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March 14: Attend the Great Pit Ball Fundraiser in Vegas

March 11, 2009, 5:38PM MT

By Cheri Moon

Movie Premiere, Art Show, Gourmet Meal and Benefit Concert

Movie Premiere, Art Show, Gourmet Meal and Benefit Concert

By Cheri Moon, Best Friends Staff

“In my life, I feel I am the underdog and I think tattooed people are,” says Brandon Bond, pit bull activist, owner of All or Nothing Tattoo in Atlanta, GA and two-time International Tattoo Artist of the Year.

“I am constantly judged on the basis of my appearance and lifestyle. I think with pit bulls, they are based solely on their appearance. I can relate to them on a level that a lot of people might not be able to.”

With these words, Bond—along with a cohort of tattooed and non-tattooed dog lovers—are working together to save America’s dog—the pit bull.

VICKtory to the Underdog
Bond is featured in, VICKtory to the Underdog, a documentary devoted to overcoming the stereotype of pit bulls by featuring Vick dogs and other pit bulls on their journeys to become beloved pets.

The film is dedicated to “7,” a former Vick fighting dog who recently passed away. The documentary includes interviews with activists, vets, professionals and enthusiasts—some who have fought their own life battles and understand what it’s like to be misunderstood.

The Great Pit Ball
Celebrating the release of the DVD, on Saturday, March 14 in Las Vegas, the Great Pit Ball fundraiser is being held at Palms Casino and the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Casino.

Bond, along with a committee of dedicated professionals from around the country, hope to raise $250,000 for Villalobos Animal Rescue Center, the largest no-kill pit bull rescue center in the country located in Canyon Country, CA.

The fundraiser features a VICKtory to the Underdog red carpet movie premiere, art show, gourmet 11 course meal prepared by the nation’s top chefs and a benefit concert. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Villalobos Animal Rescue Shelter.

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary will be attending the event and making a presentation during the dinner and art auction.

Says Ed Fritz, Best Friends campaign specialist for Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog, “This is a great opportunity for Best Friends to make vital connections within the pit bull community with people who share our goal of saving dogs.” He adds, “Bond and many people are working to fight the negative stereotypes about pit bulls and are saving lives. We are on the same side in that battle.”

Fundraiser Schedule
At the Palms Casino:
• 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Art Show with Artwork from Artists all over the Country.

• 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.: : Dinner, cash art auction and presentation by Best Friends Animal Society with Acoustic Set by Kimber Cleveland.

• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Red Carpet step and repeat with press and Animal Planet

• 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.: VICKtory to the Underdog movie premiere.

• 10:30 p.m. –11:30 p.m.: Relocate to Mandalay Bay, House of Blues.

• 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.: House of Blues after party and concert with Sick of it All, Madball, The Spyderz and Toetag.

Bond and the event organizers hope that pit bull lovers—regardless of their abundance or lack of tattoos and tastes in music—will attend the event. But if a trip to Vegas isn’t in the cards, then purchasing the VICKtory to the Underdog DVD will also help support the cause.

Says Bond, “Even if you hate dogs, even if you don’t like them, even if you fight dogs—you aren’t going to be able to watch this film without feeling something warm and wonderful about “7” and all these dogs. And really, at the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”

For More Information
• Learn more about the Great Pit Ball.

• Read about “7”—the former Vick fighting dog to whom the film is dedicated.

• Watch the trailer for VICKtory to the Underdog.

How You Can Help
• Buy tickets to the Great Pit Ball.

• Purchase the DVD VICKtory to the Underdog.

Image provided by Brandon Bond

Comments

Posted March 17, 2009, 4:52PM by scratchtopaz

They have t-shirts!
http://strangleholdmerch.com/charcoal-all-or-nothing-pit-bull-rescue-tshirt-p-202.html?zenid=49d63fc5629223fc45ded743f0467dd1

Posted March 11, 2009, 7:45PM by carrie_fosters

Ooooh, this sounds great! Wish I were made of money and could jet off to Vegas at the drop of a hat!

Posted March 12, 2009, 12:19PM by tigifred

I wish I had heard of this sooner, I would have attended for sure! Sounds wonderful and I look forward to seeing the film.

Posted March 14, 2009, 1:42PM by marys

Yeah!! This is fantastic! What fun for the pitties!

Posted March 13, 2009, 6:35PM by myboyz

First of all, "7", may you enjoy the open fields of heaven to run and be a dog till your heart's content. You deserve nothing but eternal happiness. Second, thank you, Best Friends, for continuing to shed light on how wonderful Pit Bulls are. And, finally, thank you, All or Nothing, for your dedication to all the animal lives you touch. May the rest of the world finally hear your message!

Posted March 12, 2009, 3:14PM by Desertponder

I hope this fundraiser is a rousing success!
Wish I could be there too.

Posted March 12, 2009, 7:7PM by Kelly4cats

Oh this is something we really needed to lighten up the pit bull's image. I love it.

Posted March 14, 2009, 3:4PM by champa

ck out my comment on B/F's Stop BSL and B/F's N C webs

Posted March 14, 2009, 9:54PM by spotmoose

I just watched the DVD and it brought me to tears. They did a great job! I have a 3 year old Boxer/Pit bull mix and a 10 month old Pit bull and they are such loving, friendly and funny pups. Maybe this will help stop or at least slow down the wildfire of BSL going on all over the US and bring more awareness of the horrors of dog fighting.

Posted March 12, 2009, 2:9PM by dixiesherman

FANTASTIC!!!! Wish I could be there. I'm sure it will be a great success. Bless all of you and the "Pitties".

Posted March 13, 2009, 11:37AM by bullydog

This is extremely neat!!!! There is also a biker and ink community out there that does bully rescue. Great work!!!! We need all the help we can get from every angle and every different group and perspective! For the bullies!

Posted March 15, 2009, 7:8PM by marla

Please let us all know how the fundraiser went
Thanks

Posted March 11, 2009, 6:55PM by marla

Can't wait to receive my DVD. We just brought home a great Pit bull, Monday 3/9 from the shelter I volunteer at for a campion for our other dog. So far it is going good. Our dog is still jealous, but she is so good to him. She is 7 1/2 years old, same as our dog. So excited my husband agreed. he was not so sure at first, but she loves him.

Posted March 16, 2009, 1:3PM by parrisreddog

Are t-shirts available? I'd love to get one since I couldn't attend. I really wish I could have! What a great idea. Hope it was a roaring success!

Posted March 12, 2009, 12:29PM by rickmcd

Good luck with this fundraiser. Tia and her Villalobos Animal Rescue Center are a great group to support.