Program rehabs fighting canines

(NBC) - The Austin neighborhood in Chicago is a community defined by violence.

"You know, gang bangers, drug dealers," said Shawn Moore, former dog fighter.

In 2008, there were more murders there than anywhere else in the city, and some said more dog fights that anywhere else in the nation.

"Chicago has been ground zero for many of the problems we have seen for pit bulls," said Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States.

But slowly, a new picture is emerging.

"These pit bulls in the neighborhood is equivalent to a gun," said Moore.

Moore said they have the potential to be just a deadly. He fought pit bulls on Chicago's West Side for more than 10 years.

"I did all the bad things that dog fighters have done in their lifetime," said Moore.

Now, he is trying to go some good, as part of a program sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, he reaches out to at-risk dogs and their owners by leading them to the pit bull training team.

Every weekend, a parade of pit bulls lines the walls outside the Carroll Care Community Center.

"She just needs to figure out that only good stuff happens in here," said Jeff Jenkins, lead trainer of the pit bull training team.

Jenkins is the conductor of a symphony of yelps and growls.

"All she's thinking about doing is picking fights right now," said Jenkins. "And, trust me, you don't want any part of that dog."

Providing the dogs and their owners a controlled and disciplined alternative to fighting. While the focus is clearly on the dogs during class, this program is also changing the actions and attitudes of their owners and in-turn, ultimately the entire neighborhood. Even if it is a long and difficult process.

"You know, it's gonna take time; it takes time," said Moore. "Ain't trying to build Rome in a day, or end dog fighting in a day."

But then, patience might be the most important part of teaching an old dog new tricks.

Atlanta and Charlotte are other cities the Humane Society has targeted with pit bull training teams as a part of the program. They also provides dog food, leashes, shots and registration fees for those who participate.