Pit Crew volunteers pick up "pit bulls" from pound

Michelle Lawrence, left, and Jean Keating, members of the Lucas County Pit Crew, watch as Lucas County Dog Pound worker Laura Simmons brings out Karma, 6 months, at the pound. Both dogs will eventually be adopted.

The Blade/Lori King
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Michelle Lawrence, left, and Jean Keating, members of the Lucas County Pit Crew, watch as Lucas County Dog Pound worker Laura Simmons brings out Karma, 6 months, at the pound. Both dogs will eventually be adopted.

There was a whole lot of tail wagging and dog kisses in the lobby of the Lucas County Dog Warden Friday morning.

The Lucas County Pit Crew Friday picked up the first two "pit bulls" that the Lucas County Dog Warden transferred directly to them, without using the Toledo Area Humane Society as the intermediary. The dogs were thrilled with all the attention, licking anyone who got within two feet of them. Their tails never stopped wagging and they seemed to be enjoying all the attention from the pit crew volunteers and pound staff who were saying goodbye to them.

The dog warden is trying to find more rescue groups that will take "pit bulls" and recently loosened the restrictions on who can take them. Previously, only groups that had a shelter could take them, which ruled out groups like the pit crew, which rely on foster volunteers to house the dogs.

Michelle Lawrence, left, and Jean Keating, members of the Lucas County Pit Crew, leave the Lucas County Dog Pound with two pit bulls who will be available for adoption. Lawrence has Faith and Keating has Karma.

The two dogs were Faith, a 1-2 year old female with a dark brindle coat and Karma, a 4-month-old female with a brown and white coat. Both dogs came into the pound on Jan. 19 as strays.

In between kisses of gratitude from the dogs, Jean Keating and Michelle Lawrence, co-founders of the pit crew, put pink collars and sweaters on them to prepare them for the frigid temperatures outside.

Ms. Lawrence will be fostering Faith. "She’s going to be a great ambassador for us," Ms. Lawrence said of Faith. The 35-pound compact but muscular dog is a good example of a typical "pit bull."