Puppy Love

How a burlesque queen set out to save Philly's pit bulls.

by Natalie Hope McDonald

Shannon Brooke SEX SELLS: "By doing the pinup theme, it forces people to pay attention," says Deirdre Franklin (pictured), founder of Pinups for Pitbulls.

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Deirdre Franklin first fell in love with pit bulls more than a decade ago, when she was volunteering at Morris Animal Refuge on Lombard Street. While trying to save a dog that had been used for breeding and then abandoned on the streets of Philly from being euthanized, she was devastated to uncover Morris' strict kill-only policy for pit bulls. No exceptions.

"She was very friendly and sweet," says Franklin. "I was desperate to save her." But despite intervention from pit-bull rescues from around the country, not to mention Franklin's own dire pleas, Morris denied her adoption request and euthanized the dog, a practice that's still carried out today.

The experience was a major turning point. Franklin, perhaps better known as Little Darling, a burlesque performer with Philly's soon-to-be-disbanded Hellcat Girls, left the shelter to create Pinups for Pitbulls, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing pit bulls and educating the public about what she says is a very misunderstood breed.

"It all started as a small idea," admits Franklin, who began raising money by selling hoodies, T-shirts and calendars featuring pinup girls and their pups. The 2010 calendar, $20, features the best of more than 90 submissions from around the country pairing cover girls dolled up in sexy retrowear with pit bulls, many in need of homes. All proceeds benefit rescues in the tri-state region and beyond. "By doing the pinup theme," says Franklin, "it forces people to pay attention."

Each week on the Pinups Web site, Franklin features new "Adoptabulls," like Eve, a black-and-white pit bull that has graduated from the "Perfect Pittie" obedience class. She also shares stories about Carla Lou, the fawn pit bull she adopted 13 years ago, in her online diary. "She had been left for dead in a basement in Texas," says Franklin, who recently celebrated the dog's 14th birthday.

The concept is catching on. "We have a global network, with people who want to start chapters in Israel, Spain and the Netherlands," she says. And next year, Pinups will be featured on Animal Planet.

This Sunday, locals can learn more about Pinups for Pitbulls during an all-day, all-ages event followed by an adult evening of burlesque, where featured performers will include fellow Hellcat Girls' Candy Mayhem and D'Arcy Delux, as well as the Olde City Sideshow. Local retailers like Chic Petique and shelters including Philly PAWS will also be there, with gifts and dogs up for adoption in tow.

Franklin believes there's never been a better time to bring attention to pit bull adoption and abuse, especially in light of convicted dogfighter Michael Vick's recruitment to the Philadelphia Eagles. "At first I took it as a personal attack," she says. "But people are starting to realize maybe it's not these dogs that are the problem, but that they're put in these situations. And it's not their fault."

(editorial@citypaper.net)

Sun., Oct. 25, 2-6 p.m., free; 6 p.m.-1 a.m., $15-$30; Cheerleaders Gentlemen's Club, 2740 S. Front St., 215-467-1980, pinupsforpitbulls.com.