Who's a good dog

Rock-A-Bully event sets out to prove that pit bulls aren't so bad

Every dog has its day, and for pit bulls, that day will be Sunday, November 4, when a dog-happy event called Rock-A-Bully takes place at Sue Ellen's. Pit bulls are welcome to attend, and there'll be a guest appearance by Shorty Rossi, star of the Animal Planet reality TV series Pit Boss.

Organizer Mia Bissette, well-known in the animal-rescue community as an advocate who owns and fosters pit bulls herself, created the fundraiser in 2011 to show the public that pit bulls are not innately dangerous.

"We want to educate people about how misunderstood and mistreated this breed is," Bissette says.

"We want to stress the importance of adopting instead of breeding," says Rock-A-Bully founder Mia Bissette.

Pit bulls have become vilified in the past 20 years in the wake of heavily reported stories in which the dogs have attacked and sometimes killed humans. Because of their physical strength, the dogs are the favorite breed for illegal dog-fighting and are often used as guard dogs. Opponents say that they're aggressive, while advocates say that it's all a matter of training.

"We want to stress the importance of adopting instead of breeding," Bissette says. "Shelters are full of wonderful pit bulls, and many rescue groups won't even take them because of the negative stereotypes. Our goal is to raise funds for the three rescue groups in Dallas – Dog Star Pit Bull Rescue, Animal Rescue of Texas and DFW Rescue Me – who welcome pit bull-type breeds with open arms."

The event will also include raffles, pet demos and live music by Barefoot Hippies, KickBack, Bandmates, Mojo Dolls and The Catdaddies.

Rossi, whose reality TV series Pit Boss airs on Saturday nights, will be at the event with his own pit bull, Hercules, in tow. He'll speak about breed specific legislation, which makes it a crime to own a pit bull within designated city limits.

Rossi is also the owner Shorty’s Pit Bull Rescue, which rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes pit bulls into loving, nurturing environments. In addition to his hands-on work with pit bulls, he works to help restore the reputation of pit bulls through education, activism and positive pit bull involvement in the community.

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Convention Center News

Dallas City Council drops $142 million for convention center re-do

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center has opened as a warming center in Dallas.

Courtesy photo

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The Dallas Convention Center got a big infusion of cash for its imminent makeover. According to a release, the Dallas City Council awarded more than $187 million in contracts for construction projects in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD) Master Plan.

The contracts are as follows:

$141.5 million contract to Perkins&Will and Populous for architectural, engineering, and design services for the Convention Center Expansion West of Lamar (Component 1)
$42 million in city contributions and $31 million in federal funding, including $20 million from the Reconnecting Communities grant program awarded through a partnership with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). This funding will be used to construct the foundations for three deck caps, as well as the capping and foundation of the Lamar crossing, near the KBHCCD.
$3.7 million to Metropolitan Infrastructure, PLLC, a Dallas-based M/WBE firm to oversee the renovation of Pioneer Plaza and Cemetery.

Convention and Event Services is leading a team of architects, engineers, and other contractors to design a Convention Center district from Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station to Old City Park that will connect surrounding communities, meet convention attendees’ evolving needs.

"The City Council has made a transformational investment to realize the vision for a reimagined Convention Center district,” said Interim City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “The local and global expertise of our project partners will be instrumental in creating a facility that not only meets current and future convention demands but connects the surrounding residential community and serves downtown workers, benefitting Dallas economic growth and social vibrancy for generations."

With more than 40 conventions booked in the facility scheduled to open in 2029, the new KBHCCD expansion plans include
800,000 square feet of Exhibit Hall space 170,000 square feet of Ballroom space, including a 100,000-square-foot largest ballroom 100,000 square feet of Meeting Rooms and 2,000 parking spaces.