National Pit Bull Awareness Month — October 2023

October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month — a time to celebrate bully breed dogs. Many people feel nervous when it comes to pit bulls and being in their presence. This month allows people and organizations to share the joy and love that pit bulls bring to the world.

Do you believe American pit bull terriers (APBTs) are fierce, dangerous fighting dogs? Are you afraid to walk by that house with the pit bull in the yard? If you haven’t yet learned that pit bulls are loving, goofy pets, National Pit Bull Awareness Month is for you.

Maybe you already own one or more floppy-eared, smiling pitties. If so, you know what loyal family pets they are and just how quickly a pit bull can steal your heart. National Pit Bull Awareness Month is for you, too. And we hope you’ll share your positive experiences with those who have yet to know a pit!

What Is National Pit Bull Awareness Day?

National Pit Bull Awareness Day (NPBAD) — part of National Pit Bull Awareness Month — is a day in October dedicated to changing perceptions and challenging stereotypes about bully breed dogs, commonly lumped together under the umbrella term “pit bulls.”

In 2007, NPBAD was started by Jodi Preis of Bless the Bullys, a pit bull rescue and education group located in Tennessee. She founded the nationwide initiative to educate and restore the image of APBTs.

When Bless the Bullys introduced the idea of a NPBAD, the response was overwhelmingly positive. It was an opportunity to educate the public, change minds, and bring positive media attention to pit bulls across the country.

Since NPBAD’s inception, people have been coming together on the last Saturday of October intending the change  the way pit bulls are perceived. The ultimate goal of this effort is to spread the truth about pit bulls and other bully breeds. Changing hearts and minds through education will ultimately lower the number of pit bull breeds that end up in shelters or euthanized.

How Can You Help the Pitties?

Interested in how you can get involved this Pit Bull Awareness Month? Check out these simple tips for some inspiration.

Volunteer with pit bulls

Pit bulls and pit mixes make up the overwhelming majority of the dogs in shelters. Because they are social dogs who bond so closely with humans, the isolation of shelter life is tough on pit bulls.

Volunteer to help exercise, walk, or socialize a shelter pittie this month. Some shelters even have programs where kids can come in and volunteer to read to animals.

Educate other people about pit bulls

Once you know a pit bull, you can’t help but fall in love. You’ll also start to notice that people throw around negative (and untrue) stereotypes about pit bull breeds all the time.

Have some factual information ready to share with others when you hear the next pit bull stereotype. You may be surprised by what you learn!

For example, pit bulls are routinely found to have winning temperaments. In fact, each year, the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) tests over 240 dog breeds. When it comes to pit bull-type dogs, they consistently achieve a passing score that’s as good or better than other popular breeds. Other facts include:

• The American pit bull terrier doesn’t have anything unique about its jaw that would allow its jaws to lock. This is simply a myth that won’t go away.
• A dog who’s aggressive toward other dogs or small animals may NOT go after people next. Aggression toward other animals and aggression toward humans are entirely different behaviors.
• Like any dog breed, pit bulls can run the gamut from dog-aggressive to exceptionally dog-friendly behavior. Every dog is unique and will behave differently.

Help adoptable pitties find homes

Add an adoptable pit bull search widget to your website, blog, or email signature. You can also search through the adoptable pits and share them on your social media accounts.

Helping pets find their forever homes is part of the mission at MetLife Pet Insurance. Earlier this year, MetLife Pet helped a shelter in Kentucky celebrate a very special adoption. Ginny, a 5-year-old pit bull, had been at the shelter for 1,000 days before finding her fur-ever home. MetLife Pet provided funds and dog toys for the event to ensure it was special for Ginny, her new family, and everyone at the shelter who loved on her until she found her new family.

Safeguard Your Pittie With Dog Insurance

Looking for more ways to keep your pit bull pup happy and healthy? Consider investing in a dog insurance policy with MetLife Pet Insurance. It can help reimburse you for vet bills if your pittie gets injured or sick. In fact, we’ve reimbursed quite a few pit bull medical bills over the years. Here are some of their stories:¹

• Moses’s family got $600 after he was hit by a car. MetLife Pet helped cover Moses’s $750 vet bill when he sustained an injury to his right forelimb, so his family could focus on helping their baby heal.
• Bullseye’s family got $400 after he was treated for inflammation. When he had some muscle inflammation and needed an exam to figure out what was going on, Bullseye’s family only had to pay $45.
• Stormy’s family got more than $200 after they found a cyst. They treated the cyst under their beloved 8-year-old American pit bull terrier’s tail and got nearly all of their $250 vet bill reimbursed.

Still not sure if pet insurance is right for your pit bull? Read why pet insurance may be a worthwhile investment for your family, then start your research with a free quote today.