Eventually the Canus Molossi gave way to Mastiffs which were traded as commodities and made rounds throughout Europe. Early Britons employed a variation of the Mastiffs as fighting dogs that were used dually in a guardianship or in warfare capacity. Their history in "pits" began with baiting. Baiting began with butchers who kept dogs who could handle unruly bulls as they were herded for slaughter. When a bull proved unruly by stepping out of line or by acting uncontrollable, the dog would clamp down on its nose and hang on until the handler was able to regain control. These butchers were so proud of their canines for dealing with significantly larger and potentially dangerous bulls that they began holding public displays to showcase their talent. In these baiting events one or two dogs were unleashed on the bull and once they were unleashed they were trained to harass the bull until it collapsed due to fatigue, injury or both. But the public grew bored with bulls and soon started baiting dogs with bears, boars, horses and even monkeys. Although Parliament outlawed baiting in 1835 they could not outlaw the public's ravenous desire to watch this sick spectacle of dogs fighting and as a result their attention turned to ratting- a practice in which a dog was thrown in a pit with various rats. Like baiting, ratting soon lost intrigue and the public instead opted to see the dogs fighting each other. The canine gladiators were forced into a rigorous training process which deprived them of normal contact with humans but instead instilling in them an intense desire to kill their opponents. Their diet consisted of blood and raw meat and these dogs were kept in complete darkness save for the few hours a day spent with their handlers. To further enhance the dogs' eagerness for the kill, handlers forced them to run on a stationary treadmill with a weaker animal in front of them just out of reach and at the end of the exercise, the dogs were allowed to kill the animal as their reward. When it came time to fight, the dogs were expected to attack the opponents without any hesitation and if a dog turned away it was viewed as weakness and grounds for forfeit. Then even if they made it out alive handlers killed their own dogs because they believed a dog that hesitated even once could no longer be relied on to fight with the tenacity the "sport" required. Things did not change for this fighting breed until they immigrated with their owners to America. It was in America where they were used for more human activities like herding sheep and cattle and guarding families in attention to livestock. Years later the American Pit became known a beloved symbol for America. During World War 1 a Pit Bull named Stubby acted as the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Division and was credited with saving the lives of several of his human comrades. For his valiant service, Stubby won several medals and was even awarded the rank of sergeant! On recruitment posters for the army the country even personified itself as the beloved Pit Bull. Helen Keller, blind and deaf, owned a a loving Pit Bull. Pits even became known as the Nanny dog due to their loyal and protective nature and as a result were left in charge of babysitting. However it was their loyal and protective nature along with their strength that made them the ideal candidate for the resurgence in dog fighting during the 80's. Furthermore these also became the preferred dog of drug dealers and gangs. The media and America forgot about it's once hero and turned Pit Bulls into the face of terror; often times singling them out over any other breeds involved in attacks.