Public Resources
Helpful resources for the public
Financial & Medical Assistance
We offer direct financial assistance along with information about community partners
Financial / Medical Assistance
Helping Hands
The Helping Hands Fund was created to provide financial assistance to responsible bully breed owners who are facing temporary financial difficulties and are in need of medical assistance for their dog(s).
The Helping Hands Fund is targeted towards:
- Emergency surgeries
- Orthopedic surgeries
- Skin and ear infections
- Annual wellness visits
Medical Assistance
Stand For Animals
Stand for Animals is a low-cost veterinary hospital that provides preventive care such as vaccinations, preventives, diagnostic testing, dental care, and spay/neuter surgeries at very affordable pricing.
There are three locations in the Greater Charlotte, NC area: Pineville, Charlotte, and Matthews.
Contact Stand for Animals at 704-970-2711 or email at info@standforanimals.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled some of the most asked questions we receive
Pit Bull owners often face challenges of finding adequate housing for their families due to current private breed bans and ordinances. If you are in the Greater Charlotte, NC area, please reach out to us for a list of Real Estate Agents, Brokers, and companies that can help you navigate housing to find the best fit for your family, including your pit bull/s.
If you are in need of food for your pit bull, you can reach out to either of the following organizations which will give you food for your dog:
- Second Harvest Pet Food Bank
704-376-1785 - Humane Society of Charlotte Pet Food Bank
704-377-0534
When purchasing home owner’s insurance or renter’s insurance, it is important to know that there are several insurance companies that discriminate against pit bull type dogs and will not pay out your benefits in the event you file a claim.
In Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Maryland, it is illegal to not offer insurance due to breed of dog, although, insurance companies may charge a higher premium based on breed of dog/s owned.
APBF recommends working with State Farm Insurance. You can find an agent via the State Farm National Directory.
Other insurance companies that do not have breed restrictions:
- USAA
- Geico
Insurance companies that DO discriminate against pit bull type dogs:
- MetLife
- Allstate
- Progressive
- Farmer’s
The following are steps you can take to reunite a lost dog that you find with their rightful owners.
Always be cautious when approaching a dog you are unfamiliar with. Be aware of the dog’s body language at all times. The following are guidelines to follow if there is no visible identification such as a collar with tags.
If a dog is on the road or highway and does not come when you call for it; shout in low, firm voice to direct the animal away from the road and contact Animal Care and Control. Do not chase the animal if it is fearful; it could likely run back into the road and be struck.
If you obtain an animal, look for any identification to contact owners, or, a Rabies tag to contact a veterinary hospital. If you are able, bring the dog to the nearest veterinary hospital to ask for a microchip scan.
Contact your local Animal Care and Control facilities and physically visit the facilities to look for your lost Pit Bull, (visit at least every 24 hours).
If you are in a neighborhood when you obtain the dog, knock on doors and ask if the dog is familiar and if they know where the dog may live
Contact the local Humane Society and Rescue organizations to see if anyone has called or posted signage for their lost dog
Check social sites for Lost Dog postings such as Next Door, Facebook and Twitter. Post the dog you’ve found on these platforms with a limited description, (stick to a generic photo, color patterns, and leave out male/female or specific details to avoid false ownership claims). Facebook Lost and Found Charlotte
- Post Lost dog signs with a recent picture and your contact number, in, and around your neighborhood.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control: Dial 311, select option 2
Humane Society of Charlotte: 704-377-0534
If you cannot locate the owners of the dog after following all of the steps listed above and you are wanting to assist in rehoming the dog, you can contact local rescue and adoption agencies to screen potential family matches.
If you surrender a dog to a rescue and adoption agency, please consider donating to that agency and/or fostering. With the current overpopulation crisis facing the Unites States, resources are very limited and shelters and rescues are overrun with homeless animals.
Be aware that many rescue and adoption agencies are selective as to the animals that they bring into their adoption programs. Municipal shelters, such as Animal Care and Control facilities are open-door, meaning they will intake any and all animals, whereas private rescues and humane societies do not have the resources often to bring in animals that are potentially not ideal adoption candidates.
For a list of local rescues and adoption agencies, please refer to the list below “Rehoming a Dog”.
