American Pit Bull Terriers where originally bred to help cattle butchers with wild cattle and for bear hunting/ wild boar hunting, not dog fighting. The dog fighting came along latter when butchers and hunters no longer needed dogs to help. Did you know that when Pit fighting was legal that if a Pit dog showed aggression to anyone inside the ring that they where put to sleep and their offspring was never to be bred. This is because when the breed was respected and first established you hardly ever heard anything bad about them (people trained and socialized them). It was like hearing something bad about about a Golden Retriever, it just didn't happen that much. Terriers (including the American Pit Bull Terrier) are dogs that have to have socialization and proper training. I'm sure that if all the people in your area are as you say they are none of them have even taken a minute out of their time to do so. This is why you here so many bad things about Pit Bulls, because there's to many ill responsible people that own them. Believe me that if American Pit Bull Terriers where such a bad breed then president Theodore Roosevelt wouldn't have owned them as he did. Also if American Pit Bull Terriers where untrustworthy as a breed in whole than there would not be search and rescue Pit Bulls(saving lives), there would not be Therapy working Pit Bulls helping the handicap and being aloud into nursing homes to make people feel better. I know that if all the people that owned Pit Bulls where responsible owners that you would not hear all the bad things you do. PUNISH THE DEED NOT THE BREED!
Everyone needs to check out the new issue of Dog Fancy Magazine. There is an article in there that I believe will shed a new light to everyone in this forum. Its about breeds people think should be banned.