The Pit Bulls of New Orleans 2009 Calendar

There's still time to order our gorgeous calendar and help support our efforts to promote responsible ownership. We've got pit bulls from all over town: Uptown, Treme, Holy Cross, Bywater, The French Quarter, and a surprising number to work behind the scenes at Magazine Street boutiques. In addition to ordering online, the calendar is available at the following stores: Garden District Books, Canine Culture, Canine Connection, Petcetera, Belladonna Day Spa, Neophobia, Petcetera, Pet Asylum, Faulkner House, and Barnes and Noble in Metairie and Harvey. It is also available on Amazon, although we make less money that way.

The calendar yours for a $20 donation, payable by check to The Sula Foundation, PO Box 3780, New Orleans, LA 70117. You can also order via paypal by directing your donation to sulafoundation@gmail.com.

We are no longer taking orders for the 2009 Calendar, but you can order the 2010 calendar using the link on the left margin under "merchandise".

WDSU airs a feature on the pit bulls and their calendar

I was a little worried when I saw their teaser, but...Here's the story as it actually aired.

Upcoming events: Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Ann Arbor

Ken Foster will be appearing at the following events:
12/6: Furball, Ann Arbor MI
12/13: Sankofa Market, New Orleans
12/13: Barnes and Noble, Baton Rouge, 6-8pm
12/20: Belladonna Day Spa, New Orleans

Suzie the pit bull will be appearing:
12/6: Canine Culture, New Orleans

Also, you can find us listed at SitStay Dog Rescue Directory

A few of our favorite shots from the calendar

The Pit Bulls of New Orleans Calendar is getting great reviews. It is an editor's pick from Bark magazine; was featured on Gambit's Blog of New Orleans; and yesterday was included in the Times-Picayune's gift guide.

In addition to being available directly from The Sula Foundation, you can find it at pet and book stores around New Orleans, including Belladonna Day Spa, Canine Culture, Canine Connection, Beth's Books, Garden District Books, Faubourg Art and Books, Pet Asylum, Petcetera, and even on Amazon. We also have mail order available directly from us (scroll down a few entries for details).

Who do our calendar sales benefit?

In addition to funding our low-cost vaccination and spay/neuter programs, money from the calendar sales will help other dogs like these recent Sula beneficiaries:

Dudley Do Right was formerly named Bruiser, but we thought a name change was in order. Dudley was surrendered by an owner at a shelter in a neighboring state. He was previously neutered and is extremely calm and friendly. But he is also heartworm positive and being treated.


Nana came to us this summer after an owner had to give her up for health reasons. She is incredibly playful and loves people, but hasn't found a new owner.


Eleanore is a dog who was living on the street for months. She'll sit and beg for anything, including cigarettes. She just began heartworm treatment.


Foxy Brown is a gorgeous copper colored dog with a slight brindle pattern. She followed a volunteer home a few weeks ago, and just got a clean bill of health from the vet after a ringworm scare.

Pit Bull Awareness Day, Part Two

We had a great time walking through the French Quarter with these two dogs and their family on Saturday morning. What was surprising was the number of people who came over to squeeze them and talk about the pit bulls in their own family. Well, maybe that wasn't so surprising. Also not surprising: the number of people who nearly fell of the sidewalk trying to get away from the dogs, even though the dogs weren't anywhere near them.

We also distributed cake and cookies to Octavia Books, Canine Connection, Zeus' Place, Neophobia, and Slim Goodies Diner, where one young woman said, "There are people who don't like pit bulls?"

National Pit Bull Awareness Day

October 25th is National Pit Bull Awareness Day, and we'll be doing a visibility event on Saturday morning.

What: Pit Bull Awareness Walk through the French Quarter
When: Saturday October 25th at 10:30am
Where: We'll meet near the base of Canal Street at the pedestrian entrance to the Ferry
Why: To show people what responsible pit bull owners look like

Please bring your dog if you feel he or she is up to it, but remember that we'll be walking through the Quarter, which means lots of other people, dogs, horses, noise, traffic, etc. We want to show our dogs in the best possible light, so if your dog doesn't like crowds, consider his/her feelings. But, you can still join the walk, even without a dog. Wear a t-shirt, make a sign. We'll have Sula shirts at a discount for anyone who doesn't already have a pit bull themed wardrobe.

If you plan on coming, please respond to this email so that we know how many to expect.

