GREAT NEW ARTICLE in VARIETY out today in hard copy and online HERE. Enjoy!
“Rebecca Corry is on a mission to stop pit bullying. The comedian and series regular on NBC’s upcoming sitcom “One Big Happy” established the Stand Up for Pits Foundation in an effort to end discrimination against Pit Bull Terriers (nicknamed Pibbles), a dog breed that continues to get a bad rap.
“I had adopted a pit bull named Angel six years ago, her ears had been cut off and she had endured years of abuse,” says Corry of her motivation to debunk negative Pibble stereotypes. She says that when walking the dog, she started to experience what Pit Bulls go through: “people running across the street to get away from us, people asking me, ‘Are you afraid of her?’ It was a combination of being exposed to the breed and being directly affected by the ignorance, and I realized that doing nothing was not an option.”
In 2010, Corry organized the inaugural Stand Up for Pits live benefit show at the Hollywood Improv, an event that has since spawned seven shows annually, including ones in New York, Washington D.C., Seattle and Salt Lake City. On May 3, Corry spearheaded the nation’s first One Million PIBBLE March on Washington, an event attended by an estimated 4,500 participants, and aimed at ending breed specific legislation and dog-fighting, and creating safe communities for humans and pets.
“That was probably one of the most amazing moments of my life,” says Corry of the resulting rally on the Capitol lawn.
On Nov. 2, fellow pit bull advocate and “Big Bang Theory” star Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting will host the Stand Up for Pits event at the Hollywood Improv. Corry will be joined onstage by comedians Whitney Cummings, Bill Burr and singing will be Briana Cuoco at the two sold-out shows, featuring a pill bull adoption, silent auction and Pibble-kissing booth. Also participating this year are Orange County Pit Bull Rescue and Downtown Dog Rescue.
“Ending discrimination is a major priority,” Corry says. “We hope to save dogs and save lives.”
-Malina Saval
Associate Editor, Features/VARIETY
(photo credit Daniel Doperlaski)