[Purple]

Residents bark over city regulations for pit bulls
KATE GIAMMARISE

LORAIN -- A council committee meeting last evening almost turned into a real dog fight. The topic -- legislation that could regulate pit bulls in the city of Lorain.
The city's Animal Control Officer, Michael Mattei, gave an impassioned presentation to council members at the Police and Fire Committee meeting on the need for regulation of the dogs.

''We need this ordinance to protect our citizens,'' Mattei said.

Disagreeing were about half a dozen audience members who spoke against what they termed ''breed-specific legislation'' that they said unfairly singled out pit bulls.

The legislation, while not an outright ban on the dogs, would:

-- label pit bulls ''vicious dogs''

-- limit ownership of pit bulls to one per household, though residents who already have more than one pit bull would be allowed to keep all their dogs under a grandfather clause

-- require the dogs to be spayed or neutered

-- mandate owners confine the dog while it is on their property and keep it on a leash when it is not on their property

Mattei and Lorain Director of Environmental Health Jack Kurowski helped Law Director Mark Provenza author the legislation, Mattei said.

Many in the audience said they were not convinced the legislation would work.

One dog owner said she was concerned if the law were passed and her dog were labeled as ''vicious,'' she could lose her homeowners' insurance.

Shana Klein, president and founder of Canine Advocates of Ohio and For the Love of Pits, said owners are ultimately the ones responsible for properly caring for their dogs.

''These (breed specific) laws are ineffective,'' Klein said.

Another man said not all pit bulls are dangerous.

''The only fighting issue I have with my dog is for the comforter at night,'' he said, and invited council members to come to the parking lot and meet his two pit bulls.

Still, many council members said even if the legislation were modified, some type of regulation would be needed, particularly in the wake of the mauling of a 7-year-old girl by a pit bull in May.

Council members voted unanimously to put the legislation on hold to review articles, studies and other information provided by both sides.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...id=46371&rfi=6

[Dakota Spirit]

Man on man . Lets hope they get the RIGHT information and ultimately withdraw the prospect of this legislation.

One thing that really seems stupid to me is labeling the dogs 'vicious'. What exactly is that supposed to accomplish? Fear in the community? That in and of itself just doesn't make sense to me.