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

The Lucas County Pit Crew picked up the first two "pit bulls" the 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 such as the pit crew, which rely on foster volunteers to house the dogs.

The two dogs were Faith, a 1-to-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 as strays Jan. 19.

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 the dogs 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. The compact but muscular 35-pound dog is a good example of a typical "pit bull."

Many people mislabel bigger dogs as "pit bulls" when they are really another breed, such as a boxer or a mastiff.

The American pit bull terrier should weigh 30 to 50 pounds for females or 35 to 60 pounds for males, according to the United Kennel Club.

Another pit crew foster will take the puppy, Karma, if that person's two dogs get along with her.

Otherwise, Ms. Keating will foster her.

"Two years ago, these dogs would have been dead" under former Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon, who killed all "pit bulls," , including puppies, that came into the pound, Ms. Keating said.

Laura Simmons, operations manager at the pound, said there are a lot of misconceptions about "pit bull" breeds.

"They are really just love mongers, as you can see," said Ms. Simmons as Faith gave her constant dog licks. "You can't judge a breed by its cover. You have to look at each dog's individual behavior."

The pit crew picked Faith and Karma from about a dozen "pit bull"-mix dogs the pound has in its nonpublic cage area, Ms. Keating said.

The pound is not yet putting them up for direct adoption to the public, but it is expected they will begin a "pit bull" adoption program now that the state law is changing and removing "pit bull" from its description of dangerous dogs.

Contact Tanya Irwin at: tirwin@theblade.com or 419-724-6066.