10/25/2025
It's one of our FAVORITE days: National Pit Bull Awareness Day: a day of appreciation and education designed to improve perceptions about bully breed dogs — commonly referred to as “pit bulls.”!
From MetLife Pet Insurance:
National Pit Bull Day was established to develop more positive experiences and communications within the communities where these dogs and their owners live. This day is dedicated to restoring the public image of the American pit bull terrier.
The annual event was started in 2007 by Jodi Preis of Bless The Bullys, a pit bull education group based in Tennessee. The goal of Pit Bull Awareness Day is to promote the breed’s truth through positive media attention, education, and advocacy.
The truth can ultimately save lives by preventing pitties from ending up in shelters due to fear, bias, and breed-specific legislation (BSL).2
Quick Facts About Pit Bulls
There are about 18 million pit bull-type dogs and pit bull mixes in the U.S. Of the 3.1 million dogs who go into shelters each year, about 6% are pit bulls. They're often the first to be euthanized in shelters due to overcrowding, lack of adopters, and restrictive breed bans. It’s estimated that 1 million pit bulls are euthanized every year in the U.S. Nonetheless, they’re among the most overbred dogs.
Pit Bull History
Technically, the pit bull is not a breed — rather, it’s a generic term used to refer to a group of dogs based on their physical appearance. This includes dogs who resemble a crossbreed between a bulldog and a terrier, like the American bully, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, and Staffordshire bull terrier.
Pit bulls have long been known for their loyalty, affection, and fondness for children, earning them the nickname “the nanny dog.”
Many decades ago, “bully breeds” were bred to protect livestock because of their strength. Unfortunately, this strength led some people to begin using pit bulls for protection and fighting. Pit bulls unwittingly became a status symbol for those who chose to use their physical attributes as a means of intimidation.
But it’s time to leave the unwarranted negative perceptions of these dogs in the past. On this National Pit Bull Awareness Day, here are some ways you can help the breed:
-Get to know a pit bull: If you don’t know a pit bull, the easiest way to change your perception is to get to know one. Visit your local animal shelter and ask to meet a pit bull, or ask a friend who has a pittie if you can bring a dog treat for NPBAD.
-Show off your pitties: If you have a pit or pit mix, post pictures or videos of them on social media and tag them with .
-Adopt a pittie who needs a home: Shelters are full of pit bull-type dogs looking to find loving homes.
-Search social media for : Double tap to show some love on any cute pittie pictures that come up! Or share your own images with .
-Share your positive pit bull stories: Most people only hear about pit bulls when there’s a negative story in the news. You can help turn that around. Contact your local TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, and magazines, and share your positive pit bull stories. Or share them on social media!
-Write to your city and state officials to end breed-specific legislation (BSL): Do you live in a city or state with some form of BSL on the books? You can take this National Pit Bull Awareness Day to write to your mayor or city council members and ask that they work to change this legislation.
-Take some time this National Pit Bull Awareness Day to give your pit bull some extra love! Or maybe, take some time to learn more about pit bulls and how you can help your local community dogs, commonly referred to as “pit bulls,” and their responsible owners.
The ultimate goal of NPBAAD is to promote the truth about pit bulls. What’s the truth? They’re just dogs. Nothing more, nothing less.
