Every few years it happens, the headlines read “Child bitten” or “Veterinarian receives stitches after severe bite from vicious Pitbull.” As humans, we are naturally drawn and alarmed by headlines that induce our fear and panic. But are these stories always true or does the media have double standards. The time has come to sort out fact from fiction and realize that outlawing pit bulls will not make the world a safer place, it will only succeed in tearing beloved pets from their families. The media has led many to believe that pit bulls are a dangerous breed that can unravel at any time, attacking anything that crosses their path. However, like most other dogs, pit bulls were genetically bred for a specific purpose and are products of their environment. The history of this breed is a long and extensive account of what was once a beloved canine, too what is now a vilified breed. Even though they are labeled “Pit bulls” they are in fact not a specific breed of dog. Being a mixture of Bull terriers, the American Staffordshire terrier, and the Staffordshire terrier, Pit bulls were bred to be working dogs and family companions prior to being bred to bull bait (restraining a bull with a rope tied to an ironed stake that gave him only a few feet to move. Then commanding dogs to attack, in an attempt to immobilize the …show more content…
When asked about this trait Jennifer Scarlett, a veterinarian and co-founder of the San Francisco SPCA had this to say, “Studies on Foxes suggest that a trait possibly affecting personality can appear in just two to three generations. Pit bulls bred this way seem to be more aggressive against other dogs, but not to humans.” She goes on to also mention “Dogs of any breed that are truly strong and aggressive can be managed, but what is nature and nurture in those cases? Much then comes down to the owners, and therein lies the real problem”