For the past 15 to 20 years, there has been a concerted effort on the part of many rescue groups to change the perception of pit bulls and pit bull type dogs from that of potentially dangerous creatures to beloved family companions. It has been an up-hill battle with so much hysterical/sensational reporting in the media about dog bites, human deaths, breed specific legislation (BSL), and dog fighting ... Oh, did I say dog fighting? While admittedly an abominable activity, dog fighting coverage in the news may have actually kick-started improvements in the general opinion of this much maligned dog.
The notorious Bad Newz Kennels bust in 2007 was certainly a seminal event which tipped the scales of public perception. For the first time, the dogs involved were deemed "victims" of a human crime. Many rescue groups and the Humane Society of America lobbied on behalf of the 40 some-odd dogs found on the premises, urging that the dogs undergo temperament testing rather than being immediately euthanized. The judge agreed and the rest of the story is an amazing testament to the true nature of these dogs.
In the intervening years, despite resistance from the general public and ridiculous BSL in many municipalities, there are good signs. One of the best is this infographic from Huffington Post published on October 24, 2013:
 |
| Infographic by Alissa Scheller for the Huffington Post |
