Isabella SchMuffin:
The media is flooded with stories of evil pitbulls. The news is only interested in terrifying tales of malicious dogs. Nobody talks about the thousands of good Samaritan pitbulls.
Pitbulls score 83.4% passing rate with the American temperament test society. They rank 4th out of 122 breeds. Theres about 7 different kinds of pitbulls; blue nose, red nose, American terrier, Staffordshire, British Staffordshire, American Staffordshire, and Staffordshire bull terrier. In the 19th century, England, Ireland, and Scotland experimented cross breeding bulldogs and terriers. They chose terriers for their gameness and bulldogs for their strength and athleticism. The pitbull was used to bait bears, bulls, lions, and monkeys.
They were also cattle dogs and catch dogs for pigs. Pitbulls were to pin and control bigger animals. In roman times they worshipped them as a form of Mithras the warrior god. The Irish version of pitbull was known as old family dog because they were considered perfect family pet, especially with children. They earned their keep as hunters, herders, guardians, and friends. In some places their even considered nanny dogs because their easily trained and predisposition to interact well with humans.
In 1835 people recognized they had feelings and took a stand to make the British government take notice. The British government banned bull-baiting. Pitbulls are eager to please, enthusiastic, willing to work, quick learners, obedient, smart, and need lots of exercise. They need positive exposure to people, children, and other animals at a very young age.
Mark twain featured a pitbull in a short book called The celebrated jumping frog of Calaveras County. Also a pitbull named nipper was in The little rascals.
They make excellent companions for humans. The government employed pitbulls for WWI and WWII, Sgt. Stubby was 26th in the Yankee division in France. He helped apprehend a German spy and was credited with saving lives of several soldiers in 1917. Pitbulls were extremely valuable on the battle field, carrying messages back and forth.
They are also used for search and rescue work. Government employed Popsicle, named #1 customs dog after many high profile drug busts. After WWII people started breeding irresponsibly. They were used to guard places of ill repute where drug deals were going on. This breed has experienced discrimination and misconceptions, myths of lock jaw, being vicious killers, and turning on people.
Pitbulls are commonly used as therapy and service dogs. Many famous people own pitbulls; Theodore Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Thomas Edison, Michael J. Fox, David Spade, Jon Stewart, Drew Barrymore, and Ken Howard.
Ken Howards pitbull; Shadow, saved his life once. Some other amazing pitbulls are; Weela she saved 29 dogs, 30 people, 13 horses, and 1 cat during a flood in California. Weezie saved his family from an armed intruder. Maya saved her owner from attack during a home invasion; she helped catch the perpetrator by retaining DNA on her fur. And Chief died after sustaining multiple bites while saving 2 women from a cobra.
My pitbulls are very friendly, loyal, and loving. My step-mom and I volunteer with Hugabull, they are a very helpful organization that saves mistreated, abandoned pitbulls.
It is true that pitbulls grab and hold on. But what they most often grab and refuse to let go of is your heart, not your arm. Vicki Hearne.