Below is a list of steps to take to in the event that your dog becomes lost. The key to avoiding tragedy is responsibly containing your pet/s, and taking preventative measures to identifying them in the case that an accident occurs.
- Contact your local Animal Care and Control facilities and physically visit the facilities to look for your lost Pit Bull, (visit at least every 24 hours).
- Notify your veterinarian and ask them to post your dog on their social media channels and on any lost and found boards they have in-clinic. If your Rabies tag is on your dog’s collar, the person who finds your dog may contact your veterinarian.
- Communicate with neighbors by phone or knocking on their door to ask if they have any information.
- Contact the local Humane Society and Rescue organizations to see if anyone has called or posted signage regarding your pet.
- Call the local emergency veterinary facilities for postings and/or patients brought in from good Samaritans.
- Network on your social sites such as Next Door, Facebook and Twitter to send out an alert. There are specific pages set up to help reunite lost pets with their owners such as Facebook Lost and Found Charlotte
- Post Lost dog signs with a recent picture and your contact number, in, and around your neighborhood.
- Always keep a collar with identifying tags on your dog, (except when crated at home for safety)
- Have your dog microchipped in the event that he is found and brought to a hospital or shelter
- Obtain a county license for your dog
- Never leave your dog unattended, unleashed, (except for designated areas), or outdoors while an adult is not home
- Do not leave a dog unattended that is contained by an Invisible Fence where a physical fence is not also implemented
- Lock Doggie doors while you are not home
- Obey leash laws – they are in place to not only protect other people and pets, but also your dog. Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s Leash Law is as follows, (and is an excellent rule of thumb for areas without leash laws implemented):
- The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have strict leash laws that apply to all animals except cats (see the nuisance animal section for laws pertaining to cats).Animals must be on a leash, contained within a fence or an operable and marked invisible fence. The invisible fence company should give owners a sign to place at the mailbox to indicate that there is an invisible fence present.An animal may be loose in its own yard if there is an adult (18 years or older) immediately next to the animal and the animal responds to direct verbal commands of the person.ALL dog owners that take their dogs for walks in their neighborhoods and/or in public parks (not designated as a dog park) are required to keep their dogs on leash and under physical restraint at ALL TIMES. Please note that having the leash in your possession and not attached to the dog is not considered having the dog on a leash and you will still be subject to a fine.All regulations aim to protect the health and safety of our citizens. Please be a responsible pet owner and abide by the law. Violations will be investigated and stiff fines may be applied. Fines range from a $50.00 citation for the first violation and up to a $500.00 citation and permanent seizure of the animal for a fifth violation.To report an animal at large, please call 311. Please note that it could take up to 4 hours for an officer to respond. Any information about where the owner lives would help greatly.There are dog parks in Char-Meck that will allow pet owners to let their dogs off-leash in a fenced in and controlled area. To find where these parks are located and the rules for participation, visit the Dog Parks page.
Please consider a few of the following before rehoming your dog.
In the United States, it is currently reported that we euthanize 670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats. That is merely what is reported but doesn’t include all of the non-reporting agencies throughout the US. With that being said, the safest place for an animal is in its own home with its own family. Before you consider rehoming your animal, please consider the reasons you are rehoming that specific animal and if those reasons can be workable. Here are some things that we can help you with, to keep your family together:
- Finding housing with your pit bull
- Bringing a newborn baby into the house or young kids
- Behavioral issues such as barking, marking, leash pulling, (issues with being able to “control” the dog)
- Bolting
- Affording healthcare / nutrition
We view rehoming as a second to last resort, euthanasia being the last resort.
If you are rehoming an animal due to a behavioral problem, please be aware that the problem still needs to be addressed whether in your home, or a new home, and people are less likely to adopt dogs that come with behavioral problems. Rehoming increases the stress level of the dog which can make any underlying behavioral issues even worse in a new environment.
If the animal is a pit bull type dog, pit bulls make up one of the largest populations of animals euthanized due to the sheer number of them, and to the still lingering misaligned stereotype affecting adoption numbers. We estimate based off of collected data that anywhere from 740 to 1200 pit bull type dogs are still euthanized every single day across the United States.
If the dog is a good adoption candidate, (please note that there is a difference between a good dog and a good adoption candidate), well-behaved, not animal or human aggressive, social, low to no anxiety and absolutely must be rehomed, (i.e. the owner dies) please refer to our list of rescue and adoption agencies located in the section below to recruit assistance in safely rehoming your dog.
