The Bryan & Amanda Bickell Foundation works to create a positive cycle of awareness through "pit bull" type dogs that were once the victims of neglect, abuse, or abandonment. These dogs are often misunderstood and mistreated as a result of their name. We work to promote these dogs for adoption or to aid in their rescue through our Bick's "Pit" program. We also work to educate the public about "pit bulls" while providing services to low-income "pit bull" owners through our Chicago Loves "Pits" program. By working with "pit bulls" who are rescued or adopted and have overcome abuse or bullying, we then focus on promoting the human-animal bond by bringing certified therapy "pit bulls" together with children who are victims of abuse through our Paws for Strength program. Lastly, we work with children who are victims of bullying to teach kindness and compassion through "pit bulls" as part of our Bullies Against Bullying program. The Foundation works to create a cycle of positivity sparked by compassion for the dogs we love so much.
Our newest program, launched in 2017, is our MS Service Dog program. We will be providing, free of charge, fully trained service dogs to individuals living with MS. Each dog will be specifically trained for the individual that it is going to serve. The process takes approximately one year and typical service dogs can cost upwards of $25,000.