For the second year in a row, the Blackwood-based company Transylvania Concrete Coatings (TCC) has sponsored October’s Pit Bull Awareness Month at the Animal Welfare Association (AWA) in Voorhees.
Last year, TCC sponsored a pit bull named Truffles by paying for her medical expenses throughout October. Truffles was later adopted by an employee and became the official company dog.
This year, TCC sponsored a 2-year-old pitbull-terrier mix named Banes who was rescued from August’s Hurricane Ida in Louisiana. The animal was adopted a few days before the end of October, when TCC associates paid a visit to the AWA to see the newly installed floors they helped create up close.
In a press release, Hoffman explained some of the misconceptions people have about pit bulls.
“Many people are fearful of pit bull breeds more than any other type of dog,” she noted. “We thought Pit Bull Awareness Month would be an excellent time to change some misconceptions and help people explore where humans let down these amazing dogs and change their gut reaction to the word pit bull.”
Throughout October, AWA and TCC worked together to disseminate facts about pit bulls, and company founder Bogdan “Bob” Pop shared his own story of how the canine Captain personally changed how he, his family and friends viewed pit bulls.
“The most common stereotypes are that pit bulls have the strongest bite, a locking jaw, are fighting dogs and do not like other animals or children,” AWA wrote in a statement.
“Contrary to these beliefs, pit bulls consistently achieve excellent temperament scores and a number of breeds have stronger bites.”
Becky Henry, social media marketing coordinator for TCC, explained that the company’s partnership with the AWA was led by Pop, who had his pit bull for 10 years before the animal’s death from cancer in 2018.
“(Pop) really wanted to do something to give back to the community, and he thought this would be a good way to do it, to find some shelters and donate services,” Henry noted.
In addition to sponsoring Banes, TCC has worked with AWA since July to install 22,800 square feet of new flooring in the AWA’s Adoption and Education Center at a discounted price.
Henry added that the concrete coatings TCC provides are a good fit for a kennel because “they’re waterproof, durable, antimicrobial and antibacterial.”
“It doesn’t stain, it won’t smell, none of that,” she said. “It’s going to be really easy for them to keep those floors clean.
“ … Between our floors and this ventilation system they have,” Henry added, “it should keep the place smelling fresh. It’ll be much cleaner and healthier for the animals.”
The Adoption and Education Center is still under construction and is expected to open in early 2022.
To learn about the new center, visit https://www.awanj.org/capital-campaign/.
To stay up to date with Transylvania Concrete Coatings, visit https://www.facebook.com/TransylvaniaConcreteCoatings.
