I used to get that kind of treatment with my rottweiler, and keep in mind I was only 10 or 11 yrs old at the time

, so you can imagine the type of people cussing at and insulting a child over a dog....
She was the sweetest dog ever, loved everyone no matter what. The only time I ever remember her growling was when one of my male family members (one she'd never seen) walked up behind me outside at night and I wasn't even aware he was there. Once I turned around and greeted him she was friendly as could be.
One time I was standing outside with her on leash and someone was walking past with their labrador retriever. She started whining, no aggressive gestures or sounds in the LEAST, she just wanted to play (she wanted to play with any dog she came into contact with in fact, lol), and the guy goes "You better control that damn dog!!!...If it even comes near me I'ma kill it...", all the while HIS labrador is growling and pulling aggressively at the leash towards me and my dog...
I dunno what the heck is wrong with people.
There will always be a breed that gets a bad rep no matter what, based on irresponsible owners and media scare mongering.
People also need to realize that "pit bulls" reported in attacks and in the news aren't a specific breed. There was something on the news where I'm originally from in Ohio ( "pit bulls" were banned - don't think they are now) showing the shelter taking several dogs from people and claiming they were "pit bulls" that had to be put down. Some of the dogs were obviously breeds like labrador retrievers, something most of us could never mistake for any type of bully breed, yet they were being taken from the owners.
So really, people need to take reports, even official ones with a grain of salt. That report could be listing ANY breed. Just because they say it is something doesn't mean anything. Most of them are mutts anyway that just happen to look a little "pit bull" like to someone, but they get put on the list.
Anyway, sorry, that was longer than I intended, I just seem to go on a rant over that kind of stuff, lol.