Whether it's a fair assessment or not, pit bulls have a bad rep as pets.Gary Blackwell of St David's was recently fined $7000 after his pit bull mauled his neighbour, Arnezha Astwood.The 22-year-old was ordered to pay an additional $3000 in compensation to the nine-year-old victim.Prisons Commissioner Edward Lamb and his wife Ruby are proud owners of two pit bulls.According to Mrs Lamb, not all pit bulls are dangerous. She said it's frequently the owner that turns the dog into a bad one.“I recently invited my preschool students to my home to visit my ten-month-old pit bull Major,” she said.“It was my attempt to teach young students that even dogs need to be brought up in a home where proper training and discipline is enforced.“The recent bad publicity about pit bulls should really be directed at irresponsible owners rather than the dogs themselves.”Only two of her class of 18 students were not given permission to visit the dogs at her home, Mrs Lamb stated.“I still remain committed to sharing with all of my students the importance of training and socialising dogs so that they will learn at an early age to be careful, but not fearful, of pit bulls or any other dogs for that matter.”She said she grew up with dogs as pets most were pit bulls.“We have found that pit bulls that are raised in a nurturing and structured environment are in fact quite loyal, affectionate and loving towards children and adults alike.“Over the years, our home has always been full of children and we have never had a negative experience or incident involving our pit bulls. It is definitely the way you choose to raise them that makes the difference.“All dogs need owners who give them plenty of love, attention, exercise, structure and routine. Also, responsible dog owners are those who train their dogs properly and provide proper living conditions for them.”Mrs Lamb pointed out that as a domesticated species, dogs generally are not aggressive towards people.“To make them sociable around people and children, dogs need to be raised in an environment with lots of affection, play and training. And that training should include proper ways of showing the dog what is and what is not acceptable.“Pit bulls are typically very loving and sociable as a breed, although they are aggressive towards other dogs. Having said that, it is fair to say that each dog has its own personality.”The breed is known for its uncanny strength and wide, square-shaped head.They were first used as guard dogs and later for blood sports and entertainment for the working classes and for royalty.Added Mrs Lamb: “It is perhaps for this reason these dogs do not enjoy public appreciation in today's society.“It is unfortunate that some pit bull owners still want to create gladiator dogs of the past, something that has long been abolished.“Unfortunately, the bad reputation that these dogs have received is a direct result of callous owners who have chosen to train their dogs for ulterior motives that include aggressive and violent acts.“These irresponsible dog owners have given this wonderful breed an undeserved bad name. As Cesar Millan always says on his show, ‘The Dog Whisperer', ‘there is no such thing as a bad dog only bad owners!'“I hope that this message counters all the negative publicity that pit bulls have received of late, as they really are special and wonderful dogs.”