Also, we'll be offering petit fours and cookies along with pit bull facts at various locations in town, including Octavia Books and Neophobia furniture store. The LA-SPCA will be having an adoption day at Canine Culture.

And, we're still looking for some volunteers with the following events:
Jefferson Pet Fest, Sunday Nov. 2
NOLA Bookfair, Saturday Nov. 15

Was your mail returned?

We recently discovered that the post office has been returning some of our mail, including donations. And invitations! We've straightened all out, but we have no idea how many pieces of mail were returned "undeliverable" while others were in fact delivered without a problem. If you have had a problem with this, please let us know.

Meanwhile, here are Roseanne and Lucinda, who were abandoned in a yard at about six weeks old. They are going through the vaccinations now, and will eventually be socialized and put up for adoption.

Come to the Bark Market, Saturday Oct. 18th

Hugh

Hugh was sent to us from another Animal Welfare organization in Louisiana. Before agreeing to take him, we asked that he be vaccinated and checked for heartworms. We were told this was done and that he tested negative. When he arrived with no vet records, we discovered that he had been taken to a vet, but no vaccines were administered and he was not tested for heartworms. In addition, he had patches of missing hair from what was apparently some type of staph infection. And he tested very high for heartworms.

Unfortunately, this is an example of how difficult it can be taking rescues from other individuals or organizations. And Hugh will now take the resources required for five or more other dogs. The good news is that he is really sweet.

Saturday October 4th: Two events

Rick Arruzza will be reading and signing books inspired by his pit bull/pointer mix Sparky on Saturday October 4th from 11:00 AM until 12:30 at Maple Street Bookshop, 7523 Maple Street.

From noon on, we'll have a few dogs at an adoption event at the Freret Market, at the corner of Freret and Cadiz. The Louisiana SPCA and ARNO will also have dogs on hand.

Vote for The Sula Foundation and help us win a grant

The good news is that several dogs now have new homes: Grover, Kaspar, Bandit, Bess, Sable and JP all have foster or permanent homes. Maude, the female bulldog, had to have a hernia repaired, but hopefully she and Harold will soon be in a foster home receiving their heartworm treatment. The bad news is that an organization in Baton Rouge sent down a pit bull named Hugh that is in much worse shape than we were led to believe.
So, if you want to help out but don't have the cash, please vote for The Sula Foundation at The Animal Rescue Site's Shelter Challenge. You can vote everyday through December 14th, and they will be awarding $100,000 in grants based on the results. Just follow the link and type in The Sula Foundation and select LA for the state. Then follow the directions to vote.

Bandit's New Life

Meet "Our Gang" Saturday September 20

We're holding an adoption event Saturday September 20th from 11-3pm at Canine Culture, 8110 Hampson Street. In addition to meeting our gang of adoptable dogs, you'll be able to enjoy a selection of Little Rascals movies and free lemonade!

Here's Shiloh (He's not a pit bull, but we like him anyway)

Shiloh was found completely hairless earlier this summer. Now he's grown up into a Catahoula/beagle and he's ready for a home. You can meet him at Dag's House or at our adoption event on Saturday September 20th at Canine Culture, 8110 Hampson Street, from 11-3pm.

The Mystery of Kaspar Hauser

This morning as I walked my own dogs through the lower Ninth, I came across a young man on a stoop with a blue pit bull puppy. "Do you want another one?" he asked. And then he proceeded to tell me the mysterious story of the dog we now call Kaspar Hauser. Since the power is still out, this man slept with his door ajar--and when he woke in the morning he found Kaspar curled up next to him in bed. He said he wanted to keep the dog, but knew he wouldn't be able to take proper care of him. He said he'd already had someone offer to buy him. I told him I'd take good care of the dog, but when I returned to fetch him, but the dog and the man were gone. I left a note offering a reward, and a few hours later he called me.

You can read about the real Kasper Hauser here.

If anyone would like to help with this influx of dogs, even small contributions are meaningful.

Here's Bandit

Bandit was on the street with Harold and Maude, and after picking them up, I returned to find him waiting for me. Like Harold and Maude, he is heartworm positive. He was also so infested with fleas that they could be seen from several yards away. We named him Bandit, after Vicki Hearne's dog.

