Our Pack

Our Pack
Legal status Foundation
Purpose Humane care for animals
Headquarters Los Gatos, California
Region served
United States
Official language
English
Website www.ourpack.org

Our Pack is a non-profit Pit Bull rescue, training and education organization based in Los Gatos, California. The organization was founded by Marthina McClay, a certified pet dog trainer and therapy dog tester. It rescues Pit Bulls from abusive situations, and provides education and training about the breed to the public.

In 2007, Our Pack's work with former fight dogs was mentioned nationwide when founder McClay rescued a dog named Leo who was seized in the raid on NFL star Michael Vick's Bad Newz Kennels. McClay fostered Leo in her home and despite his rough start, under Our Pack's care Leo received his therapy registration in just five weeks. The story was covered by among others The Washington Post,[1] NBC news,[2] and the Best Friends Animal Society.[3] McClay adopted Leo and he continued therapy work with cancer survivors until his death in late 2011.[4]

In addition to working with Leo, Our Pack has rescued Pit Bulls from dog fighting raids and other abuse cases throughout the country, among others consulting on a fighting raid case in Stoddard County, Missouri in 2007, another in Arizona in 2008, in Georgia in 2009, and in fall 2009 being one of the agencies rescuing dogs seized in the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history, a multi-state effort coordinated by the Humane Society of Missouri that resulted in the seizure of more than 500 dogs.[5]

Our Pack holds Pit Bull education and training classes throughout the California Bay Area, in particular "leash reactive" training classes, which help Pit Bull owners teach their dogs to walk calmly on a leash around other dogs. In addition, the group offers free Pit Bull education classes to the public, as well as a class designed for shelter staff and animal control officers.

References

  1. ↑ Brigid Schulte (July 8, 2008). "Once groomed to fight, Michael Vick dogs find new purpose". Washington Post – via The Virginian-Pilot.
  2. ↑ "Beaten-down dog from Vick case has his day". NBC news. June 17, 2008.
  3. ↑ Jennifer S. Hayes (April 17, 2008). "Fighting Dogs to Fighting Stereotypes". Best Friends Animal Society. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009.
  4. ↑ Joanne Brokaw (December 18, 2011). "Leo, one of the Michael Vick dogs, passes away". Heavenly Creatures (blog). Patheos.
  5. ↑ "New future for former fight dogs seized in raid". St. Louis, Missouri: KMOV. Associated Press. November 2009.
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