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Salt Lake County Animal Shelter trainer Molly Janke holds, Ty, a pit bull puppy during a press conference announcing the county's "Bully Breed Program" at the shelter Friday. The program is aimed at training pit bull owners through the AKC Canine Good Citizen classes, for owners and their dogs, or the AKC STAR program for owners and their puppies.

Salt Lake County is launching a new program to train pit bulls and reduce the high number of the breed that are being euthanized in shelters.

Among dogs involved in the effort is Halle, one of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick's rescued pit bulls. The canine appeared at a Friday news conference at the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter, where the "Bully Breed Program" was announced.

The program's Canine Good Citizen classes show owners how to train and socialize their pets. The course is based on the premise that dog issues are really owner issues.

Shawni Larrabee, director of Salt Lake County Animal Services, says it's important to select breeds and individual dogs that match their owners' lifestyles.

In addition to the classes, pit bulls and pit bull mixes living in Salt Lake City, Herriman and unincorporated county areas are eligible for free spay and neuter services through the shelter.

Best Friends Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter that is rehabilitating 22 pit bulls once owned by Vick, applauds the effort. The Kanab group has its own national campaign called Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog.

"Pit bulls are the most misunderstood dogs in the country," Ed Fritz, campaign specialist for Best Friends, said in a news release. "We think that the program will not only help restore this dog's image, but also help create safer, more humane communities for both dogs and people."

Vick, who played with the Atlanta

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Falcons, was sentenced in December 2007 to serve 23 months in federal prison for his role in raising and training pit bulls for fighting. Losing dogs sometimes were hanged, drowned or electrocuted.

Vick is slated for release from house arrest on July 20.

pmanson@sltrib.com

The Bully Breed program is offering Shelter Dog AKC Canine Good Citizen classes for all dogs adopted at the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter. The classes also are open to owners of pit bulls and pit bull mixes in the community. Call 801-559-1136 to arrange to attend.