Ohio Senate OKs bill to end 'vicious' pit bull label

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Pit bulls in Ohio would no longer be labeled as "vicious" dogs under a bill that has cleared the Ohio Senate.

State law currently defines a vicious dog as one that has seriously hurt or killed a person, killed another dog or is among those commonly known as pit bulls. The Senate voted 27-5 Tuesday to change that definition by removing the reference to pit bulls. The change would require evidence to prove pit bulls are actually vicious.

The measure also specifies that the label does not include a police dog that has injured a person or has killed another dog while it's assisting law enforcement officials.

Some dog wardens have opposed the measure because of frequent pit bull attacks, while others say pit bulls are not inherently vicious.