International Be Kind to a Pit Bull Day is an initiative started by Pit Bulls Against Misinformation, an organization devoted to advocacy and education with a focus on the portrayal of the American Pit Bull Terrier in the media and advertising.

In 2012, an internet troll had folks riled up over an instagram photo in which he asked folks to do some very unkind things to Pit Bulls on October 31st. Our facebook page had several requests to do something about it, so we did – by taking away the troll’s power to hurt and scare people by making the day about kindness to Pit Bulls. Of course, while we’re at it we figured why just 2012? Let’s do it every year!

International Be Kind to a Pit Bull Day is October 31st of each year (October is also Pit Bull Awareness Month). Be Kind to a Pit Bull Day’s goal is to have folks set aside a specific time for activities that result in acts of kindness to Pit Bulls that they own, know, or will come to know as a result of their chosen activity.

Now, check out some ways to show kindness to a Pit Bull (we’re adding new things every day!):

1. Like us on facebook to join our community and learn the truth behind the American Pit Bull Terrier
2. Plant little seeds of Pit Bull knowledge while you pass out candy with our Candy Tag Program
3. Take a walk with your Pit Bull or a Pit Bull that you know
4. Go to your local shelter and volunteer
5. Find your nearest Pit Bull rescue and volunteer
6. Ask your local shelter if they have an adoption fee sponsorship program – if they don’t, volunteer to start one (these are programs where the adoption fee is waived for the adopter and paid for by a 3rd party)
7. Buy several small bags of dog food to keep in your trunk and give to dogs in need that you may see along your travels
8. Focus on one or two dogs at your local shelter or rescue and help network them on social media sites to get them adopted
9. Buy or make your Pit Bull’s favorite treat and sit and enjoy it with him or her – no cell phones or computers allowed!
10. Take your well mannered Pit Bull to a public place and show the general public that Pit Bulls aren’t evil or inherently dangerous
11. Host an education day at the local park or dog park to teach humans the truth about Pit Bulls
12. Take your Pit Bull swimming, for a fun car ride or both!
13. Have a fun training session with your dog using positive reinforcement like treats and praise
14. Paint your Pit Bull’s nails
15. Bathe and groom your Pit Bull, or offer to help with grooming at your local shelter
16. Make a special doggie dessert for your 4 legged Pit Bull friend
17. Deliver special treats to Pit Bulls at your local shelter or rescue group
18. Go on a hike with your dog
19. Take your dog to a drive through for a cheeseburger (hopefully not McDonald’s though!)
20. Find a Pit Bull-friendly pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkin together
21. Dress your dog up for Halloween (if he/she enjoys dressing up, that is)
22. Have room in your home for an extra dog? Visit your local shelter or contact your local rescue group to learn about their fostering programs
23. Visit websites such as dogfoodanalysis.com and dogfoodadvisor.com to be sure you are feeding your dog a high quality, healthy diet
24. Teach your dog a fun new trick like roll over, play dead, army crawl, or “sit pretty”
25. Check your equipment! Make sure your dog’s collars and leashes are secure and in good repair. If not, it’s a great day to go shopping!
26. Buy or make your dog a comfy new bed
27. Give your dog a massage
28. Be sure to thank Pit Bull friendly companies such as Woman’s Day and Land’s End
29. Use a crate? Make it sparkle! Clean out that crate with warm soapy water and put in fresh blankets and bedding
30. Give that dog a bone – but no cooked real bones, please – they splinter!
31. Scrub out all those dog dishes – yes, even the gunky one outside that you think he never uses!
32. Visit the Pets section on your local craigslist and offer help or advice to people that are asking for it
33. Make sure you know about common dangers to your dog such as onions, grapes/raisins, fruit pits (including avocado), corn cobs, rawhide, pig’s ears, cooked bones, and sugar-free gum.
34. Arrange a doggie playdate with social and friendly dogs that you know
35. Buy your dog a fancy new holiday themed collar
36. Get down on all fours and crawl around your house – looking for potential dangers to your dog. Fix anything you find that your dog may get into.
37. Play a game of tug-of-war – a great way to help a dog build confidence
38. Watch “Beyond the Myth” with your dog
39. Trim those nails!
40. Rub your dog’s ears
41. Research several different dog training techniques and philosophies and find the one that fits you and your dog best
42. Attend your local shelter or rescue group’s Halloween events
43. Look up your nearest 24/7 emergency vet and put the info in a safe easy-to-find location such as the front of your refrigerator
44. Have professional photos taken of your dog
45. End your walk when your dog is tired this time, instead of when you are
46. Join a local meetup group for Pit Bull lovers – if you don’t have one in your area, make one
47. Create an eye-catching adoption flyer for a Pit Bull at your local shelter or with your local rescue group and ask vet offices and pet stores if you can hang it up to help the dog get adopted
48. Have a website or blog? Create an area to showcase local adoptable dogs
49. Are you a photographer or graphic designer? Local shelters and rescues often have a need for high quality photos of adoptable animals and someone that can design professional looking flyers, business cars, and other marketing materials
50. Transport! Shelters and rescues will sometimes send dogs out of the area to other rescues, shelters, or even adopters but getting the dogs there is sometimes an obstacle. Let them know that you are willing to help with transports.
51. We have an album of adoptable dogs on our facebook page but we do have some requirements. We like to have all the dog’s info on the photo itself. If you are handy with photo editing, submit your local adoptables to us.
52. Help promote your shelter or rescue’s pet food bank. If they don’t have one, offer to help start one
53. Get in touch with your local rescue group and offer to help with doing home checks on potential adopters’ homes
54. Have a neighbor with a fence in disrepair and dog that keeps getting out of the yard? Offer to help repair the fence
55. Make sure your local park has doggie waste disposal stations and if they don’t, check with your parks department to find out how to get them
56. Visit shelter and rescue facebook pages and send us their event flyers so we can post in our “Events” album
57. Lucky enough to still live near a drive-in theater? Take your dog out to the movies!
58. Call around to local restaurants that have outdoor seating and ask if they are Pit Bull friendly. If they say yes, go out to eat with your dog (and post about them on our wall)
59. Speak with a local vet about starting up a spay/neuter sponsorship program for low-income households