Here is a bit of knowledge that is hard to swallow. Over 1.2 million dogs are euthanized in shelters across the country, according to the ASPCA. Of course, it is impossible to know how many of these dogs are Pit Bulls. The best guess is 800,000 to 1 million according to Tom Junod. He recently wrote a cover story for Esquire magazine and is quoted as saying: “We kill anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 Pit Bulls a day. They are rising simultaneously in popularity and disposability, becoming something truly America, a popular dog forever poised on the brink of extermination.”
Origins
Did you know that before the mid 1980’s there were virtually no stories of Pit Bull attacks? And surprisingly enough there is still quite a bit of confusion over exactly which breed of dog is a Pit Bull. The definition includes the American Pit Bull terrier, the Staffordshire terrier and sometimes the Bulldog. The discussion over the origins of pit bulls is still disagreed upon by canine experts.
There are a couple of mainstream theories about where the breed began. One theory suggests that they began as breed called Molossus. The Molossus is a long extinct breed that was primarily used by the Greeks as shepherd and guard dogs. They would even march into battle right along their humans in times of war. Overtime, the breed made its way to Britain where it became known as the Mastiff. The Romans defeated the Britons during the first century CE (the common era), and the breed quickly spread all over the Roman Empire. Eventually the breed spread all over Europe and intermixed with various breeds, thus becoming the forerunners for the modern-day Pit Bull.
Another equally compelling theory is that the Pit Bull originated in England in the times of the Norman Conquests of 1066 when butchers would use large Mastiff-type dogs as “bullenbeissers”, which translates as “bull biter”. I was most surprised to find out what these dogs were originally trained to do……. They were trained to latch on to the nose of a bull that was out of control until the bull became subdued. As we all know, money is the root of all evil and has been shown to be true since the beginning of currency throughout written history. So, what does mankind do but go and put the dogs into a pit with an intentionally riled-up bull and spectators would place bets on which dog would hold on the longest or bring down the bull. Thus, leading to the names Pit Bull Dogs or Bull Dogs.
Throughout the first half of the of the 20th Century, Pit Bulls were looked upon as America’s favorite breed. They were used in numerous advertisements, army recruitment posters, stars of short films and even mascots. Literally there in only one dog attack story to make national papers regarding a Pit Bull attack from 1900 to 1980.
Evolution of Perception
Less than a decade later the perception of the Pit Bull had done a 180. Why? What changed? Despite being illegal in all fifty states, dog fighting made a big comeback in the 1980’s and the Pit Bull was the shining star of the sport. So many pits were breed or trained into aggressive fighting dogs. Gangs and drug dealers made the pit bull breed their watchdogs. This created the stigma that the breed was affiliated mostly with these “gangbangers”. And the icing on the cake was the highly publicized attack in 1987 in which a Pit Bull guarding a marijuana crop in California mauled and killed a two-and-a-half-year-old child. The damage to the breed was done. That attack “sealed the deal” for this breed.
Times are a changing though, and this breed’s popularity is back on the rise. However, every time we think we’ve made some headway towards acceptance of the Pit Bull, we take a step back. I’m located in Florida and there is legislation awaiting approval to overturn breed-specific bans. However, in Wisconsin they are trying to pass breed-specific laws. There is one important thing to remember regarding Pit Bulls or any breed for that matter: THE DOG IS NOT THE PROBLEM; THE HUMANS THAT MISUSE THEM ARE THE PROBLEM.
I personally can attest to the idea that Pit Bulls are so loving and loyal. My family has had various breeds throughout the years and currently we have a couple of pits. Kena is a 12-year-old blue brindle pit and she is the biggest sweetest baby on the planet. She has always been very loyal and protective around my nephews from infancy and on. She has truly been a blessing to my family and when her time comes, we will greatly miss her.
For hundreds of years, holding the owners responsible for their dog actions was enough to prevent attacks. Thus, the breed was perceived as a child-friendly breed. And trust me, they really are. Re-educating the public on the benefits and positive aspects of the Pit Bull is the only way we can restore and rehabilitate their reputation and once again make this dog the iconic American treasure they once were.