I am not proud to admit this, but pitbulls scare me. They're the only type of dog from which I can't help but back away. I am stunned by (and admiring of) families that choose to adopt them, especially with children in the house. At a point in my life when I'm thinking about starting a family, I can't imagine having a pitbull around. All that said, I haven't had any bad experience with pitbulls personally. In fact, I have almost no experience with pitbulls, period - other than backing away when I encounter them at the dog park or on the street. The only one I've spent any time with was sweeter and more gentle than many dogs I've encountered. So let me be the first to acknowledge that my hesitancy around them is based solely on media reports and their battered reputation. If you talk to any "pit people," it is clear these animals have so much to offer when handled and cared for properly. Those that do love the breed, love them in a big way, and seem to get a great deal of love from their "bully breeds" in return.
Due to all the misconceptions out there, and especially due to my own, I'm always heartened to see people working to turn those misconceptions around. The Best Friends rescue organization, which took in twenty-two of Michael ViPet a Pitck's pitbulls, has put together a wonderful page of pitbull information that helps dispel the rumors about their violence and aggression. It's a great service Best Friends is doing - both in caring for all those abused dogs and working hard to educate the public. It is clear that pitbulls, like all dogs, come with a unique set of traits and demands, but also like all dogs, they're just looking for someone to trust, someone to love. The tragic part is that pitbulls haven't earned their reputation - we have ensured their reputation by abusing them for so long.
