For decades, the “pit bull” has stood head and shoulders above other dogs as the most vilified of American pets. As a result, many Ohio communities, including several in the Toledo area, still have breed-specific ordinances that declare so-called “pit bulls” inherently more vicious.

Drug dealers, gang members, and other street criminals used the dogs for nefarious purposes, including fighting. That helped ensure that all “pit bulls,” regardless of their individual temperaments, became identified with the worst elements in society.

Because many “pit bulls” were poorly trained and taught to be antisocial by bad owners, the entire breed developed an unwarranted reputation for unprovoked ferocity. Lately, though, there are welcome signs that the hysteria is waning.

In the past two years, more than 100 municipalities across the country have overturned bans and other restrictions on “pit bull ” ownership. Locally, Wauseon is considering a measure that would remove the community’s automatic designation of “pit bulls” as vicious.

Other communities are contemplating similar action. The state removed breed-specific language from its dog law in 2012. Still, there remains plenty of prejudice and resistance to “pit bulls.”

Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the National Canine Research Council, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Bar Association. They insist that a dog’s upbringing has much more to do with its predisposition to bite than just its breed. Other advocates note that definitions of “pit bulls” are often vague, making ordinances difficult to enforce.

It will take a few more years to get bad dog laws off the books, but the truth about “pit bulls” is finally emerging.

First Published November 25, 2014, 5:00 a.m.