In the event that you have multiple animals that are not able to get along in the household and you have tried working with a behaviorist and/or trainer, consider rehoming your easiest dog/best adoption candidate for the best survivability/outcome for all involved.
The American Pit Bull Foundation is not an open intake rescue and adoption agency. Our rescued dogs are pulled from shelters, raised and trained as service dog for veterans with PTSD. We do adopt out the mothers from our litters as well as any puppy that is not selected for service dog work, however, we do not currently take in animals that need to be rehomed.
Dogfighting is illegal and a felony offense in all 50 states as well as the Virgin Islands, Guam, and all other US territories.
Dogfighting leads to both physical and psychological damage in canines. Though dogs being sentient beings is a widely accepted understanding, dogfighting persists in several areas of the country, especially in the Southeastern United States.
If you suspect dogfighting in an area, please immediately report it to Animal Care and Control facilities. In Charlotte-Mecklenburg, dial 311, press option 2 and provide information. You can also contact the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Cruelty Division at 202-452-1100.
The American Pit Bull Foundation assists in dogfight busts in North and South Carolina through local authorities and in partnership with the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States, however, we do not respond to dogfighting reports. Reports should be made directly to local authorities. APBF assists in transport, care, rehabilitation, rehoming, and resources for canines pulled from dogfight busts.
Abuse is causing direct, intent harm. By law, abuse is mostly defined as malicious intent.
Neglect is failing to prevent harmful action or a lack of necessary care.
When reporting abuse or neglect, it is important to understand the differences. Often neglect is a result of ignorance rather than a malicious act against an animal. Neglect is not providing for an animal whereas abuse is purposefully withholding resources, physically and/or psychologically harming an animal.
If you are aware of an animal suffering from neglect, it is best to start with the owner of the animal and offer assistance to them directly. Remember, often neglect is a result of ignorance or lack of resource, not intent to harm. Building trust and coming from a place of compassion to help is more likely to result in change for the betterment of the animal. If the animal is in the Charlotte Mecklenburg area, you can request a member of our Outreach team to respond with assistance by emailing help@apbf.dog. Please visit our Outreach Program page for a list of services offered.
If you suspect abuse, or an animal is suffering from neglect to the point that they are endangered, document with photos and do not intervene. For example, if a neighbor has a chained dog that is without protection from the elements or goes for long periods without food and water, take photos of the animal each day without these resources to prove the conditions. If you begin feeding an animal or providing shelter for an animal before documenting and reporting, animal authorities are not able to step in because the animal no longer lacks care, (you have become the supplemental care). If you are aware of physical abuse taking place and are safely able to gather video or photo evidence, do so before reporting to authorities.
If you are int he Charlotte Mecklenburg area, report abuse to 311, option 2. If you are outside of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, you will report to your local animal care and control agency and/or the police department that oversees the animal care and control division in your county.
Whether you are looking to strengthen the bond with your pit bull, start your puppy off right, or tackle concerning behavioral issues, working with a behaviorist or trainer is an invaluable asset to the human-canine bond.
One of the most concerning reasons that people abandon their pets at animal shelters is in-part due to behavioral issues, most of which are often preventable and/or treatable.
If you are looking for a local trainer to teach basic or advanced skills, we recommend and use the following local partners:
Highland Canine Training
(866) 200-2207
www.highlandcanine.com
Dogs as a Second Language (Alfredo Ayala)
http://www.dsldogtraining.com/home/
Love in the Lead
(704) 561-1916
https://www.loveinthelead.com/
K9s Unleashed (Amy Ferguson)
(704) 243-0920
www.k9sunleashed.com
If you are looking for a local Charlotte behaviorist to help with specific behaviors or to understand the “why” behind the “how” in training and behavior, outside of advice, you can enlist the services of Canine Behavior Consultant, Sara Ondrako at saraondrako.com. You can also follow Sara on YouTube to learn about training and behavior techniques.
If you have a potentially severe behavioral issue that needs addressing, we recommend reaching out to a Board Certified Veterinary Animal Behaviorist. You can find a national list of BCVAB’s here.
If you are in North Carolina, the following are Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorists, (some will do phone consults):
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