Pit Bulls have been around since the early 1800s in the United Kingdom. Pit Bulls were originally created from Old English Bulldogs (these dogs are similar in look to today's American Bulldog) who earned their popularity on the British Isles in a horrific blood sport known as "bullfighting". One to two Bulldogs were trained to attack a bull for hours until it fell from stress, injuries, or both. These games were conducted for the enjoyment of the working classes, as a form of relief from the routine of struggle.
Eventually, in 1835, the British Parliament passed the
Protection to Animals Act, which banned the baiting of some animals, such as
the bull and bears. Once bull and bear baiting was banned, the people turned
their attention to "ratting". This activity placed dogs against rats
and timed them to see whose dog could kill the most rats in the shortest amount
of time. The "pit" in Pit Bull derives from ratting when rats were
placed in a pit so they cannot really escape. Finally, the public focused on
dog fighting since it was more easily hidden from view and hence the law. So
Bulldogs were mixed with Shepherds to create "Bull and Terriers,"
often known as the original Pit Bull Terrier.
Despite their strength and commitment in war, common people
raised pit bulls with some of the same characteristics and traits that we still
admire today. Bite sensitivity against people was improved considerably by
selective breeding and culling. Gambling addicts have to be satisfied that they
could enter a pit and handle their dogs in immediate contact without getting
bitten. If a dog bit a person, it was usually killed. Immigrants from the
British Isles came to the United States just before the Civil War, carrying
their Pit Bulls with them. During this time, the Pit Bull Dog was called the
"American" Pit Bull Dog. Denying the reality that these dogs were
growing to form for battle, they quickly became a much larger and more crucial
fixture in a developing country. These frontier animals had many tasks in early
America. They were responsible for herding cows, and sheep, guarding property and households
against robbers and wild animals, aiding in hunting, and acting as hog hunters.
Their loyal and caring behavior with people, especially kids (thus the
"Baby sitter Dog" story), won them an important role not just as a
service dogs but also as a pet.
Throughout
the early decade of the twentieth century, Pit Bulls were a popular part of
American society. Fighting dogs lost popularity with the general public, who
came to regard them as able-to-work friends. The USA loved this breed for
qualities that it liked in itself; friendly, brave, hardworking, and worthy of
respect and they became, the "All American Dog". During WWI and WWII,
Pit Bulls served as the nation's symbol. All through the battle, their image of
courage and dedication was promoted in advertisements. Sergeant Stubby was the
best-known of the early war dogs. Sergeant Stubby was the most honored war dog
of WWI, and he was the only dog to be nominated for the position and then
promoted to sergeant through battle. He was on the front lines for 18 months,
fighting in 17 fights and four operations. Sergeant Stubby is just one of many
Pit Bulls that have served their nation in times of war. More amazing war dogs
may be found here!
Aside
from their achievements during WWII, Pit Bulls became America's favorite.
Famous in commercial commercials and products, corporation logos, and popular
television series. Petey, the lovely ring-eyed cute seen on The Little Rascals,
was possibly the most well-known Pit Bull. Pit bulls were also famous among leaders,
scholars, and artists. Pit bulls were friends of Hellen Keller, Roosevelt,
Thomas Edison, Mark Twain, and Humphrey Bogart.
Pit
Bulls have become more popular as "regular dogs" after WWII. They
earned no more or less attention than any other breed. Secret warfare had to
have happened, although it seemed to be a small portion. The great majority of
American Pit Bulls were employed for herds, hunting, or protection, although
the majority were raised and kept mostly as friends.
So, what really transformed?
Congress
revised the Animal Protection Act of 1966 in 1976, among other issues, to
address dog fighting. This game-changing system created dogfighting illegal in
all 50 states. Dogfighting is now illegal in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. Ownership of
dogs for the purpose of fighting is also a criminal violation in most states.
Watching a dogfight is also illegal in all states except Montana and Hawaii.
Sadly, when an act is made illegal, it often attracts the attention of
criminals.
When
dogfighting returned in the 1980s, animal rights activists focused their
efforts on the horrific, brutal, and illegal blood sport. As an unexpected and
tragic result of this new movement, some people started to seek out Pit Bulls
for illegal purposes. The drug trade began to try to mould these dogs into a
pattern they never were meant to fit. The type that was originally created to
treat every stranger as though they were a long-lost friend was now used as
protection and security dogs and fought in secret fighting rings. Because of
the demand for pit bulls, many people started breeding their own dogs without
concern for personality or training, with the intention of making a profit
rather than providing a caring home. Pit Bulls quickly became connected with
poverty, "urban thugs," and crime. Instead of family members and
friends, they were viewed as money-making products.
While
there is no single turning point to point to and say, "Here is where it
all went wrong," many people point to 1987, when a Time Magazine cover
story called "The Pit Bull Friend and Killer" was released. The All
American Dog started to be abused to new lows, thanks in large part to the
press, and typical images like what was seen on the famous magazine cover
issue, "Beware this Dog," seemed only to confirm for the public that
these dogs were to be hated and should not live in homes. Criminals see pit
bulls as goods to be robbed. rejected and now seen as a risk by the public,
began to fill prisons at an astonishing rate. The media's image and
demonization of the pit bull cleared the way for the adoption of breed-specific
laws. (The first recorded city to pass BSL was Hollywood, FL, in 1980.) It
started to appear in a few areas when clever politicians began to use dogs as a
policy program.
Although
media sources were successful in creating fear of pit bulls, a big change of
events happened, although caused by one of the most horrific acts. Michael
Vick's Bad Newz Kennels were founded in 2007, and Pit Bulls were addressed as
individuals for the first time. When pit bulls were deemed unreadable, they
were frequently killed. Several groups, including Best Friends Animal Society
and Bad Rap, took a risk on these dogs and found that almost all of them (48
out of 51) could be placed in foster homes or rehomed. When the Victory Dogs
appeared as happy, loving members of society, the media really could not help
but take a new look at pit bull-type dogs, and the public happily accepted
their stories of recovery. And if these fighting dogs can be cured, what about
the rest of the dogs that were given a poor hand or ended up in shelters?
Sports
Illustrated came to show us a new face of the dog, one that inspires respect
and even wonders from a re-educated society, twenty years after the breed got
its first major PR blow in the media.
Now,
Pit Bull type dogs are receiving a growing number of favorable media attention,
thanks in large part to educational and activist organizations working to
present an honest picture of these dogs. They are loved and owned by several
celebrities, including Jessica Biel, Jon Stewart, Rachel Ray, Jennifer
Aniston, and many more! They can be seen in the dog show, various dog sports
such as agility and weight pulling, and police work such as drug
tracking. search and rescue, the military services, such as guide dogs, in
our homes, and service animals, such as LOVE-A-Pit Bull's Crew, are trying to
reach out and offer comfort to individuals in care facilities, children's
hospitals, vet courses, women's shelters, and so on.
Pit Bulls are regained their title as the All-American Dog!
