Brochure design about Pit Bulls

1. SMILES FOR
MILES
A few thoughts on Pit Bulls and what you can
do to make sure they keep smiling
HOW YOU CA N HEL P
SOME NUMBERS
• 1 million Pit Bulls euthanized this year
• 2800 killed today
• 93% euthanasia rate
• 1 in 600 Pits find their forever home
EVEN THOUGH
• 87.4% of Pit Bulls passed the American
Temperament Test as of April 2016
• The 3.5 million Pits who currently live in
the US have done nothing but love their
family
• You are 200 times more likely to die from
taking Aspirin, 60 times more likely to die
by falling coconuts, and 16 times more
likely to drown in a 5-gallon bucket…
than to be fatally attacked by a Pit Bull.
DONATE/ A DOP T
BECOME AN ADVOCAT E
SPAY/NE U T ER
OCTOBER- NATIONAL PIT BULL
AWARENESS MONTH
The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness and
promote education; the best way to counteract fear
is to educate. The National Pit Bull Awareness
Campaign states, “Knowledge is power, and with
education and advocacy, the truth will save lives in
terms of negating fear and bias generated by the
media, circumvent knee-jerk reactions such as
breed bans, and result in fewer Pit Bulls ending up
in animal shelters.”
You can help reduce overpopulation of dogs and
eliminate homeless and neglected canines by
spaying or neutering your pet. Spaying reduces the
risk of infection, emotional changes, and unwanted
puppies in females. Neutering can reduce or
eliminate aggression, territorial behaviors, risk of
tumors or infections, and increases happiness in
males.
FI GHT ING T HE
NEGAT IVE ST IGMA
Many people that fear this breed are led into
believing that Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous
and should be eradicated because of a misinformed
society and heightened myths through falsely
informed media. You can help fight the negative
stigma by being their voice. Pit Bulls are so often
represented negatively through media because they
spin facts into cash and highlight what people will
watch. Sadly, Pit Bulls are often blamed for attacks
that were actually committed by other breeds,
furthering the mislead fear. Pit Bulls have struggled
with this negative stigma since the 1900s, but if one
were to truly research and get to know this breed,
one would be able to see through these unforgiving
myths.
BE A RESPONSIBLE OWNER
Provide rules, boundaries, and limitations, and make
sure your dog is properly socialized with people,
children, and other dogs. Establish leadership at a
young age, take your Pit on frequent leash walks and
enter them in obedience classes. It is recommended to
never leave a Pit outside unattended, have a secure
fence, and be careful not to encourage Pit Bulls to
become protective as they are not natural guard dogs.
VOLUNTEER
Volunteering is the best way we can help the
thousands of homeless Pits. Volunteer at your local
animal shelter to walk the dogs, give them baths, or
clean the kennels. You can also foster a Pit until it’s
forever home is found. These small actions make an
incomparable difference in the life of a homeless dog
that would otherwise end up in a cold cell in a pound.
A small donation can be the difference between a Pit
Bull receiving the proper care and medicine it needs or
being euthanized. Some websites where you can
donate are:
• http://americanpitbullfoundation.com/donations/
• http://www.pbrc.net/donate.html
• http://www.mopitbullrescue.org/bully-hero
If you are interested in adopting a Pit Bull, you can
visit or call your local Humane Society or Animal
Shelter, or search the web or social media. Listed
below is the contact information for the New
Nodaway Humane Society in Maryville, MO.
829 South Depot Street
Maryville, MO 64468
TEL: (660) 562-3333
Email: nnhsmanager@embarqmail.com
Photo credits: The Dodo- for the love of animals
| “Why it’s Important to Spay and Neuter.” Missouri Pit Bull Rescue. 2016. | “Pit Bull Awareness Coalition.” Pit Bull Awareness Coalition. 2015. | “Pit Bull Breed History- Pit Bull.” Pit Bull Breed History- Pit Bull. |“Pit Bull Training
& Breed Information.” Pit Bull Training & Breed Information. 2015. | Brochure created by: Savana Wiederholt, Northwest Missouri State University

2. PIT BULLS LOVE TO FIGHT.
They are generally confident, therefore are less likely to
back down from confrontation.
