PHOTOS: BIGGIES BULLIES

Biggie’s Bullies, the Pittsburgh-based pit bull rescue organization, is turning ten and celebrating on Saturday, April 17, with an event at its new headquarters in the South Side Slopes.

Biggie’s Bullies is a 100% volunteer-run, foster home-based rescue. Since opening in 2011, volunteers have rescued and rehomed more than 120 pit bull-type dogs.

“When I was 21 I worked at the local shelter and there was just simply a need to get dogs out of shelters,” says founder Alli Stetz. “My biggest thing was getting those dogs out of that situation and putting them in foster homes where they were more invited to be themselves and not in such a stressed out situation.”

Besides rescuing dogs, the charitable organization has also created programs like Hungry Hippo’s Pet Food Pantry and the Freedom Harness Exchange program. During the pandemic, Biggie’s partnered with Pittsburgh Restaurant Workers Association to supply out-of-work restaurant workers with pet food. 

“We did about 15,000 pounds of dry food and 8,000 cans of wet food just in 2020 and that was just for workers that were out of work from restaurants or bars.” says Stetz. “We did about another 10,000 with people who just emailed us about food.”

To celebrate its new location, Biggie’s is hosting a sidewalk sale from noon to 4 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet some of the adoptable dogs and purchase merchandise to support the organization. The event will also have a Streets on the Fly Food Truck and the chance to pamper your own pup with a $10 nail trim from Courtney’s Dog Grooming.

More information can be found on the website biggiesbullies.com.