CORNING - Second Chance Pet Rescue has a Pit Bull Ambassador program at the animal shelter in Corning. They know that "pit" bull terriers have a bad rap and want to make a difference in how this breed is viewed in the public eye.

All the pit bulls adopted out of the shelter in Corning must be certified for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test. Second Chance would like to extend this certification to 30 pit bulls in Tehama County.

The Canine Good Citizen test assures that your pit bull is under control and is a good "citizen" in the community. There are 10 items that must be passed to achieve the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification. These are:

. Accept a friendly stranger

Sit politely for petting

Appearance and grooming

Out for a walk

Walk through a crowd

Sit and down on command/staying in place

Come when called

Reaction to another dog

Reactions to distractions

Supervised separation

The test will be performed by AKC evaluator Deborah Eaglebarger

and will be free to the first 30 pit bull owners.

"Do you want your dog to pass these items but need guidance in achieving them?" Eaglebarger asked. "We will help you with that."

Depending on initial evaluation, Eaglebarger will ascertain what additional training or preparation your pit bull needs to pass the test. If the needs are excessive, a nominal fee, up to $20, will be charged for preparation. In most cases, the fee may be waived for this training.

"Pit bulls are such a fabulous family pet. They are just not a dog's dog and thus the bad rap," Eaglebarger said. "I've attended some great trainings on pit bulls and their characteristics and want to do what I can to dispel the myths that pit bulls currently carry with them."

But not every pit bull has a sound temperament and not every home is pit bull savvy. Extensive literature is available at the Corning Animal Shelter for people who want to know more about pit bulls and what kind of dog they really are.

"We want to eradicate the myths that are associated with pit bulls, but we are quick to point out an unsound pit bull," Eaglebarger said. "Unsound and incorrect temperament pit bulls should not be allowed in the community. It's a tough call, but one unsound dog can turn a whole community against the entire breed."

The test itself takes about 15 minutes. For those homes where insurance is an issue, having an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate can help.

Anyone interested in having their pit bull evaluated and take part in the AKC Canine Good Citizen test can reach Debbie Eaglebarger at Second Chance Pet Rescue at 824-1985.