Rescuing a pit bull’s reputation with unconditional love

Derived from wolves, dogs are a completely man-made species. Each breed has been bestowed a specific value: dachshunds for digging, basset hounds for hunting, and most notoriously, pit bulls for fighting. But these are all human-given purposes, not in their nature. Robyn Bronkhorst, an animal rescuer, is challenging the stigma that paints pit bulls as killers.

“Pit bulls are friendly,” she says. “They’re taught to be vicious, to fight.” Dedicated to educating the public on this breed, Bronkhorst shows the truth about the dogs as conscious and mindful creatures. In 2016, she co-founded Pit Pals, a rehabilitation centre for abused pit bulls. The pro-life shelter is devoted to improving the mental and physical state of the dogs, and assists with training and sterilisation. This is necessary to curb overpopulation which leads to unwanted litters.

Over the last three years, they’ve managed to rehome close to 400 dogs. “Pit bulls just need a chance,” Bronkhorst says. Rewriting negative narratives of animals can change their lives. “Come down to the kennels, meet the rescues, and learn from them what the breed is all about,” Bronkhorst says. “Their love is unconditional. Their love is like no other.”