It’s that time of year when you start shopping for your next year’s calendar. Well, no need to shop – we’ve found it!
Mutts-n-Stuff is a non-profit pit bull rescue group based in St. Louis, Missouri. Their mission is to rescue pits from open admission shelters and find them loving homes. They were also the first group in St. Louis to start working with victims of dog fighting back in 2000, when the group began.
For 2016, they partnered with talented photographer Lynn Terry (check out her Dogs in Photo Booth series!) to create a pin-up inspired calendar of rescued pit bulls to change the public’s perception of this misunderstood breed. Proceeds from the calendar benefit Mutts-n-Stuff.
“In the pin up pit calendar, eight of the dogs were from dog fighting busts, one from Hurricane Katrina, and the rest from high kill shelters,” Gale Frey, Founder of Mutts N Stuff, told iHeartDogs.com. “The calendar shows these victims of abuse went on to be handled, clothed, posed and loved in the photos. A true testament of the breed.”
Mutts-n-Stuff not only wants to dispel the way people think about pitties, but also how they treat them. They advocate humane treatment of all animals, including using force-free training methods.
“We have found working with victims of abuse that using aversive training (prong, shock, eCollars, etc.) the dogs either shut down or lose all trust in humans,” Frey explains.
For Lynn Terry, this calendar is one of her favorite projects. While she loved the way the photos came out, and hopes it will help raise much needed funds for Mutts-n-Stuff, it’s the message that really matters to her.
“The main reason we are so in love with this calendar is the message we achieved,” Terry explained. “The message being…Pit Bulls are not the enemies. Let’s be honest, if we can put curlers and lingerie and massive bows and flowers on these dogs without any issues, clearly they are pretty patient pups! Sadly, the media never really conveys Pit Bulls in the correct light. However, this calendar proves how gentle and lovable these dogs are. Each month represents another amazing story of these great dogs and the wonderful people who gave them a chance through fostering or adoption. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could change someone’s thoughts on Pit Bulls with this calendar? If instead of remembering the last news article on Pit Bulls they thought about the hilarious picture of the Pit Bulls an apron attempting to iron some laundry?”
To purchase the calendar for yourself or as a gift for someone you know this holiday season, go to her Etsy shop. The following images are from the calendar and are reprinted with the express permission of Lynn Terry and Mutts-n-Stuff rescue. Want to see all 12? Well then, you’ll have to buy the calendar!
