These 16 Dogs Are Heroes. They Are Also Pit Bulls.

This post is part of HuffPost's ongoing #PitBullWeek coverage .

Virtually every dog relishes a loving scratch behind the ears and some sweet, vocal praise. But dogs identified as pit bulls get a bad reputation and a lot less love. For many human ears, the label "pit bull" connotes a vicious animal with the innate will to attack.

The prejudice against pit bulls might, in part, be founded on old studies (which have since been debunked) that claim pit bulls are more likely to bite than other dogs. They are not .

In hopes to change the narrative surrounding these animals, we're sharing 16 incredible pit bulls who've put their loyal nature, smarts and sweetness to work to save the day:

HuffPost Green is launching a week-long, community-driven effort to bust the myths and raise awareness about pit bulls, a maligned "breed" that often bears the brunt of dated, discriminatory legislation that can make it near impossible for these dogs to find a forever home. You can follow along with HuffPost Pit Bull Week here , or on Facebook and Twitter where we'll be using the hashtag #PitBullWeek .