In a positive move toward ending the prejudice of BSL (breed specific legislation), Cleveland, Ohio’s City Council Public Safety Committee unanimously amended the city’s vicious dog ordinance. Under the new amendment, Pit Bulls have been removed from the vicious dog classification. There were also changes made to designate two categories for threatening dogs. The designations will be made based on an animal’s behavior, not its breed.
A “dangerous” dog will be considered a Level I Threat Dog, which is defined as a dog that chases or approaches a person in a menacing manner without provocation. It may also be defined as a dog that bites a person when it is not on its owner’s property. Unfortunately, a dog will also fall into this category if animal control has impounded it on three separate occasions for being unconstrained and uncontrolled while off its owner’s property. That means that even breeds like Chihuahuas and Poodles left to roam could be classified Level I. The changes in the ordinance strive to hold the dog’s owner responsible for the animal.
A “Vicious” dog will be considered a Level II Threat Dog, which is defined as a dog that causes serious injury or death to any person or domestic animal without provocation. In such an instance, the dog owner could be sentenced to up to 880 days in jail. This definition excludes dogs that seriously injure or kill a person or dog that is committing or attempting to commit trespass or other criminal offense on its owner’s property.
The decisions were made after lengthy testimony from Cleveland’s chief animal control officer, John Baird, and a number of animal rescue and welfare organizations, including a representative from the Cleveland APL. The changes were introduced by Councilman Matt Zone.
Chief Baird explained that it has become increasingly more difficult to identify Pit Bulls because of mixed breeds. “It is not fair to the residents and to responsible dog owners that we use one breed as a vicious dog. We are seeing that any dog can cause a problem,” he said.
its about time i know alot of pitbulls what are as sweet as my westies and chihwawa,its the owners ‘ STUPID’ what makes any breed mean,no dog is born evil none!!!!!!!!
I have a pitbull and she is the sweetest dog ever! I’m so happy this passed.
We have a Pit neighbor and our 9 month old MiniSchnauzer has been in love with him forever! He lets her nuzzle him and eat out of his food bowl. We also have a yellow lab in our neighborhood that is very aggressive toward other dogs and children. It’s not the breed, it’s the owner!!!