Pit bull apologists have argued for years that pit bulls were once generally accepted as family pets, and that it was not until the 1980s that they were unfairly given a bad rap. The following links and articles provide evidence that pit bulldogs behaved the same in the 19th and early 20th centuries as they do now. Inevitably, when people try to keep pit bulls as pets, they attack people, livestock and pets. People become outraged and often BSL is enacted to keep people and animals safe from them.
The link to the Fatal Pit Bull Attacks blog lists early Breed Specific Legislation in: Asheville NC, Charlotte NC, Tampa FL, North Platte NE, Statesville NC, Chicago IL, Maysville KY, Gainesville FL, Richmond VA, Syracuse University NY, Sacramento CA, Ogden UT
All posts tagged "Historic Breed-Specific Ordinance" on the Fatal Pit Bull Attacks Blog.
http://bit.ly/1sILMiA
Apr 06, 1909 Hopkinsville KY passed law requiring bulldogs to be muzzled at all times
Jan 05, 1909 Walkerville MT Has new Bulldog Muzzle Law
http://bit.ly/2c7vt1I
Jan 25, 1906 Pit bulls banned from University of Illinois in Champaign, IL
http://bit.ly/1aPq4Ei
Early 20th century Breed Specific Legislation in Utah
http://bit.ly/1hJ0Rw4
1892 Bulldogs Unsafe Pets - The closing sentences suggest there may be bulldog regulation in Lebanon, PA at the time.
http://bit.ly/1pf2etw
1772 Colonial Williamsburg VA: Historical BSL for Bulldogs and Mastiffs - Bulldogs and mastiffs must be chained inside an enclosure to prevent attacks by vicious dogs.
Jan 25, 1906 Pit bulls banned from University of Illinois in Champaign, IL
http://bit.ly/1aPq4Ei
Early 20th century Breed Specific Legislation in Utah
http://bit.ly/1hJ0Rw4
1892 Bulldogs Unsafe Pets - The closing sentences suggest there may be bulldog regulation in Lebanon, PA at the time.
http://bit.ly/1pf2etw
1772 Colonial Williamsburg VA: Historical BSL for Bulldogs and Mastiffs - Bulldogs and mastiffs must be chained inside an enclosure to prevent attacks by vicious dogs.