I found this picture going through one of my favorite funny apps, 9gag. This was a couple weeks ago but once I read this assignment I knew this was a perfect picture for my topic. This picture shows a face of a pit bull split down the middle with two different owners on each side. Not only does it show how pit bulls CAN be a family dog considering there is a small child on the right side, but also how people influence a dogs attitude. On the left is an owner who has a "bad boy" look or at least indicating one. Therefore, the dog looks scary and more aggressive. On the right is a nice family including a small child, the dog's expression is very subdued and normal. My whole argument is that not every pit bull is bad therefore not every pit bull should be punished. This picture reflects just that. Just like you can train a dog to sit with a treat, you can teach a dog to love with your love. This picture also brings up a valid argument that "bad" dogs, or "bad" pit bulls for the sake of the topic, most likely had a less than ideal owner in the first place. Let's say the man in the picture is a known dog fighter, and his dog bit another dog walking down the street and was immediately deemed aggressive. We are quick to judge the dog but not willing to look into the owner's past. To elaborate even further, it is not uncommon for people who are trying to be "tough" and "cool" to want a pit bull since pit bulls are viewed as tough and aggressive. This picture is trying to grasp that concept with a hip, young guy smoking a cigarette on the left. I was attached to this picture for personal feelings right away, yet for a research question like mine, it spins my brain around in a good way. 

Oops, I forgot to cite my image.
Credit for image: 9GAG." 9GAG. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Apr. 2013