Pit bull event a way to tame the breed's bad image

MacKenzie, a young brindle and white American pit bull terrier, bounds across a snowy yard in Cranberry, eager to greet a new visitor.

With all the exuberance of a 1-year-old pup, she gets up on her hind legs and begs to be petted.

Life at the Hello Bully Halfway House is a far cry from life on the streets where MacKenzie was found roaming. Here, she gets regular meals, long walks in nearby woods, playtime in a fenced yard, and the affection of volunteers who are preparing her for a forever home.

Prospective adopters can meet MacKenzie and other pit bulls Saturday, when Hello Bully holds its fourth annual Lovers Not Fighters fundraising gala at 7 p.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland.

Last year's event drew 375 people and generated $41,000 from ticket and auction sales, according to the organization's events coordinator Nicole Meloy of Trafford. "It goes to show that, despite the often-negative press, pit bulls have a lot of supporters."

Source: Pit bull event a way to tame the breed's bad image By Deborah Weisberg, FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW