Four animal welfare groups are re-running a program aimed at encouraging responsible pit bull ownership, and discouraging the dogs' overpopulation and exploitation.

The Responsi-Bull Project will offer free pit bull spaying and neutering, classes on owning the dogs, and obedience classes.

"Despite their top-rated temperaments or their once-respected status, pit bulls have become the breed of choice for many irresponsible people, and consequently are flooding animal shelters," said Andrea Logan, one of the project coordinators. "An estimated one-third of dogs entering our shelters are pit bulls or pit bull mixes, and 90 percent of those dogs will not find a home."

Here's what the project offers:

=> Read more!

Opponents of the way Sound Transit plans to run Sounder rail tracks from the Tacoma Dome to South Tacoma have started a blog called Do It Right Tacoma.

Here's how they state their position: "Sound Transit is planning to build a rail line through Tacoma and their current plans are NOT GOOD for the future growth of Tacoma. We're very concerned that the plans affect future economic development, damage critical environmental areas, and will greatly affect quality of life and recreation needs of the area."

Here is a link to the blog.

Just got an e-mail from the City of Gig Harbor that says Mayor Chuck Hunter will lead a cleanup party Thursday at Jerisich Dock.

Spokeswoman Laureen Lund writes:

Jerisich doesn’t necessarily have a “history” but is definitely a very popular and well used dock and park so of course generates trash. At low tide you can see things stuck to the bottom that just are not supposed to be there!

This is Hunter's first cleanup party. He got the idea after noticing trash on the beach while standing on the dock, Laureen said.

The cleanup takes place from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The city is encouraging residents to attend and help.