Ed

Not A Dangerous Breed, An American Icon. 🐾❤️ The American Pit Bull Terrier represents strength, loyalty, courage, and unconditional love. These dogs deserve to be judged by their actions, not by fear, stereotypes, or headlines. They’re not monsters. They’re not villains 🇺🇸🐾

The American Pit Bull Terrier of the early 20th Century was known as "America's Dog" the family dog. They were considered American Icons. They were part of our military since the civil war. They graced the cover of Life Magazine more than any other breed. They are used as therapy dogs, service dogs emotional support dogs as well as excelling at search and rescue. So what happened did pit bulls suddenly change no, we did. We turned on our best friends out of fear and ignorance. They are still the same dogs they always were but the media, hate groups and weak kneed politicians began calling on them to be banned and killed sayin g they are dangerous when all the facts and science disprove what they say. There are peer reviewed studies and reputable organizations such as AVMA, CDC, ASPCA, HSUS as well as others that have all concluded, there is no such thing as a dangerous breed. I also know this personally having worked with them for almost 14 years now. All the people condemning them for the most part have never even been around a pit bull. So who are you going to believe? The good news is people are coming to their senses. Since 2012 over 300 cities have repealed their breed bans and 22 states have banned BSL altogether. The tide is turning for the American Pit Bull Terrier so that one day they can once again claim their rightful title as America's Dog!

What is a pit bull? Now there's a loaded question! In the almost 14 years I've been working with and have had the privilege of having as family members, pit bulls, one thing is clear. Most people can't agree on what exactly a pit bull is. On the one side you have the people that say the only real pit bull is the American Pit Bull Terrier. Within that group you have a percentage that say if it isn't bred with "gameness" it isn't an APBT. Then of course you have the umbrella term side that says there is no pit bull breed it is a term that covers several different breeds. The problem with this umbrella it seems to keep growing. I had one lady on this page swear there were 15 different breeds that were considered pit bulls and another that insisted there were 25. Then of course on the BSL side, which I believe is where all this umbrella nonsense started. They have included just about any dog that has a blocky head and wide body. The Umbrella term really has gotten totally out of control. Now you cannot say pit bull isn't a breed because the American Pit Bull Terrier is in fact, A BREED! Now I know this will not change a lot of minds but here is the truth as I see it after studying them for so long. The first pit bull was developed in 1835 in answer to the ban on bull baiting. Breeders started breeding the now extinct Old English Bulldog with different terrier breeds including the Manchester Terrier, Black and Tan Terrier, and also the now extinct White Terrier. They created the first pit bull, the Bull and Terrier. Out of this original pit bull three breeds were created, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, and the breed that was to become the American Pit Bull Terrier. In 1936 the AKC accepted the first of the APBT's and changed the name to Staffordshire Terrier at the time which in 1972 became American Staffordshire Terrier after the AKC accepted the Staffy. So now you have 4 breeds that are direct descendants of the original Bull and Terrier. Now the Bull Terrier has not been used as a fighting dog since early on which leaves us with three breeds that were actually used as fighting dogs, the APBT, AmStaff and Staffy. These all can all be considered pit bull breeds. All the others mentioned as "pit bull type" dogs (that term drives me crazy) are not. Now you can argue if you want between which of these three breeds can be called a pit bull since they have all been used in the pit at one time or another but, any and all other breeds are not and have never been pit bulls, period end of story. So you can take your umbrella fold it up and stick it in a closet somewhere. These are the facts and they are undisputed

Did you know pit bulls were used during the civil war? Sallie was a mascot for the Union's 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. She was given to a lieutenant when she was 4 weeks old while they were training in West Chester, PA. She participated in morning roll calls, and lined up for drill practice with the soldiers. and marched for review for President Abraham Lincoln. Sallie was with her regiment during battles at Antietam, Gettysburg, and Fredericksburg on the front lines. During the heated battle at Gettysburg she was separated from her regiment. She was found 3 days later still guarding the dead and wounded on the battlefield. Tragically Sallie was struck and killed by a bullet and died instantly at the battle of Hatchers Run in February 1865. A statue was built for her at the 11th Pennsylvania regiment monument in Gettysburg. Where she is depicted resting. That is in the photo you see below. Dog Jack was a famous Pit Bull Terrier mascot for the 102nd Pennsylvania infantry. He was found as a stray at a Pittsburgh fire station with a broken leg. He stood on the front lines, barked at enemy soldiers, and even responded to bugle calls. He also helped in the search for injured soldiers on the battlefield. Amazingly he was captured twice by confederate soldiers and held in prison camps. Once he was even exchanged for a human POW. He disappeared in Maryland in December 1864 and was never found. He was honored with a portrait which is hanging in the Pittsburgh's Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum These are just a couple of examples of the brave and loyal pit bulls that served and died for our country. When you have this kind of history you deserve respect and dignity, not to be banned and disrespected as dangerous beasts. These are the facts and they are undisputed. If you like this post share it to show other people what brave and loyal dogs they really are