Nonprofit gives pit bulls a new chance after a ruff start

By Chris Hendrickson-á

With their trademark large, knobby heads, wagging tails and cheerful toothy grins, it's difficult not to love a pit bull. At least that's how Monroe-area residents Lisa Kirk-Thomsen, Ana McLean and Megan Boulton feel. So much so, that they decided to start their own rescue.

Through their nonprofit organization Washington Bully Alliance (Wabull), Kirk-Thomsen, McLean and Boulton have successfully found homes for 29 dogs since officially starting the rescue in January. While they are not dedicated exclusively to bully-breeds, all three are avid lovers of pit bull-type breeds and primarily work to find loving homes for pit bulls in need.

Plenty of need

It started last November, when Kirk-Thomsen became acquainted with McLean and Boulton, and they discovered that between the three of them, they knew of 14 dogs that needed homes. The trio decided that they were going to work on that and, by Christmas, ended up rescuing 22 dogs.-á

They were soon faced with the reality that when dealing with a dog that needed costly veterinary care, not being affiliated with an official organization inhibited their ability to receive funding. They knew they wanted to continue helping dogs, and they wanted to be able to serve dogs on an even broader scale. -á -á -á

"We were already doing it GÇô we just weren't doing it legitimately. And we weren't doing it the way that any of us really wanted to do it,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "We couldn't stand the idea of these dogs being unsafe or being placed in homes where they were unsafe, so we just sat down and said, "Hey, let's do this. Let's do this for real.'GÇ¥-á

In January, they pooled their finances and began the process of obtaining their official nonprofit status. In March, they successfully received their 501C3 designation. -á

"Then we started really, really taking in some dogs and finding them homes, and getting a network going,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "And really, really saving lives.GÇ¥-á

Wabull typically obtains dogs through owner-surrender situations necessitated through financial hardship or life changes. They then work to locate permanent and well-suited placement for the dog.-á

Each time they receive a new dog, Kirk-Thomsen, McLean and Boulton have the dog checked out by a veterinary professional and, if necessary, pay for its shots and to have it spayed or neutered.-á

At any given time, Wabull has the capacity to hold about six dogs.-á

Typically, they work with dogs that don't have significant health or behavioral issues. They partner with other organizations to offer a more comprehensive level of services, including Sparks K9 for training and Balanced Bullies in Monroe, which takes the more challenging pit bull rescue cases and provides rehabilitation. Sparks K9 is operated by Monroe resident John Sparks, and Balanced Bullies was founded by his wife, Kimmy. -á-á

A personal touch

Kirk-Thomsen, McLean and Boulton each care for the Wabull rescue dogs in their own homes. They feel that by allowing the rescue dogs to co-exist with their own dogs, they are ensuring that the dogs aren't subjected to kennel stress. The goal of the rescue is to intervene before a dog ends up in a kennel at the local shelter, which can be traumatizing.-á

By integrating their rescue dogs into their own personal packs, Kirk-Thomsen, McLean and Boulton feel that it is much simpler to establish good habits and encourage healthy socialization.-á

If necessary, Wabull will obtain training for a dog to increase the dog's adoptability.-á

Wabull screens its applicants carefully before adopting out a dog. Once a candidate has filled out an application, the rescue will schedule a home-check. If all goes well during the initial home-check, Wabull will then bring a dog to the home to visit its potential family. All adoptions start out on a trial basis: first for 48 hours, and then for a foster-to-adopt period of 30 days. Wabull maintains the exclusive right to reclaim its dogs should it learn that a dog isn't being adequately cared for. -á

So far, the rescue has facilitated numerous successful adoptions.-á -á

"It's really been pretty rewarding, and we're doing an excellent job of losing money,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "We've got that down. The need is always greater than the money.GÇ¥

The last six months have essentially been a crash course in operating a rescue, Kirk-Thomsen explained. Items like healthy dog food, crates, leashes and collars are always in short supply. Donors have come forward to provide things like ammonia, upholstery fabric for creating homemade dog toys and funding for microchipping. -á

"We've had people step forward and say, "I want to buy a microchip for that dog,'GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "The last few months have been pretty amazing GÇô just seeing the love and support and the network form.GÇ¥

But there is a dark side to working in animal rescue.-á

"The dog world, more than anything, seems to be full of sad stories,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said.-á

In addition to taking in dogs that have been mistreated and neglected, Kirk-Thomsen herself has buried two pit bulls that were found shot to death and left in public areas. When multiple calls to Snohomish County Animal Control went without a response, she just didn't see any other choice but to step in and help.-á

"Unfortunately, it's not illegal,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "In the state of Washington, pets are personal property. There are cruelty laws, but according to the state of Washington and actually to the Veterinarian Association, shooting a dog in the back of the head is a humane way to dispatch the dog.GÇ¥

Kirk-Thomsen advocates for something called an animal bill of rights, which would provide a legal mechanism for granting animals the right to live free from cruelty, neglect, abuse and exploitation. Animal bills of rights have been enacted in a few states around the country, and animal rights activists are seeking to establish an animal bill of rights that would serve on a national level.-á

"When I walked into pit bull rescue, I never thought I'd bury a dog,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "The laws need to change. Period, point blank, the laws need to change.GÇ¥

Success stories-á

Wabull attempts to communicate with breeders, to try and promote safe adoption practices. Kirk-Thomsen has found that there is a common misconception among breeders who feel that because they charge so much for their dogs, the dogs won't end up mistreated.

Kirk-Thomsen knows from personal experience how untrue that is. When Wabull first took in 18-month-old Dempsey earlier this year, he was in bad shape. The tri-colored pedigreed blue pit bull had been choked and malnourished. He had Demodex mange, worms, a bacterial infection on his skin and yeast infections in between his paws.

Wabull is always quick to share Dempsey's story during encounters with breeders.

"Some breeders still don't care,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "The breeders who don't care probably aren't worth it GÇô we're wasting our breath on them. But we're not going to stop trying.GÇ¥ -á

Dempsey was adopted in May by Kent resident Kathy Swales. Wabull recently checked in with her to find out how things were going.

"I just love him so much. He is the sweetest, kindest, most wonderful dog I've had. I know this shouldn't happen, but he takes his afternoon naps on my lap in my chair almost every day,GÇ¥ Swales wrote. "He is so friendly to everyone who meets him, and everyone just loves him. I'm so glad you let me adopt him; he has a very good home here and always will.GÇ¥

The fact that bully-type breeds are frequently portrayed negatively in the media, abused and used for cruel purposes such as dog fighting, makes Kirk-Thomsen love them more. Since encountering her first pit bull 17 years ago, she has had extraordinary heart for the breed. One of her personal dogs is a blue female pit bull named Gracie Mae, a runt of the litter that Kirk-Thomsen helped raise from the time she was born.

"Gracie was mine basically from the second she took a breath,GÇ¥ Kirk-Thomsen said. "I don't know that anybody ' if they really got to know a pit bull ' could not love them. That's my personal opinion, because they're so different from any other dog.GÇ¥

Wabull adopts out other breeds as well. To learn more about Washington Bully Alliance, visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/Washingtonbullyalliance?fref=ts.-á

To make a donation to Wabull, or provide funding for veterinary care, email washingtonbullyalliance@gmail.com. -á-á