Pit Bulls Proclaim, "Erin Go Daugh!" While Strutting in Sunday's St. Patrick's Day Parade

Looking for an excuse to pinch a pit bull? You won't find one here, as a dozen adorable, adoptable dogs from Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) will celebrate St. Pittie's Day by gearing up in their green in preparation for the parade. The volunteers will dress the dogs at 1 p.m. Sunday, meeting at the Washington Monument, 600 N. Charles St.

Crystal, Wisteria, Penny and the rest of the darling dogs will don green T-shirts, beads, bowties, shorts and shamrock headbands. Volunteers will walk the dogs in the parade, beginning at 2 p.m., and carry posters with pictures of other pit bull terrier-type dogs available for adoption at BARCS.

Although they're protected from pinches by their green garb, in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, the dogs will bestow bunches of sloppy smooches to anyone in a "Kiss Me I'm Irish" kind of mood.

These dogs are out to demonstrate that pit bull terrier-types who are loved, spayed or neutered, properly trained and socialized, make happy and affectionate pets - and that anything else you might have heard to the contrary is just a bunch of blarney.

All the pit bull terrier-type dogs at the shelter are hoping the holiday is the lucky charm that helps them meet their loving, forever families. In conjunction with the parade, the shelter is observing St. Pittie's day with an adoption promotion March 13-19.

During the week, adopters of pit bull-type dogs not only will go home with a pit of gold, but they'll also get a goody bag filled with dog treats, toys, T-shirts, collars and leashes, as well as educational information on pit bull terrier-type dogs and tips on responsible dog ownership.

The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) is working in conjunction with Best Friends Animal Society on the Shelter Partners for Pit Bulls Project, with funding support from PetSmart Charities®. The project is designed to encourage responsible pet guardianship and reduce euthanasia of pit bull terriers and similar-type dogs, as well as strive to improve the public's perception of this type of dog.

Best Friends Animal Society works to help pit bull-type dogs through its national pit bull terrier initiative which helps dogs who are battling everything from a sensationalized reputation to legislation designed to bring about their extinction. The campaign's goal is to end discrimination against all dogs-because they are individuals and should be treated as such.

Best Friends works with humane groups all across the country to bring about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets®.

About Best Friends Animal Society®

Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country's largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of supporters and community partners across the nation.

To become a fan of Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook: //www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety

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