A science-based nonprofit revisits the forgotten history of the dogs that once symbolized American strength and loyalty, and the research restoring their name
DENVER, CO, UNITED STATES, July 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — This Independence Day, PitbullHero wants to spotlight a piece of national history long forgotten: dogs known as pit bulls were once celebrated as “America’s Dog.”
Long before the stigma of recent decades took hold, pit bulls were national icons. The breeds now grouped under the “pit bull” name descend from 19th-century crosses of bulldogs and terriers, originally called “bull-and-terriers,” brought to America by immigrants from the British Isles, where they found purpose not in fighting but in farming and homesteading. In both World Wars they became U.S. military mascots, symbols of courage and loyalty on recruitment posters and war-bond ads. Pete the Pup of the Little Rascals was a fixture of an all-American childhood. In homes nationwide, they were trusted family members, strong yet gentle, tough yet devoted.
The pit bull’s image mirrors the values the country celebrates on the Fourth of July: strength, loyalty, and freedom. That legacy didn’t disappear because the dogs changed; it faded because of how people branded and misused them. PitbullHero’s mission is to restore their rightful standing as “America’s Dog” through science and history.
PitbullHero was founded in 2017 after Denver’s breed-specific legislation (BSL) blocked its founder from buying a home in the city because of his dog’s breed. The irony was unmistakable: the American Dream of homeownership, out of reach for owning “America’s Dog.” The nonprofit works to end the stigma surrounding pit bull-type dogs and restore their reputation, drawing on peer-reviewed research and expert consensus.
Among the facts PitbullHero highlights:
• Breed is a poor predictor of behavior and aggression. Research consistently shows a dog’s breed isn’t strongly correlated with its behavior or aggression; training, environment, and individual experience matter far more. In controlled studies, researchers found no significant difference in aggression between pit bull-type dogs and breeds such as Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers.
• Pit bulls have excellent temperaments. Pit bull-type breeds consistently rank in the top 20% of all breeds tested by the American Temperament Test Society.
• The “locking jaw” is a myth. Veterinary experts and studies have disproven the locking-jaw and “strongest bite” claims; bite strength tracks with a dog’s size and build, not its breed.
• Dog bite incidents are not breed-specific. Since 2016, more than 80 breeds and mixes have been reported in U.S. fatal dog attacks. Mixed-breed dogs account for nearly 60%. A dog’s spay/neuter status correlates with bites far more than breed: 84% of fatal attacks involve dogs that weren’t spayed or neutered.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and other veterinary sources have concluded that breed does not reliably predict aggression. Both the AVMA and public-safety organizations such as the National Animal Care and Control Association (NACA) oppose BSL, laws that restrict or ban dogs based solely on assumed breed or appearance. Research shows BSL fails to reliably reduce bites or improve public safety, and momentum is building: since 2018, more than 100 U.S. cities have repealed such bans.
When the question went to voters, the results were decisive: Springfield, Missouri, repealed its ban with 68% support in 2018, and Denver followed in 2020 with 66%. Support for repealing breed bans transcends politics, from left-leaning Denver to conservative southwest Missouri. These bans can affect pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and other strong breeds.
Thankfully, the tide is changing, and pit bulls are once again being recognized for who they really are. Pit bull-type dogs are among the most popular in the U.S., making up an estimated 20% of the dog population, serving as service dogs and therapy animals, even as K9 police dogs, and, most often, as beloved family pets. And while BSL no longer exists in any major U.S. jurisdiction, it unfortunately persists in some areas, typically smaller towns.
Today, advocates across the U.S. are working to restore the reputation of pit bull-type dogs, not by rewriting history, but by remembering it. From battlefields to backyards, pit bulls have stood by us for generations. They were “America’s Dog” then, and for millions of families, they still are today.
To explore the research, history, and fan photos, visit pitbullhero.org.
Jacob Anderson
PitbullHero
email us here
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