Harold and Maude

While the storm wasn't as bad as we feared, there are still lots of dogs running loose in New Orleans. This morning I picked up a black female English (I think?) bulldog and with her a white male bulldog. The female was in particularly bad shape, with bite marks on one side of her face. The male was wearing a tag that belonged to a black lab that was lost during Katrina. They are both heartworm positive. Now I'm going back to see if I can catch the white male pit who was roaming with them. If anyone can help with these dogs, please contact us at sulafoundation@gmail.com. More later--Ken

Gustav Evacuation update

All of our Sula dogs have been out of the city for several days, and I know most of our friends have left safely with their animals already. Brando, Sula, Zephyr and I will be on the road shortly. But as I distributed pet carriers yesterday, it was clear that there will be some pets and strays left behind. Particularly pit bulls, which have already been rejected for evacuation by at least one major effort. More later...

Stay safe.

Puppies!

Tonight at Canine Culture, 8110 Hampson Street, New Orleans, from 6-8pm, you can meet Jean-Pierre (pictured here) and his two sisters, all of whom are looking for homes. The story of where these pups came from is long and I won't go into it here. But if you can't come see them tonight, they are also available by appointment.

Also, dog baths for $10, and beer!

Call for models: 2009 New Orleans Pit Bull Calendar

We're getting ready for the first calendar devoted to New Orleans pit bulls! If you have a photogenic pit bull and would like to be considered, please email us. We'll be setting up a series of photo shoots to make sure we get a wide range of dogs, owners and neighborhoods. We might also be able to include some of your own shots, so feel free to send us photos of your dog(s) in a New Orleans setting, but remember we'll only be able to use high quality shots in the finished product. The 2009 Pit Bulls of New Orleans calendar will be on sale in October, and it will be a great opportunity to show how much fun our happy dogs are.

Email: sulafoundation@gmail.com

Beer n' Bath Thursday August 21st

From 6-8pm we'll be washing dogs and drinking beer at Canine Culture, 8110 Hampson Street, New Orleans. Suggested donation $10 per dog. Suggested pre bath activity: running along the levee.

Sula Merchandise

sula shirt, originally uploaded by kfoz.

In addition to volunteering or making a donation, you can help New Orleans pit bulls by wearing some of her fancy new clothes. And look for some Brando and Zephyr endorsed items in the coming weeks.Visit the store., with proceeds going to help New Orleans pit bulls and our educational programs.

Donate $20 or more to the Sula Foundation, and we'll send a signed copy of The Dogs Who Found Me. Donate $30 or more and we'll send a copy of Dogs I Have Met. Donate $50 or more and we'll send both.

Best Friends Webinar this weekend

Ken Foster be doing a series of webinars with Best Friends this weekend and The Sula Foundation is one of the topics of discussion! The first of them, on Friday, is for BF volunteers only. But Sunday's session is open to anyone, and it is free. For details, go to the Best Friends Network.

Adoption event this Saturday, July 26

Grover, Gus, Panda and maybe even Burgundy will be at Canine Culture on Saturday from 11am-3pm, 8110 Hampson Street, New Orleans. There will also be some cats, kittens and dogs from ARNO. Some come by!

Special Talk July 24

On Thursday July 24th, The Sula Foundation will sponsor a talk with Ledy Van Kavage, Senior Director of Legislation and Legal Training with the ASPCA. The topic: American Pit Bull Myths, the dangers of breed profiling, and how we can all work together toward responsible laws that address dangerous dogs and owner responsibility. Ledy is a dynamic, entertaining speaker, so this will be a fun evening, in spite of the serious topic. And to make it a little more fun, we'll be holding the event at the dog-friendly Bridge Lounge! Admission is free for well-behaved people and leashed dogs.

Ledy Van Kavage
Thursday July 24th, 7pm
The Bridge Lounge
1201 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70117

Grover and Gus are still looking for a home

Grover, an American bulldog/pit bull mix, is incredibly affectionate and trusting of people, but has limited experience with other dogs. Still, he's recently acquired a female dog companion and has a male beagle friend as well. He'll make a loyal companion for some lucky person.

Gus has also recently acquired a girlfriend--a gorgeous brindle pit bull with whom he likes to perform gymnastics. Gus had a home all ready for him, but ran into some complications with the landlord. We're hoping to resolve that siutation, but in the meantime, he's still waiting for the perfect home.

