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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    How Pit Bulls Went from Adorable to Abominable

    A hundred years ago, pit bulls were among the most popular American dog breeds. They were owned by presidents and celebrities; they appeared with The Little Rascals and in countless other movies and ads. America loved the pit bull, and they are still among the most popular dogs.

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    By Madeleine Brand • May 10, 2016 • 1 min read

    A hundred years ago, pit bulls were among the most popular American dog breeds. They were owned by presidents and celebrities; they appeared with The Little Rascals and in countless other movies and ads. America loved the pit bull, and they are still among the most popular dogs. But the pit bull is now seen as a gangster dog, a dog that’s chained up and trained to fight to the death, one you shouldn’t leave alone with children. A new book, Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon explores how the pit bull went from adorable to abominable.

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Bronwen Dickey

      Author

      News
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand