My Dog is VICIOUS

That's news to me but that's what the idiots in office for the State of Ohio have declared. Since Rudy is a pit bull mix he's automatically labeled a vicious dog though he has never growled, lunged, snapped at, intimidated or bitten anyone or anything unless you count the Labrador Retriever that tried to attack our family as we were walking here in the Burg when Mitchell was still very little. Our "vicious dog" positioned himself squarely between Mitchell's stroller and the would-be-attacker and I guarantee that snarling Lab wasn't getting anywhere near us. We didn't realize the Lab was tethered to a long chain at the time and couldn't have reached us anyway but Rudy didn't try to fight him or even pay any attention to him afterward - just continued walking on with us when we had stopped shaking and asked him to.
This Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) against pits and pit-type dogs is an extremely ineffective and discriminatory law and should be fought against - even if it doesn't affect your breed of choice...yet.

The presumed goal of BSL is to reduce dog bites and dog attacks. In reality, BSL rarely achieves that goal.
The following is reproduced from StopBSL.com - Dog bite and attack statistics indicate that dog bites are committed by more than just the so-called "dangerous" breeds. Until 2002, the Texas Department of Health Zoonosis Division put out annual "Severe Animal Attack and Bite Surveillance Summary" reports that summarize the breeds responsible for the most serious attacks. Pit bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and Chow Chows (in no particular order) were consistently on the list. But most interesting of all are the other breeds found on the list, so-called "family dogs". During the studies provided (1996 - 2002), these other breeds included Labrador Retrievers and mixes, Blue Heelers, and Collies. Additional breeds seen occasionally on the list included Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. Remember, this report deals with severe bites and attacks, so that should put to rest the myth that bites from little dogs are not serious.

However, these statistics can not establish which breeds are "more dangerous" than others. As the TDH Survey states, "the number of animals in various dog breeds in the overall canine population is unknown; therefore, no conclusions can be drawn concerning whether dogs of these... breeds [in the study] are prone to bite more often than other breeds or if these are merely the more popular breeds." Taking this into consideration, it's natural that a ban on certain breeds of dogs only means that another breed will become popular in the area - and new breeds will take the top spots on the Severe Bite list.

Personally, I've been bitten by a Cocker Spaniel (our own unfortunately) and a Dachsund and had close calls with a Chow, a Schnauzer, a Border Collie, a Poodle, a Beagle and several Jack Russells and Labradors. Although I would never personally care to add a Dachsund or a Lab to our family, do I think they should be banned? Absolutely not. Do I think the owners should have been more responsible? Absolutely.

Because of this new legislation in Ohio we are required by law to have a 6ft. fence locked at all times which fortunately we put up last year to keep our Springer Spaniel from charging people (they are not on the list) and when we walk Rudy we have to have a choke chain on him and a short leash. I don't allow my dogs to wander from me anyway when we walk since I'm the leader of our pack (a Cesar Milan-follower) so that's no big deal either but the fact that I am dictated to do these things really irks me when other people who have red zone dogs that aren't of the breed under fire right now don't have to do the same thing. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the $100K liability insurance policy we have to take out.

Here is the wording of this law. Jenny if you are reading this you may want to pay close attention. I heard they are also trying to make this effective for dogs over 100lbs.

By State Law all Pit Bull type dogs are automatically termed to be "vicious dogs". It doesn't matter if the dog is a service dog, guide dog, therapy dog etc. If it resembles a Pit Bull it is vicious by default. As an owner of a "vicious dog" you are subjected to specific laws regarding liability insurance and how your dog must be confined.


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Confining Pit Bull Dogs
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22D)

Dogs that are a “breed of dog commonly known as a Pit Bull” are automatically considered to be vicious under Ohio law. They must be confined on the owner’s property by means of a locked fenced yard, a locked dog pen that has a top, or some other locked enclosure (such as a house). This law applies not only to purebred American Pit Bull dogs, but also to other pure bred and mixed breed dogs that have similar physical and behavioral characteristics. Animal Control Officers make the determination as to whether or not a dog is a “breed of dog commonly known as a Pit Bull.” The maximum penalty for a violation of this section on a first offense is a $1,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment. If the dog seriously injures a person, or this is a second offense of this section, the charge may be filed as a felony.

Insuring Pit Bull Dogs
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22E)

Dogs that are a “breed of dog commonly known as a Pit Bull” are automatically considered to be vicious under Ohio law. Owners of these dogs must maintain at least $100,000 of liability insurance coverage on these animals. The maximum penalty for a violation of this section is a $1,000 fine and up to six months imprisonment. If you have any questions regarding these laws, please contact a Field Supervisor at the Franklin County Department of Animal Control’s Enforcement Division at 614-462-3400.

Confining, restraining, debarking dogs.
(Ohio Revised Code Section 955.22E)


(C) Except when a dog is lawfully engaged in hunting and accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the dog, no owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall fail at any time to do either of the following:

(1) Keep the dog physically confined or restrained upon the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer by a leash, tether, adequate fence, supervision, or secure enclosure to prevent escape;

(2) Keep the dog under the reasonable control of some person.

(D) Except when a dangerous or vicious dog is lawfully engaged in hunting or training for the purpose of hunting and is accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the dog, no owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or vicious dog shall fail to do either of the following:

(1) While that dog is on the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, securely confine it at all times in a locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard, or other locked enclosure that has a top, except that a dangerous dog may, in the alternative, be tied with a leash or tether so that the dog is adequately restrained;

(2) While that dog is off the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer, keep that dog on a chain-link leash or tether that is not more than six feet in length and additionally do at least one of the following:

(a) Keep that dog in a locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard, or other locked enclosure that has a top;

(b) Have the leash or tether controlled by a person who is of suitable age and discretion or securely attach, tie, or affix the leash or tether to the ground or a stationary object or fixture so that the dog is adequately restrained and station such a person in close enough proximity to that dog so as to prevent it from causing injury to any person;

(c) Muzzle that dog.

(E) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a vicious dog shall fail to obtain liability insurance with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in each occurrence, subject to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than one hundred thousand dollars because of damage or bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the vicious dog.

Remember this applies to ALL OWNERS - not just those who have had previous problems with attacks in the past.

Some counties in Ohio are forcing pit owners to give them up completely. Again, ALL PITS whether they've had issues in the past or not. Not only is this not fair or just, it's discriminatory. I thought we fought blatant discrimination in America. Not to sound like a NRA fanatic or anything but it will be a cold day in Hell before anyone takes Rudy from our family. I honestly fear that day is coming.

Please help stop Breed Specific Legislation whether you own a Pit Bull or not and thanks for listening to my rant. Remember, when you make your voice heard to help a Pit Bull today, you may be saving your own dog tomorrow.

BSL = Bull Shit Legislation