Today we raise awareness for a beautiful dog breed that has been overlooked and had a bad reputation due to the culture of dogfighting and its aggressiveness, the Pit Bulls. This day is observed annually on October 26th.
This day is celebrated to show appreciation and education designed to change the perceptions and stereotypes about bully breed dogs, or commonly referred to as “pit bulls”.
Pit Bull is the common name for a type of dog descended from bulldogs and terriers. Formal breeds often considered to be of the pit bull-type include American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, and sometimes American Bulldog is also included in the breed.
Many of these breeds were originally developed as fighting dogs from crossbreeding bull-baiting dogs. Dogfighting is now illegal in the United States, although owners of pit bull dogs deal with a strong breed stigma, identifying them as dangerous.
This day was started in 2007 by Jodi Preis of Bless the Bullys a pit bull rescue and education group in Tennessee. The response to raising awareness was overwhelming. Currently, there are a number of pit bulls in some shelters that are being surrendered by their previous owners due to its aggressiveness and sometimes are just put down and not adopted.
The ultimate goal of this day is to promote the truth about pit bulls. Knowledge is power, and with education and advocacy, the truth will save lives in terms of the negative and fear generated by the media such as breed bans and the truth will result in fewer pit bulls ending up in animal shelters.
Pit bulls are wonderful dogs if raised and trained well with a loving family and not use for fighting. Any dog can be aggressive if you don’t raise them the right way, their animal instinct is in them and they are there to protect you in harm’s way. If you show any dog breed love, they will love you back, if you show them aggressiveness, they will become aggressive too.
Today, let us join hands to educate people about pit bulls, that they are capable of love and deserve to be loved and not be used for fighting. Let us give them a chance. If you are considering adopting a new pet this year, consider adopting a pit bull. Share on social media to raise awareness using #NationalPitBullAwarenessDay.
1986 Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner lets the ground ball roll through his legs
In the wee hours of the morning on October 26, 1986, Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner lets an easy ground ball dribble between his legs and roll down the right-field line. It was just a routine fielding error, but it was a disaster for the Boston Red Sox: It was the 10th inning of the sixth game of the World Series; the game was tied; and, thanks to Buckner’s mistake, the runner on third had time to score, winning the game for the Mets and forcing a tiebreaking seventh—which, in the final innings, the Mets also won. Even though Game 6 was tied because Boston’s pitchers couldn’t hold a two-run, two-out lead, and even though the Sox managed to fritter away a three-run lead in Game 7, people still blame Buckner for losing the championship. “I can’t remember the last time I missed a ball like that,” he said, “but I’ll remember this one.”
Ever since team owner and Broadway producer Harry Frazee sold the great Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920, the Sox had been tragically unable to win the World Series. People said that the team was cursed. Before 1920, the Sox had won five championships; after the Babe left, Boston’s well ran dry. Over and over, the hapless Sox almost won—and over and over, they didn’t. In 1946, they were winning Game 7 with two outs in the eighth—until shortstop Johnny Pesky held onto a relay throw just long enough for Enos Slaughter to score the winning run (from first base). They lost in 1967 and 1975. Three years after that, in a one-game playoff for the AL championship, they lost when Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent, not exactly a reliable slugger, cranked one over the Green Monster with two men on base. The Bombers won the game and went on to win their 22nd World Series.
(excerpted from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/buckner-lets-ground-ball-roll-through-his-legs)
