Please read this message from the Stand Up For Pits Foundation’s board of directors.
“Rebecca Corry and her beloved Angel are no strangers to hate and ignorance, as is anyone who stands up for the truth. It comes with the territory. Add being a woman to the mix and that can really rub some folks the wrong way. Just as we are living in a time where our dogs are being judged unfairly because of the way they look, there are still ethically stunted humans who believe a woman should be seen and not heard.
Since announcing the One Million PIBBLE March on Washington DC last year, Rebecca and Angel have received overwhelming love, support and encouragement. Yet, they have also endured threats, criticisms and hate. While abuse from the anti-Pit Bull crazies is to be expected (which means we are being heard!), it’s a shame when it comes from people who promote themselves as “Pit Bull advocates” – people who claim to be on the same team.
There’s a back story: as you know, the Million PIBBLE March garnered a lot of media attention. Many individuals (all NOT non profits) asked and in some cases expected to be allowed to piggy back on the event’s success to push their own personal agendas: books, movies, merchandise, facebook pages, etc., all in the name of “Pit Bull advocacy.” Rebecca’s answer has always been a resounding “no.” Why? Because promoting personal and private agendas takes away from the cause. Some of those “advocates” remain bitter, angry and critical, constantly asking Rebecca, “who do you think you are to say no to me?”
As Foundation board members, we can tell you who Rebecca Corry is – she is an actress, writer and comedian who has donated the past 6 years of her life to Stand Up For Pits. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to benefit animal rescue organizations all over the country, placing countless Pit Bulls in loving homes and has raised insurmountable and historical awareness in an extremely short period of time in ways no one has ever done.
The Stand Up For Pits Foundation is a nonprofit organization recognized as tax-exempt under IRS Code Section 501c3. It supports educational programs, rescue groups and others, financially and in many other ways. The live, stand-up comedy events around the country consistently sell out, raising awareness, funds and providing a new and different way to educate people on BSL and abuse. The Foundation works every day advocating and educating and is dedicated to doing so. The Foundation is currently working on a new LA based project created to directly combat the dog fighting epidemic.
While social media is a great way to reach out and educate the public, some people use it to launch seriously negative, harmful and baseless attacks from the comfort of their own living rooms. Their targets? Legitimate, outstanding animal rescue organizations that are out in the trenches, doing everything they can to save dogs and change the public’s minds about Pit Bulls. For example, we saw Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue’s recent post about being criticized about a surgery they had just recently given a dog and were being forced to block people. Show Your Soft Side acknowledged being the target of repeated verbal attacks for their posts. This goes on all day every day and it is absolutely embarrassing to see the animal community behaving in such an unproductive way while lives are literally hanging in the balance.
The Stand Up For Pits Foundation, Rebecca, and Angel have been the target of attacks for over a year. Some of it is expected. Most is just plain silly. Rebecca has stated many times, she does not do this work to make friends. She does it to save dogs. She fully understands all that comes with that commitment along with being a public figure and woman with a mind and many opinions she speaks loudly and unapologetically.
But what will not be tolerated are false, defamatory statements about the integrity of the Stand Up for Pits Foundation, its management of funds, attacks on Angel or unlawful physical threats about silencing Rebecca. Recently we have been made aware of an individual making very serious and unlawful accusations and threats toward the Foundation and Rebecca. They are being made solely to hurt Rebecca personally and to try to cause damage to the Stand Up for Pits Foundation’s reputation, which can and will be the subject of legal action.
While we understand it is frustrating for our supporters, the Stand Up for Pits Foundation asks you do not engage with this individual or any future individuals on social media. It gives them the attention they are so desperately looking to obtain. But please continue to send screen shots to us with defamatory content. Rest assured, it is not being ignored and there will be accountability.
Thanks to our supporters and the humans doing all they can positively to stay the course and do the work. Keep doing what you’re doing. As Rebecca said on the West Lawn May 3rd, 2014, “if they don’t like it, fuck em.” We stand by that profanity 100% and will continue to do the work until the abuse and discrimination of Pit Bull Terriers ends. We have some of the best supporters on the planet and are proud to be doing this with you.
-Stand Up For Pits Foundation”