Famous Pit Bulls

Pete the Pup

Pete the Pup was a famous dog actor, most popular for his work in Hal Roach's Our Gang comedies (later known as The Little Rascals) during the 1920s and 1930s. Otherwise known as "Pete, the Dog With the Ring Around His Eye," or simply "Petey," he was famous for having a circled eye that was added on by Hollywood make-up artist Max Factor and credited as an oddity in Ripley's Believe It or Not. The original Pete named Pal the Wonder Dog had a natural ring almost completely around his eye; dye was used to finish it off. Pete first started out as "Tige" in the Buster Brown series in the 1920s. It was during this time that he obtained the circled eye, and when he was recruited to appear in the Our Gang comedies later that year, Hal Roach simply left it on, creating one of the most recognized dogs in film history.

During the late '20s, Pete became as recognizable and popular as the kids in the gang. Pete continued appearing in Our Gang comedies until 1930, when he died after being poisoned by a piece of meat tainted with broken glass.

Sgt. Stubby

America's first canine decorated war hero was Sgt. Stubby. This stray Pit Bull, of unknown descent, was found by Private John Robert Conroy on the campus of Yale University, in 1917, while Conroy was training for deployment to the European front of WWI. During the course of his stay at the camp with Pvt. Conroy, Stubby became familiar with all of the bugle calls, the drill marching routines, and even learned to give a dog's version of a salute. He would put his right paw on his right eyebrow when a salute was executed by others around him. Stubby's ability to salute struck a chord with the training camp commander and the dog was granted permission to remain with Private Conroy. Stubby, along with Pvt. Conroy, eventually traveled to the frontlines with the 102nd Infantry Division. While serving overseas, Stubby was wounded in action twice, he save his entire platoon by warning them of a poison gas attack and he single handedly captured a German spy. The commander of the 102nd used this last act of bravery to put Stubby in for a promotion to the ranks of the Noncommissioned Officers by awarding him the rank of Seargent. He became the first 'Pit Bull' to be given rank in the United States Armed Forces.

Bud

The first dog to travel across America in a car was a Pit Bull (Bud) and did so with the first people (Horatio Jackson and his assistant and "bicycle" mechanic Sewall Crocker) to cross America in a car (A Winton named the Vermont). Horation later donated Bud's goggles to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. During the trip Bud would assist in watching for large bumps in the road and often received as much if not more attention by the press than did Jackson.

After the trip was completed, Bud bravely guarded the Jackson home until his death of old age.

Life Magazine

The Pit Bull is the only dog to have ever graced the cover of Life Magazine three times.

More Pit Bull Heroes

Check out more pit bull heroes on the web. Visit "Positive Pit Bull Press."