. When speaking to your Pit Bull it is not as important what you say but how you say it. When dogs communicate they use body language and growls. Using a calm and assertive tone expresses dominance and demands respect.

Acceptable and Effective Disciplinary Methods

Corporal punishment can pyschologically harm a dog and has been shown to be less than effective when correcting negative behavior. Positive reinforcement such as small treats, or negative reinforcement such as a quick squirt with a water bottle have a much greater impact and do not cause the relationship between teacher and student to be harmed.

These are a few items from our Student Pawbook that can change the relationship you currently have with your Pit Bull. It is important to be clear, consise, and consistent when using any of these techniques. One of the many great characteristics of bully breeds is their intelligence and loyalty. If you are committed to teaching we promise they will be committed to learning. Have a great 2009-2010 school year!

Legan Moore