Based on Appearances

by Sonia Mahajan

Many people point out a pit bull based on appearances. The boxy head, half-stubby nose, and human-like eyes are all characteristics of pits.
Unfortunately, however, many people have begun to discriminate against any dog that looks like their notion of a pit bull. This has begun to become a common occurrence with the media nowadays. Many dogs that look like pit bulls are, in fact, not related to pit bulls at all. Just take a look at this picture, for example:

Image Origin: http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/03/18/Many-shelter-dogs-mislabeled-pit-bulls.html

The first three dogs, which anybody would have thought would have been at least 50% pit bull, actually have NO PIT BULL at all! The second two dogs, which are relatively pittish, have some pit. And the last dog, which was mostly pit, I'd have thought to be some sort of other dog--anything BUT a pit bull.

I should know this myself--my dog, Bindi, was long-thought to be a Labrador mix of some sort with suspected pit and border collie in her. In fact, the suspicions were why we started this campaign.

But when we got DNA testing done, she turned out to be 50% Unidentifiable Mutt, 25% Border Collie, 12.5% Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and 12.5% Rottweiler. There was no trace of Labrador Retriever anywhere in her DNA, even in the suspected breeds.

LESSON LEARNED: we should never judge a dog by its appearance!

However, the media continues to do this!

I found this cool quiz by the ASPCA online; 5 sets of photographs are shown to you; however only ONE of the dogs overall is an American Pit Bull Terrier. See if you can spot him!