American pit bull terriers today successfully fill the role of companion dog, police dog,[7][8][9] and therapy dog;[10] The fighting reputation of pit bull-type dogs led the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1996 to relabel pit bull terriers as “St. Francis Terriers” (not to be confused with the “Terrier” mascot of St. Francis College in New York) so that they might be more readily adopted;[13]