Dog Wash Saturday July 12

Dog Wash Day

Saturday, July 12th

11 – 3
Canine Culture
$10.00 Donation to Benefit the Sula Foundation

Canine Culture
8110 Hampson Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 373-5141

PIt Bull Clinic Tuesday 6/24

The Sula Foundation be holding the final clinic of the summer on Tuesday June 24th from 5:30-7pm outside of Zeus' Place at Freret and Cadiz. The clinic, which is open to pit bulls and pit bull mixes, offers the following discounted vaccinations, provided by a veterinarian:

Rabies: free for spayed and neutered pit bulls; $5 for intact
Distemper, parvo, corona, etc: $5
Kennel cough: $5

In addition to the shots, the clinics offer information and handouts on training and socializing your pet. Limited to three dogs per household.

For more information, call 504-324-9233 or visit www.sulafoundation.org.

Photos from the Sula fundraiser

Boudreaux and friends
Originally uploaded by kfoz

I'll be posting more later, but in the meantime, here's a link to some great shots from our fundraiser at Canine Culture.

June clinics and other events

The Sula Foundation (www.sulafoundation.org) will hold its first major fundraiser on June 19th from 6-8pm at Canine Culture, 8110 Hampson Street, New Orleans. Dedicated to fostering responsible pit bull ownership, The Sula Foundation was created by local author Ken Foster and named after his pit bull Sula, featured in the bestselling book, The Dogs Who Found Me.

The June 19th "Pitching for Pit Bulls" party will feature raffle prizes and silent auction items from a wide variety of local businesses who support the cause, including the New Orleans Zephyrs, George Rodrigue, Louisiana Music Factory, Crescent City Farmers Market, Maple Street Bookshop, New Orleans Film Society, Salon d'Malta, dba, The Joint, Gnome, and many others. In addition, items have been donated from across the US, from independent bookseller Powells.com, novelist Cathleen Schine, photographer Traer Scott, Harry Abrams Publishers, Skyhorse Books, Bark Magazine and more. The event will also feature live music from The Hot 8 Brass Band, food, drinks and a baseball-themed costume contest for dogs. Area shelters will also be on hand with adoptable dogs invited to join the party.

Proceeds from the event will fund the Sula Foundation's ongoing low-cost pit bull vaccination clinics and free spay/neuter program. Upcoming clinics include:
Tuesday June 17th from 5:30-7pm, in the 5100 block of Burgundy Street and
Tuesday June 24th 5:30-7pm at Freret and Cadiz.
The clinics offer rabies, distemper and bordetella vaccinations for $5 each, as well as training information and other resources.

"Pit bulls have historically been family dogs," Foster says. "The Sula Foundation's programs are designed to create a dialogue between dedicated pit bull owners and to educate people about the responsibilities associated with caring for a dog of any breed. It is great to see so many local businesses offering their support to this project."

For more information, call 504-324-9233 or go to www.sulafoundation.org.

Gus needs a home too

This morning I drove Gus from St. Bernard Parish to Uptown, where he's staying at Canine Connection til he finds a new home. He'd been living in a yard for the past few months, with a family who took good care of him even though they didn't intend to keep him. They also had a standard poodle who lived inside, and I got to watch the poodle and Gus wrestle a few times. The poodle always won. Gus is mostly pit, with a pinch of shepherd. He's extremely affectionate with people, and he is up to date on his shots and heartworm prevention.

Grover and Oliver are looking for new homes

Grover, the white and brown sweetheart in the first photo, is about 1 1/2 years old and is still gaining weight back from being undernourished by his previous owners. He also had a severe ear infection and some wounds on his face that are nearly gone now. He is heartworm positive, and will need to be treated for that once he settles into a home. The good news is that in spite of all of this, he is very people friendly.

Oliver was in the news recently after being thrown from an SUV window. He is currently being fostered by his benefactors, but needs a permanent home. His treatment for non-contagious mange is nearly done, and he is incredibly affectionate. Oliver has already started clicker training, so his new owner will have to catch up with him.

If you would like more info on these dogs, please email us at sulafoundation@gmail.com.

A generous donation from Traer Scott

Petey - Adopted
Originally uploaded by Traer Scott

Traer Scott, the photographer of the books Shelter Dogs and Street Dogs, has donated this amazing portrait to The Sula Foundation in conjunction with a fundraiser we'll be holding on Thursday June 19th at Canine Culture in New Orleans. More details to come...

Come see us at Jazz Fest May 4th!

Ken Foster will be signing copies of all of his books at the Jazz Fest Book Tent on Sunday May 4th from 3-4pm. Come say hello and pick up a free copy of our All Stars Poster!

