You’re lying on the couch, watching TV, relaxed with a blanket on your lap. Then a short, muscular dog walks into the room. It is a pitbull, walking slowly towards the couch, thick slobber dripping from its panting mouth, full of large white teeth. It crawls onto the couch. And slowly walks up to you like a beast about to pounce. The dog lays down on your lap like a cat lying on a warm blanket. It looks up to you with wide eyes that say I love you. As hours pass, both you and your dog slowly fell asleep.

Pitbulls are famous for their reputation of being violent animals. The history of the pitbull is based on blood sports such as dog fighting, bull baiting, and bear baiting. These blood sports often involve gambling. With neglect and abuse these dogs can act aggressively. Creating the impression that all pitbulls act aggressive. But they are very kind and loving dogs.

Janine Ceja has worked for the Skagit Valley Humane Society for 39 years in animal sheltering and welfare. Among all the cute, playful puppies to the kind and wise senior dogs, Pitbulls are one of the hardest to find a loving home to live in.

People know pitbulls as a vicious and aggressive breed, known for their reputation for dog fighting and attacks. The breed is banned in certain cities and countries. Due to cases of attacks and aggressiveness on the dog. Creating concerns about public safety and potential problems.

But pitbulls are considered one of the best family dogs if they have a loving home and training.

“This particular type of dog can be highly social and patient with loving affectionate tendencies,” said  Ceja.  “Easy to manage, diet wise, temperament wise and can live in a multiple pet family.”

Pitbulls are considered one of dogs with the best temperament, according to the American Temperament Test Society scores, the score of an American Pitbull terrier is 87.6%. Among the other pitbull breeds they’re scores are 80-100% on the test. To compare with a golden retriever, they scored 85.9%. Aggression in dogs is strongly linked to the environment and experience.

“I feel like that they’re overly hated for only the bad things,” said Julian Roberts, 10th grader at Sedro-Woolley High School, “but there’s  a lot of positive things that can be said about pitbulls  as well. Mostly everybody has shown what pitbulls are usually that but they actually aren’t. ”

Roberts is a pitbull owner who likes pitbulls for being affectionate and getting easily attached. In the shelter, it’s hard for people to get attached to something that is seen as a monstrous animal.

“For many shelters, as well as ours, Yes, we find it extremely challenging to rehome due to the fear based knowledge nationally and locally,” said Ceja.  “We need to be creative, thoughtful and responsible when marketing this breed.”

Getting a dog adopted can be challenging. Like big dogs, senior dogs, disabled dogs and pitbulls are one of the hardest. Because of fear or how expensive the dog will be. So the shelters try to find ways to advertise the dogs. So that they can find owners that are willing to take care of the dog’s needs. And live happily for the rest of their lives.