Breed Restrictions: The Misconceptions and How to Overcome Them
If you’ve ever met a bulldog or pit bull, then chances are you know how incredibly sweet they are. Even if you haven’t, you’ve probably seen photos of these cute pups plastered everywhere from Instagram to messages from your bestie. Or is that last one just me?
The History
Sadly not everyone thinks of these loyal friends as safe. Bulldogs were originally bred for fights with bulls in the UK. In the fights, the Bulldogs attacked the bull until it was worn out or tired of being injured. The fights were outlawed however in 1835 when the British enacted the Cruelty to Animals Act. Unfortunately, their roles of entertaining the lower classes through violent displays of their skills didn’t end there. The dogs were pitted against rats, which meant they needed to be faster. So the 
bulldog was mixed with the terrier to create the pit bull.
The Start Towards a Change
When the pit bull came to America, American’s saw them as the all American dog. The American Pit Bull wasn’t used for fighting in pits; it was a general work dog. It herded cattle and protected the family. All those years fighting meant the pit bull had been bred to be loyal and kind to humans. After all, when they were fighting in pits, the pit bulls’ owners needed assurance they weren’t going to be the ones getting bitten.
While the stories of pit bulls being nannies in the pioneer days seem to have been a myth, they were rooted in the pit bull’s gentleness with humans. Since they don’t bite, they won’t attack a baby, and since they were general work dogs, it was an easy exaggeration for someone to make. The truth is that they may not have been watchdogs to babies, but they were once our countries heroes. During WWI and WWII pit bulls were used in military combat, one dog even made it to the title of sergeant.
That was a long time ago though. Today’s pit bulls and Bulldogs come from random breeding. Breeding that has nothing to do with the best traits for fights. Breeding that doesn’t unload these animals into fighting rings. Breeding like any other dog, to be a new family member or loved one.
The Common Misconception
If only everyone could realize that it’s been almost 200 years since bulldogs were solely bred for the purpose of fighting. Since then advocates for these beautiful creatures have worked to ensure that the majority of bulldog and pit bull breeding is for adoption and not fighting. It’s true that dogfights haven’t been eradicated. They 
may never be entirely eradicated, and there may always be people seeking aggressive traits in their dogs. There may always be backyard breeders who see the animals as products instead of family members, but it’s not the pit bull or bulldogs fault. They aren’t the problem.
The Problem with Breed Restrictions
In fact, discriminatory practices against the variety of pit bull and bulldog breeds have lead to overcrowding of these sweet animals in shelters. Apartments have breed restrictions, as do some city ordinances and parents have been scared into thinking that these dogs will hurt their children. Which has lead to pit bull breeds being one of the most common breeds relinquished to shelters. These shelters are finding themselves overcrowded with innocent little friends, who often take the longest time to be adopted. Overcrowding in shelters isn’t just an issue for the pit bull, it means that dogs are sometimes turned away, kept in subpar conditions, or put down.
What You Can Do
The good news is there’s something we can do. If adopting one of these noble creatures into your family isn’t currently a possibility don’t fret. Even just spreading truthful information about how wonderful these pets are, can decrease the stigma. As can correcting people when they spread false information. It’s terrible that laws and rental stipulations have lead to the pit bull’s struggle, but with our voices, we can make a change.
When a friend is ready to adopt, encourage them to choose a pit bull. When someone says they’re scared, remind them there’s nothing to be scared of. If you can, help house pit bulls while they wait for their forever homes. Several organizations are seeking foster parents, so check them out and if you’re able, change the life of a pit bull.