In a time where discrimination is a controversial and dangerous topic, millions of loving family members are being killed in the US every year, based solely on physical appearance. From household heroes to feared monsters, the history of the American Pit Bull terrier has followed an agonizing descent. During World War I, the Pit Bull was an American hero, accompanying soldiers on the field and starring on propaganda posters; a Pit Bull even holds the standing for most decorated war dog in history, while yet another Pit Bull holds more working titles than any other dog. The American Pit Bull terrier is an inherently people friendly dog that has become the victim of a hysterical and manipulative media, and as such has been euthanized by the millions.

The Pit Bull Terrier first originated during the nineteenth century, where breeders in England, Ireland, and Scotland began mixing bulldogs and terriers to create a unique breed with the strength of a mastiff and the hunting instincts of a terrier. The first Pit Bulls originated in England, where they were used for bull baiting and dog fighting. Pit Bulls were exclusively chosen for non-aggression towards humans, since an attack against a human disqualified the dog. Because of this, the American Pit Bull terrier is a highly intelligent and level headed dog, known for its strong loyalty toward humans. The Pit Bull was often called the ‘nanny dog’ for its great disposition with children, as seen in Petey from the Little Rascals. For several centuries, the Pit Bull has played an important role in family households, including Teddy Roosevelt’s and Helen Keller’s. Midway through the twentieth century the public perception of the Pit Bull began to change, but ironically it is not the breed’s temperament that has been the its undoing, but rather the breed’s loyalty and willingness to protect its family to the death.

Because of the Pit Bulls’ devotion and drive to please, along with a high tolerance to pain, Pits have become an easily manipulated breed. Due to such endearing traits, the American Pit Bull has become the most popular fighting breed in the USA. Dog fighting is illegal in all fifty states, yet the legal consequences are not strong enough to deter fighting; tens of thousands of dollars can easily be made in just one night on the sidelines of a fighting ring. Additionally, it is not illegal in most states to breed and train a dog for aggression or fighting, which may be the reason that dog fighting has become one of the fastest growing underground activities in both suburban and rural communities. It is unfortunate that through the advent of dog fighting and irresponsible owners, a single breed has become the symbol of so much fear and hatred, an image perpetuated by a biased media.

In December of 2006 the media widely reported that a “pit bull puppy” had chewed the toes off a month old baby left in a child carrier. Announcers across the US broadcasted that a “pit bull mauled a child”, while Nancy Grace of CNN stated, “the dog was running free eating the baby`s feet….Why do we hear a story every other day about a pit bull eating a baby, why? Why would you have a pit bull?” The story aired to great success, until an analysis of the bite marks revealed the real culprit to be the family’s pet ferret. In Missouri, the news media reported that a young girl walking to school was viciously attacked by two Pit Bulls. Later analysis of the photo taken at the time of the attack revealed that at least one dog was not a pit bull or Pit Bull mix. Upon hearing the dissent, the newspaper removed the photo and continued reporting the event as a Pit Bull attack.

Due to the negative connotation the media has given the Pit Bull name, many breed specific legislations (BSLs) have arisen across the country. Breed bans single out dogs based on features, not individual temperaments or backgrounds. Most BSLs focus on Pit Bulls, a specification which is deemed unconstitutionally vague and subjective by many, because it is arbitrary to describe particular breeds as “vicious” without substantial evidence. Yet, many states ignore such facts. In the enactment of breed specific legislations, most cities require that all Pit Bulls or Pit Bull mixes be euthanized, regardless of whether they are in a loving home or not.

In the Ohio case of Toledo v. Tellings , the dog warden responsible for seizing and euthanizing Pit Bulls testified that if a dog was 50% Pit Bull, but didn’t resemble a Pit, then the dog was not considered a Pit Bull. Yet, if a dog looked like a Pit Bull, regardless of breed, then it was considered a Pit Bull.It has been estimated that over twenty different breeds have been mistaken for Pit Bulls, a mistake which is often fatal for the dog in question. The Tellings appeals court later noted, “Criminal charges have likely been brought based on purely individual and speculative decisions on whether the jaw of a dog is ‘massive’ enough or the chest is muscular enough or the brow is broad enough to be designated as a ‘Pit Bull.’” Yet, even after the Tellings case, the Ohio Supreme Court has upheld the Ohio laws defining Pit Bulls as “vicious dogs”.

Several cities have enacted bans on the American Pit Bull Terrier, each varying in success. In Prince George’s County, Maryland, a Pit Bull ban was enacted from 2001 to 2002, the expenditure of which was estimated to have cost the county at least $560,000. Animal control reported that of the 900 Pit Bulls euthanized during the year, 720 were found to have been nice family pets. In 2004, during Denver Colorado’s on and off again Pit Bull ban, the Strain family’s two Pit Bulls, Tiger and Hershy, were euthanized after being driven back into city limits to follow up on a veterinary visit for injuries caused during an initial seizure by animal control. The two young Pit Bulls had no history of violence and had never run off. In the case of Tiger and Hershy, the murders were the product of an ignorant legislation and a vengeful neighbor, taking out a personal vendetta with the strains on their beloved pets.

In the UK, a study illustrated that as many dog bites occurred over two years after a BSL was passed as there had been before. In most cities considering Pit Bull bans, Pit Bulls are only found to be responsible for eight percent of all bites, yet legislators are normally willing to ignore the other ninety-two percent of breeds involved. During the 2006 Tellings appeal, a Toledo Humane Society cruelty investigator testified that “pit bulls which have not been trained to be aggressive are highly obedient, eager-to-please, good family pets,” and that Pit Bulls taken into his shelter did not require special cages or treatment, and were adopted without problems. The investigator stated that he had never been bitten by a Pit Bull and didn’t find them to be ‘vicious’ in comparison to other breeds. It is obvious that breed bans do not work, as simply banning a single breed only leads to another breed, such as Shepherds or Rottweilers, becoming the “bad” dog.

In light of recent proposals, why have legislators not placed bans on Chows, German Shepherds, Poodles, or Golden Retrievers? All of these breeds face more annual charges reported to the authorities regarding severe bites to humans, than do Pit Bulls. What about the Dachshund, Chihuahua, Jack Russell Terrier, Australian Cattle-dog, Cocker Spaniel, or Beagle? According to the journal of Applied Animal Behaviour Science, all of these dogs (in order) have the highest rates of aggressive attacks on humans. Do they slip by because they are small and rarely cause serious injury? That is hardly fair reasoning to spare one life yet condemn another. Even in the event of a Pit Bull attack, the Pit Bull Registry states that the odds of being killed by a Pit Bull are one in 145 million, while the National Canine Research Council stated that, “no single neutered household pet Pit Bull has ever killed anyone.”

Breed specific legislations are gross discriminations against misunderstood breeds. As the Pit Bull Registry states, “not all pit bulls are dangerous. Pit Bulls are not naturally human aggressive. The majority of attacks on humans reported to be by Pit Bulls are made in error through misidentification of the breed or through the wrongful lumping of mixed breeds in with reported bite statistics.” During the 2006 Tellings appeal, the Ohio court found “many of the beliefs and ‘myths’ about pit bulls to be simply untrue and unsupported by now accepted scientific, genetic, medical, or canine behavior principles… Despite the Pit Bull’s reputation for body strength, its musculature is no different than other strong, well muscled dogs, such as St Bernards, Bull Mastiffs, Rottweilers, and Malamutes…After considering all the evidence before it, the trial court agreed, finding that Pit Bulls, as a breed, are not more dangerous than other breeds.” In a society that is attempting the extermination of a single breed -based on inaccurate evidence, people need to be aware of what is true and what is myth.