Bark in the Park with the Zephyrs on April 27th

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE: For a ten dollar donation, we'll send you our All Stars poster, postage included. Additional copies can be purchased for five dollars a piece. The poster is 8.5x11 on cardstock, with information on the real American Pit Bull and resources listed on the back. If paying by PayPal, be sure to include "poster" in the memo section of your donation.

On Sunday, April 27th, we'll be tossing out the first ball for Bark in the Park at Zephyr Field. Special lawn seating is available for dogs, and we'll be giving a free poster to all who attend. The backside of the poster/baseball card features biographies of the team and information on the real character of the American Pit Bull.

In memory of Marbeth Foster

Marbeth Foster, the mother of Sula Foundation founder Ken Foster, passed away on March 20 following an extended battle with aplastic anemia. Like most pit bull grandmothers, Marbeth was somewhat skeptical at first, but quickly became a fierce defender of the breed. Donations in her name may be made by clicking on the Donation button to the right. You may write in a brief message on the form under "purpose". Donations may also be made by mail to The Sula Foundation, PO Box 3780, New Orleans, LA 70117.

Learn more about Marbeth.

The Sula Foundation in the news

Sunday March 23rd at 10pm, WWL will feature the Sula Foundation as part of a report on dognappers in New Orleans. (We'll post a link after the story runs.) A similar story on pit bull thefts ran last Thursday in the Times-Picayune. WDSU also featured a report on the threat responsible pit bull owners face from criminals who view their dog as a potential moneymaker.

The Sula Foundation will be participating April 6th in the Louisiana SPCA's Dog Day Afternoon; you can contribute or join our team at this link.

On April 27th we'll be tossing out the ball at Zephyr Field for Bark in the Park.

And we'll be announcing our April clinic dates soon! See photos of our first clinic by clicking here!

sula shirt, originally uploaded by kfoz.

In addition to volunteering or making a donation, you can help New Orleans pit bulls by wearing some of her fancy new clothes. And look for some Brando and Zephyr endorsed items in the coming weeks.Visit the store., with proceeds going to help pit bulls and their owners.

Donate $20 or more to the Sula Foundation, and we'll send a signed copy of The Dogs Who Found Me. Donate $30 or more and we'll send a copy of Dogs I Have Met. Donate $50 or more and we'll send both.

Pit bull abductions in Mid City

suzie
Originally uploaded by kfoz

There have been a series of pit bull abductions in Mid City this week. This photo is Suzie, who is less than a year old, and was taken from her yard on March 4th. Her owners miss her very much and are worried about her safety.

If you have a pit bull or pit mix, please don't leave them outside without supervision. In at least one case this week, a seven foot fence did nothing to prevent the dogs from being stolen.


UPDATE: Suzie has been recovered!!

Coming events

Our next clinic is tentatively scheduled for the first weekend of April in Central City. See photos of our first clinic by clicking here!

On Sunday April 27th, we'll be throwing out the first ball of the day at Zephyr Field.

We are offering free spay and neuter to New Orleans pit bulls. For more information contact sulafoundation@gmail.com or call 324-9233.

And we are planning for a 2009 calendar of New Orleans pit bulls, so tell your favorite pit to start practicing their pose. But they're already doing that, aren't they?

Let us know if you would like to contribute or volunteer.

New interview at DogChannel; Sula Foundation fundraiser

I haven't viewed these yet. Well, actually, I viewed them long enough to know that I look like I just got off a long flight to Los Angeles and then drove several hours to Irvine, which is, in fact, the case. But the staff there was great, and I think the second of these two pieces is about pit bulls and BSL:

Dog Channel interview Part One

Dog Channel interview Part Two


Also, you can now donate to the Sula Foundation via paypal (on the right). If you donate $20 or more, we'll send you a signed copy of The Dogs Who Found Me. Or you can just donate money.

Now on video: Meet the pit bulls of New Orleans

Last October, I announced my plans for The Sula Foundation at a party for some of the best pit bulls in New Orleans. With the support of Animal Farm Foundation, this video was created, starring the Hot 8 Brass Band and featuring interviews with some people who really love their dogs:

The process of choosing a logo...

Sula logo
Originally uploaded by kfoz

Emily from Advocates for the Underdog put together these two variations on a logo for The Sula Foundation. Most people seem to prefer the one on the left, although the one on the right is appealing too. Any thoughts?