Sammie’s Friends now has more pitbulls at its shelter than it’s ever had before. And this month they’re offering a number of financial incentives to reduce what has always been an abundant population. Executive Director Cheryl Wickes says it’s a breed where an above-average number of owners don’t have them spayed or neutered…

click to listen to Cheryl Wickes

Wickes, who is also a longtime pitbull owner, says the dogs also have larger-than-average litter. She says anyone who adopts one this month, and encounters behavior problems, can be reimbursed, as part of the April “Adopt-A-Bull special from Sammie’s Friends…

click to listen to Cheryl Wickes

You can also get a $50 gift certificate toward boarding your pitbull at Empire Kennels, should you need to. Also…a free vet check, bath and toe trim at River Dogs, and bag of dog food. And if you take advantage of free spaying or neutering being offered by a participating veterinarian in Grass Valley this month, you can also enter a drawing to win $500. You must enter by next Monday. Sammie’s Friends does not euthanize its animals. Wickes says in the late 1990’s, about 16 to 17 million dogs and cats were euthanized in the U.S each year. It’s now down to about 2 million, but about 750,000 are pitbulls.