PIT BULLS WERE USED IN DOG FIGHTS BECAUSE
THEY’RE THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BREED.
Pits are quick to learn, eager to please, and easy to handle.
Once a Pit Bull accepts his or her master, it will lay down
it’s life to please it’s owner. They also have an incredible
sense of determination; they don’t give up until they are
stopped or dead.
PIT BULLS HAVE LOCKING JAWS.
A Pit Bull’s jaw structure and teeth are no different from
any other breed; no breed of dog has a locking jaw.
PIT BULLS BRAINS SWELL/NEVER STOP GROWING
CAUSING THEM TO GO CRAZY.
If a dog’s brain were to ever grow too large for it’s head,
the animal would die. Pit Bull’s brains grow at the same
rate as any other dog; brain swelling would only occur as
the result of a serious injury.
PIT BULLS TURN ON THEIR OWNERS.
If any breed turns or snaps on a human there is usually an
underlying medical condition or the dog has been
mistreated and abused.
A L ITT LE A BO UT P I T B ULL S
Pit Bulls should not be discriminated against and defined as dangerous because of falsely informed media
and a highly bigoted stigma. This breed is inherently misunderstood and should be reconsidered as a rightful
part of America’s history. There are many misconceptions surrounding this breed, most brought on by their
unfortunate popularity with the criminal element of our society. However, there are many ways to fight the
negative blame Pit Bulls receive, starting with being educated about the breed.
BREED DEMEANOR/ SPECIFICATIONS
Pit Bull is a term that refers to the American Pit Bull
Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American
Staffordshire Terrier. A typical Pit Bull is a dependable,
trustworthy, and loyal companion. Known for their
sound character, friendliness, and drive to work, this
breed makes an ideal pet to have around the house with
children. Although some individuals have misused the
breed and the media has misrepresented it,
SERVICES/ DUTIES
A Pit Bull’s fun-loving, energetic personality, high level
of intelligence, and athletic body help it excel in all K-9
sports such as agility, dock diving, weight pulling, and
rally obedience. They work in search and rescue,
military service, and help law enforcement by serving as
drug and bomb detection dogs, and work as therapy
dogs visiting hospitals or working in children’s literacy
programs. Pit Bulls can also be entrusted to work on
HISTORY OF THE BREED
In early America, Pit Bulls were entrusted to protect
homesteads from predators and work as farm hands.
They were constant companions to the young children
who were entrusted in their care. They were even
dubbed the nickname “Nanny Dogs” because of their
nurturing demeanor towards children. Despite dog
fighting being common throughout the 19th century,
Pit Bulls took on a broader and more humane
FACT VS. FI CT IO N
“Klaus - my year
and a half old,
floppy eared, cat
loving, brindle Pit. I
received him in
August of 2015 as a
birthday present
from my boyfriend
and fell in love with
this clumsy boy the
moment I held him.”
-Savana Wiederholt,
Pit Owner
aggression never was and still is not what the Pit Bull
is about. Pit Bulls are a highly intelligent breed that
were bred to work so they require lots of exercise and
mental stimulation. They are also typically stubborn, so
it is important to establish your leadership at a young
age. Pit Bulls are loyal, affectionate pets that can be
lifelong family members if treated and trained properly.
the farm or to improve
society by working
within the community.
They can also be used
as educational dogs to
teach children about
canine safety.
role as the working dog. In addition to herding cattle
and sheep, they served as faithful guardians, protecting
family and livestock from the ever-present threat of
thieves and wild animals. In the early 20th century, Pit
Bulls were so respected for their loyalty, determination,
and bravery that they were chosen to represent
America in WWI on posters used for recruitment and
the sale of war bonds. Over the years, many famous
Americans have owned Pits such as Mark Twain,
Theodore Roosevelt, and Helen Keller.
PC: Me and My Pet-
A blog for Pet Owners
| “Donate.” Pit Bull Rescue Central. | “APBF Donations.” American Pit Bull Foundation. 2016. | “Pit Bull Facts and Why We Love This Breed.” Canine Journal- Your Go-To Guide for All Things Dog. 2016. | “Breed History.” Breed History. 2015. |