Positive Representation

This strategy is backed by both research and ethics. In an article titled "What's in a Name? Effect of Breed Perception & Labeling on Attractiveness, Adoptions & Length of Stay for Pit-Bull Type Dogs," a team of researchers explored many of the impact of implicit bias and stereotypes in the form of labeling and shelter marketing. They discovered various ways to market pit bulls to attempt to decrease the stigma surrounding them. For example, they found that "the pit-bull-type dog was perceived more negatively than the other breeds, but that impression was positively modulated by the presence of an elderly woman and a male child." This is especially interesting because the elderly and children are often some of the most common subjects or victims for news stories about pit bull attacks. Moreover, they found that "pit bull breed labels had a negative effect on the dogs' perceived attractiveness" and that "removing breed labels was associated with increased adoptions and reduced length of stay for all breed groups, particularly pit-bull-type dogs," in shelters. Considering Merritt's dissertation, we know that labeling (especially taking into account the stigma surrounding pit bulls) can sometimes cause implicit biases where only one perception of an entity or group is accepted or understood. However, by removing labeling in shelters it can help people look past the type of dog and see the individual underneath.

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At the end of the day, people simply don't understand that pit bulls are a product of their environment. They aren't born evil or aggressive like some people believe. They aren't going out of their way to hurt children or attack the elderly. They are normal dogs that, in some cases, have not been given the loving, kind family that all dogs deserve and have grown to be defensive and volatile because of that abuse. Still, we cannot fault the dog for the behaviors they have been taught by humans that have abused them, whether that teaching was intentional (i.e. dog fighting, illegal practice) or unintentional (i.e. abuse leading to defensive, volatile, or territorial behavior). Pit bulls are just dogs looking for love. Below you can find more positive videos and images that work to dash the stigma surrounding pit bulls: