If they told you the story of a woman who was so brutally mauled by a dog that she had to undergo the world's first face transplant. What breed would initially come to mind? If you said Pit Bull you are in the majority, but you would be wrong. He was a Labrador Retriever, which is currently the most popular dog breed in the United States and in the top ten in many other countries according to the UKC (Dorsey 4). Why do you think so many people would think he was a Pit Bull? In the 1900s the American Pit Bull Terrier was commonly depicted on American war propaganda posters to represent the country's strength, determination and dignity. The loyal and loving breed has been companions to people like Helen Keller, President Theodore Roosevelt, President Woodrow Wilson, Thomas Edison and General George Patton. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier is commonly considered a violent, aggressive, and unpredictable dog breed. What is the truth about the American Pit Bull Terrier? Are they really the monsters described by Oklahoma state representative Paul Wesselhoft as "a gargoyle-looking animal with claws and fangs the size of a tiger" (Bellamy 10A) or are they simply misunderstood? How has the image of this breed gone from one extreme to the other in recent years? The American Pit Bull Terrier can be traced back to 19th century England, where the breed was initially created to combine the playfulness, speed and agility of a Terrier with the strength and athleticism of a Bulldog (Bolhafner 39). According to Stahlkuppe, “wildness is a dog's willingness to continue to fight, or hunt, or pull a cart, or defend its owner, through great stress, intense pain, and even to death” (61). She stands......in the center of the card......she means to be a loving family pet, a family protector, a competitor, or a fighter. It is up to the owner to train and socialize their dog properly, show them what they want and the Pitt Bull will be sure to satisfy any request we put in front of them. Works Cited "American Pit Bull Terrier" ukcdogs.com. Revised November 1, 2008: Web. May 22, 2012.Bellamy, Louise. “Pit bulls are loyal, loving dogs” The Oaklahoman July 18. 2005: p. 10A. PrintBolhanfner, Stephen. “Meet the American Staffordshire/pit bull terrier,” St. Louis Post dispatch May 7. 2005: page 39. Print.Devlin, Mike. “Top 10 Banned Dog Breeds” Listverse.com. August 24, 2011. Web. May 23, 2012. Dorsey, Jannie. “Pit bull earns top spot in bites” Tampa Tribune July 28. 2009: page 4. Print.Stahlkuppe, Joe. The American Pitt Bull Terrier manual. Hauppauge, New York: Barron's, 2000. Print.