Ohio bill would remove pits from “vicious” list
A proposed bill in the Ohio State House would remove pit bulls from state’s ”vicious dog” law.
Introduced by Rep. Barbara Sears last week, the bill would amend the current law, which deems all pit bulls dangerous and vicious solely on the basis of their breed.
“In the 1970’s it was German Shepherd, in the 80’s Dobermans, in the 90’s it was Rottweilers, now it’s Pit Bulls. Breed specific legislation does not accomplish the goal.” said Sears. “We want to take the focus of the law away from the breed and have it on the behavior of the animal, then hold the owner of the animal accountable.”
The proposed legislation has a zealous opponent in Lucas County Dog Warden, Tom Skeldon, who e-mailed Rep. Sears a case report regarding pit bull mauling deaths in Detroit, Michigan over a 19-year period, according to Fox News. The email contained an autopsy picture of a child.
Skeldon said the picture was necessary to show what the animal is capable of doing.
“The [Vicious Dog] law has been a valuable tool in protecting the public, it puts restrictions on pit bulls, requires the dog to be fenced or caged and requires owners to have liability insurance,” he said. “That would all go away with this law.”
Skeldon says his agency impounded 1354 pit bulls in 2007, compared to 50 in 1993.
Posted by jwoestendiek March 25th, 2009 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animals, barbara sears, behavior, breed, breed-specific, dangerous, deaths, dog, dogs, house, injuries, laws, legislation, legislature, list, ohio, pets, pit bulls, proposal, remove, reversal, state, vicious
Comments
Comment from mydogmyah
Time May 14, 2009 at 9:05 am
I live in Ohio and I am an owner of a staffy and have had her for a year. When I first got her I did’nt realize she was considered a pit bull until I was told by my neighbors as well.
I did research and found that they are not as vicous of a dog as the media portrays them and decided to keep her.
Myah is definitely the nicest dog I have ever owned. She loves children and other dogs and I wouldnt trade her for the world.
The dog warden in Lucas county is ridiculous its terrible that some one in that position can discriminate a specific breed I’m glad he is not the dog warden in my county. Whats next Labrador Retrievers…after all the first surgery performed to replace a persons face was due the maulling of a lab but you dont see the media airing reports about that do you?
Comment from Kim
Time October 13, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I am the proud owner and previous breeder of the almighty ones am staff and i love my staffs as well as the children and my 75+year neighbor whom brings them dog biscuits every morning and did so when we moved in not knowing the staffs and them not knowing her welcomed her into the yard and thier territory with open paws and love of slobbers punish the deed not the breed you hear it all the time my oldest male has broken the chain twice and has been taken to doggy jail and they dont want to let him go not because they want to punish the breed but because they want totake him home to keep for themselves i feel the ones we pay as taxpayer might want to start looking at the handbag dogs, the ones with bows in their hair, the ones that follw granny everywhere she goes because dynamite does come in small packages and our big blocks are getting pushed around way to much and they only have us to stand up for them sorry for the rambling but who else do we and our four pawed family members have to stop the bullies
Comment from lawguy
Time March 26, 2009 at 9:30 am
I’m from Ohio and I will have to contact my legislator about this. I owned a pit mix awhile back. Rescued it. Didn’t realize what she was until I was told by the neighbors.
The sweetest dog I’ve ever owned. Loved the old people at the nursing home my father lived at the last couple of years of his life.
Always claimed that she was a “mix” which was technically true I guess.
That a dog warden would think that a breed specific law is the way to go is an indication of how little even “professionals” can sometimes know.