BAD RAP (organization)
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 | |
| Abbreviation | BAD RAP |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Foundation |
| Purpose | Humane care for animals |
| Headquarters | Oakland, California |
Region served | United States |
Official language | English |
| Website | badrap |
BAD RAP (acronym for Bay Area Dog-lovers Responsible About Pit Bulls) is an animal welfare and rescue group based in Oakland, California, devoted to caring for and improving the public image of pit bull terriers as pets.
BAD RAP is a federal non-profit organization (under IRS Code 501(c)3) located in Oakland, California. It was incorporated in 1999 to address the needs of homeless dogs, specifically homeless American Pit Bull Terriers, and to provide support and resources to animal welfare organizations that deal with pit bulls. The organization also focuses on providing owner support, in the form of training, spay/neuter assistance and other resources, to families who own pit bulls.[citation needed]
Activities
Programs include a volunteer foster care for homeless dogs, "Pit Ed" dog training classes for the public, and AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification prep classes with regular testing events. BAD RAP also advises shelters around the country in best practices for creating viable adoption programs for their sheltered pit bulls. The group ran a "Breed Ambassador" program inside the East Bay SPCA from 2005–2008 and inside Oakland Animal Services from 2008–2010.[1][2] BAD RAP hosts animal welfare professionals in conferences and workshops and offers hands-on training to help them gain a working knowledge of the breed in quarterly week-long camps hosted in Oakland. Its public outreach work includes free "Shots Fairs" and a spay/neuter voucher program in low-income communities.
Achievements
In its first two years of operation, the organization rescued 74 dogs, of which 72 were successfully adopted.[3] Since its beginnings, BAD RAP has placed approximately 40 dogs a year in new homes, although its primary purpose is education and advocacy. In 2006, BAD RAP received the American Humane Association's award for Best Practices in Behavior and Training for its Pit Ed and Canine Good Citizen Prep classes.[4]