Wanted to get this debate off Jody's prayer request and clear up what may, in terms of the Wizard of Oz, a difference in the vernacular between English and American terminology. I stand by my earlier statement that pit bull is a generic term, and not a specific breed.

Ohio Revised Code Section 955.11 (A)(4)(a)(iii) defines a "breed of dog commonly known as a pit bull" as a vicious dog. For enforcement purposes, the term "a breed of dog commonly known as a pit bull" refers to any of the following:

An American Pit Bull Terrier
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier
An American Staffordshire Terrier
An American Bulldog
Any other pure bred or mixed breed dog whose appearance and physical characteristics is predominately those of any of the dogs listed above, or is a combination of any of the dogs listed above. This law applies not only to pure bred American Pit Bull dogs, but also to other pure bred and mixed breed dogs that have similar physical and/or behavioral characteristics.
-from the Franklin County Dept of Animal Care & Control

Pit Bull is not Breed. The Word "Pit Bull" was giving to any breed of dog that can bull its way out of pit hole. The Word "Pit Bull really meaning fighting in pit hole.
-from Wikipedia

The City and County of Denver define pit bulls in their ordinance as: Any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying a majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above breeds.

Here is a link from the American Humane Society about the woman who is rescuing and training pitbulls to be S&R dogs and therapy dogs as well.

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/h...rking_pit_bulls.html

And another about a Toronto(the first province and/or state to have (IMO, knee-jerk) breed-specific legislation) pit bull.

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/p..._capture_hearts.html

Look at the list of dogs that have been used for fighting at one time or another:
Akita Inu, Alangu Mastiff, Alano Español, American bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Argentine Dogo, Askal, Bedlington Terrier, Blue Paul Terrier, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bull and Terrier,Bull Terrier, Bully Kutta, Cordoba Fighting Dog, Dogue de Bordeaux, Dogo Cubano, Dogo Sardesco, English Mastiff, English White Terrier,Fila Brasileiro, Gull Dong, Gull Terr, Irish staffordshire bull terrier,Kerry Blue Terrier, Kangal Dog, Lottatore Brindisino, Neapolitan Mastiff, Manchester Terrier, Old English Bulldog, Perro de Presa Canario (Canary Dog), Perro de Presa Mallorquin (Ca de Bou), Shar Pei, Shiba Inu, Spanish Bulldog, Spanish Mastiff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa

Many of these breeds I have never heard of and assume they are from the four corners of world. Apparently many cultures share their thirst for blood sport at the expense of man's best friend.

The point here is that any dog can be turned into a killer. While the UK may be more specific in identifying banned animals, the sources cited here demonstrate that a distinction between breeds is less specific in Canada and the U.S. I think we are all right.

The only truly aggressive dog my family ever owned was a beautiful German Shepherd. She was the offspring of dogs who had been trained as guard dogs for Pine Lake (a swimming area near Berne, a few miles south of me). She was a tiny pup when I got her and she immediately bonded with the 4 in my family. No one else ever made up with her. A very protective dog. She bite a man who was talking with my dad - all the guy did was put his arm up on the fence - Heidi apparently thought he was going to hit dad, and quick as a flash she nailed his arm!

The only other dogs we had that bit were Beagles - one was old and getting grumpy and a friend of my Grandpa walked past her dog house and she bit his ankle. And my son's Beagle Pete bit our insurance man when he kicked at him. And Beagles always look like these friendly loveable hounds! Actually, they are, but when they get old they do tend to get a bit grouchy!

I've been bit numerous times, mostly by my neighbor's Border Collie - she liked to "herd" things - bred into the breed - and she herded people out of her yard by nipping ankles! In fact our old Sheltie Cassie - the one we lost a month ago - did the same thing. Just the herding instinct in them.

John's pit bull mixes are just big loveable pups - not a mean bone in their bodies. Might drown a person in slobbers, or lick their skin off!!! Bully, the big male, will put his huge paws on my shoulders and wash both sides of my face with his sloppy wet tongue! If I didn't know better I'd think I was about to be eaten alive - when he opens his mouth wide he reminds me of a shark - huge mouth full of teeth!!! But he was actually afraid of the Sheltie. Cassie would get ticked off at the pups and wrinkle her nose at them - they yip and yelp like they were being killed and run into another room. They are big enough they could have killed her with one chomp!

Another breed that for awhile at least had a bad reputation is Rotties - I've known at least 3 and none of them would hurt anyone - a cat, maybe - but not people! The only dog I've ever truly been afraid of was a neighbor's Doberman. That dog was only 9 months old when it way-layed me as I went to the mailbox. She stood in the middle of my sidewalk and snarled at me. I just froze until the neighbors called her off - I really think she'd have attacked me if I'd have moved.

It's just so sad what humans have done to the animal kingdom. I really believe that any dog can be made to kill, or at least bite - it all in how they are raised and to some extent, by the breeding.

Nola

Jody's prayer request? I didn't seen anything mentioned about dogs there???

Deb,

Look in Prayer Requests for Tragedy in Friend's Family.

Thanks I thought I was bats for sure!