Ohio Valley Dog Owners, Inc.
Protecting dogs, dog owners and our neighbors
through education and community service
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Ohio Valley Dog Owners, Inc.Protecting dogs, dog owners and our neighbors
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This article describes a task force that met several times in 2001-2002 to address problems caused by dog fighting in Ohio cities and rural areas. The task force presented its report to the state legislature in January 2003 without breed-specific recommendations. However, we think it is important for those interested in the story of BSL in Ohio to read this report of a meeting of this group. We have two more articles about the task force: "Dog fighting task force gets back on track" and "Pit bulls not targeted as Ohio dog fighting task force asks for increased sentences for dog fighting."
Ohio has a new task force assigned to draft new legislation to help control dog fighting, but pit bulls and their owners appear to be the targets.
The task force includes only law enforcement officials, the Humane Society of the US, and the two chairmen, the director of the state agriculture department and the lieutenant governor. No dog owners, breeders, trainers, or behaviorists were invited to participate.
The task force met for the first time in August. Tom Skeldon, the dog warden in Lucas County who considers all 'pit bulls' to be vicious, showed two videotapes to the committee. According to Melanie Tierney of Canine Friends of Cleveland, the first tape was developed for use as a training tool for dog fighting and pit bull identification and contains a great deal of misinformation about bull breeds, and the second tape depicts a dog mutilating itself in a frantic attempt to escape confinement.
"The dog was videotaped for approximately 20-30 minutes of continuous footage, and appeared to be in a frenzy as it tugged and fought with the kennel fencing and cable to the outside dog door," Tierney said.
"From the perspective of basic dog behavior, the dog was in an extreme state of anxiety and was seeking escape from a highly stressful situation. During the video, the dog was self-injuring and self-mutilating as it attempted to escape. The injuries were serious and bloody."
Dogs impounded in dog fighting cases are evidence, Tierney noted, and should be given good care until disposition of the case. However, she said, "Allowing this dog to mutilate and seriously injure itself for nearly 30 minutes shows utmost indifference to the suffering of a living creature," and "raises compelling questions" about the care of these dogs. Furthermore, she noted, the tape would likely be considered evidence of cruelty if seized in an abuse case filed against a dog owner.
The legislative subcommittee of the task force met on September 17 for 45 minutes to determine that current laws against dog fighting are sufficient so tighter controls on pit bull ownership are necessary. They discussed requiring muzzles on all pit bulls when off the owner's property, requiring owners to carry proof of insurance cards, and requiring proof of insurance as a prerequisite for a dog license.
Ohio cities, like cities elsewhere in the US, appear to have a small but serious problem of gangs and other criminals operating dog fighting rings or using dogs for other illegal purposes. Dog fighting is a felony in Ohio with penalties ranging from 6-18 months in jail and up to $10,000 in fines. Ownership of a debarked pit bull is also subject to the same penalties.
Ohio law gives dog wardens the authority to determine if a dog is a pit bull. Depending on the dog warden in a particular county, any of the following breeds or their mixes may be tagged as 'pit bulls': American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Presa Canario, Cane Corso, Boxer mix, and Mastiff mix.
Skeldon considers all pit bulls to be vicious, an opinion codified in state law, and he has expanded his list of breeds to include anything with a short coat, a stocky, muscular body, and a broad head, and he actively pursues these dogs whether they are owned by dog fighters or are beloved pets, or talented working dogs or prized show dogs.
At the initial task force meeting in August, Skeldon said that weight pull events — a legitimate sport for many breeds — are a cover-up for dog fighting and that breeds such as the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldog , and Presa Canario are pit bulls owned by people who are trying to avoid the vicious dog law. Sandy Rowland of HSUS said that best in show trophies, plaques or ribbons can be evidence of dog fighting, and that police should be on the lookout for dogs with scars, treadmills, springpoles, medications and medical equipment, and books or magazines dealing with dog fighting.
For more OVDO information on breed specific legislation, see:
Judge dogs by deeds, not breeds!
New bill drops 'pit bull' from vicious dog list, adds due process for animal owners
To catch up with national BSL news, visit:
http://www.rott-n-chatter.com/rottweilers/laws/breedspecific.html
AKC highlights concerns over breed spcisif legislation, http://www.akc.org/pdfs/press_center/press_releases/2006/Rufus_BSL.pdf
Also check out the NAIA Guidelines for Pet Friendly Ordinances at http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/petfriendlyguide.pdf for reasonable alternatives to breed restrictions and other laws that punish responsible owners and good dogs.
OVDO
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