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American Pit Bull Terrier: a Misunderstood Breed

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American Pit Bull Terrier: a Misunderstood Breed
It has long been known that dog has been man’s best friend. They are always there to greet you when you come home, they never complain about your cooking, and you never have to lend them money. What could be better? Many people have taken dogs into their home and made them part of the family. However, there is one breed that most Americans have turned their back on despite the loyalty and heroism they have proven throughout the ages, the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). The APBT is the most controversial and publicized dog in existence today. The breed transformed from war heroes to one of the most feared dogs in America. The APBT is not the cruelest breed, rather, they are the most misunderstood breed that has fallen victim to the most inhumane treatment by a society scared by the media. The APBT needs to be brought out of the shadows of fear and become recognized as the loving, brave, and loyal companion they once were to America. According to Bad Rap, an organization dedicated to rescuing, training, and educating people about Pit Bull’s, the Pit Bull was selectively bred in the early 100’s in the British Isles for a sport known as bull baiting. The name pit bull was derived from putting the dogs in “pits” for “bull” baiting. When bull baiting was banned, the now illegal sport of dog on dog fighting arose. When people crossed the ocean to settle in America, they brought not only their dogs as part of the family, but also the sport of dog fighting (Bad Rap). This lineage of fighting has not plagued the pit bull more than it has in the last couple decades. Within the last twenty years this loyal dog has wrongfully lost its place in society, but more importantly in a family due to the illegal back ally fighting arenas of the struggling class. The APBT does not have the freedom to choose their home; nonetheless, they stay strong no matter what life gives them. The APBT has yet to give up on humans who have plagued their existence. Why is the human race incapable


Cited: Dashevskaya, Sonnet. “A Voice For The Dogs”. April 2008. <http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com> Delise, Karen. “Afraid of Pit Bulls? The Inconvenient Truth”. 2008. <http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com>. Hedges, Catherine. “ The Truth About Pit Bulls”. 29 April 2008. <http://www.thetruthaboutpitbulls.org>. Unknown. “American Pit Bull Terrier Breed History”. 29 April 2008. <http://www.pitbullregistry.com>. Unknown. “Breed Info About the American Pit Bull Terrier”. 2007. http://www.badrap.org>.
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