Thursday, May 29, 2008

Ohio to kill all pit bulls?

On May 19th, Ohio House Representative Tyrone Yates (D - District 33 in Cincinnati) introduced House Bill 568 to:

amend section 955.11 and to enact section 955.111 of the Revised Code to prohibit the owning, keeping, or harboring of pit bull dogs beginning ninety days after the effective date of the act and to require specified officers to seize all pit bull dogs after that date.


It includes this change to Ohio law:

Sec. 955.111.
(A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.

(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.

(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(D) As used in this section, "officer" has the same meaning as in section 959.132 of the Revised Code.

The bill has been referred to the State Government & Elections committee. It does not currently have any other sponsors.

Rep. Yates proposed the bill after a 12-year-old was bitten numerous times by a pit bull. Unfortunately, banning and killing a particular breed is not going to eliminate the possibility of dogs biting kids. Yes, pit bulls, because of their physical characteristics and generations of breeding, can cause more damage with their bites than other types of dogs, but that is not a reason to confiscate private property and destroy it.

And that's what this bill does - it takes something that belongs to you and destroys it under the guise of 'keeping the community safe.' But how this bill with solve the problem of dog bites, even the sponsor doesn't know.

"How it's going to work out in the end, no one knows because when you talk about basically destroying a breed or euthanizing a breed that raises all kinds of moral challenges," said Yates.

Yates says he will reintroduce the bill next year if it doesn't pass during this House session. Considering the opposition that is already present (with on-line petitions and PETA involved), I don't think his bill will be passed.

9 comments:

Timothy W Higgins said...

Maggie,

I find it hard to believe that a representative of state government would consider a fatal form of racial profiling for dogs, when it is such an anathema for humans, even when providing safety at airports. (sarcasm ends)

When are politcians going to stop substituting new laws for personal responsibility? When are they going to stop trading on the personal misery of a family in order to grab the camera for a moment of personal aggrandizement? When will common sense rear its ugly head with these people?

navyvet said...

Is that Tyrone Yikes?

With his mindset...he could be king in lucas cnty.

Carol said...

Maggie,

Again we have politicians that want to legislate personal responsibility, common sense and community safety.

This is the most bizarre piece of proposed legislation that I have seen in quite some time. I cannot fathom the mindset that would promote this type of bill. It's beyond ridiculous.

What's the next step? I got stung by a bee - ouch! Now do away with all the bees. I got scratched by a cat - now do away with all the cats. I am being facetious, but the absurdity of this bill is amazing.

ALL Pit Bulls are not bad. There is not one particular breed of dog that can (or should!) be singled out as a detriment to public safety. Wish I could say the same about the owners.

The paper this bill is written on should be used for starting a campfire. It's of no use for anything else.

No wonder I am anxious about leaving Ohio. Oh well ...

Robin said...

Oh geez... When are these people going to get it in their heads that it isn't the breed, it's irresponsible dog owners/breeders.

German Shepherds are also sometimes known to attack small children. Will they also be put on an outlaw list?

Timothy W Higgins said...

The answer to Robin is yes. Shepheards, St Bernards (there were a rash of accidents a few years back), Dobermans, Great Danes, and the list goes on and on.
... at least it does until we stop asking government to intervine every time something bad happens.

Perhaps it's time that Americans got off of their collective gludius supra maximus and stood on their own two feet. It would be a lot healthier for us in every way.

Ben said...

I would say that this bill will not pass, not should it. Not that I like pitbulls, but still, if someone wants one, they should be able to get one if they take proper care of it.

GraphicsGuy said...

Having experience as an installer, (cable, phone, etc.) I fear the little 'dogs' more than the big ones! If the owner had Chihuahuas or poodles or similar, they were NOT going to get installed until they put the dog away! (I think the little ones must be a 'Napoleon Complex')

NEVER ever had trouble with pits, danes, pinchers, or the like.

What we DO need to euthanize are the politicians that come up with some of these hair-brained ideas! God Lord! Is there something in the water that's causing these folks to lose brain cells?

toledo1 said...

If there was a bill to do something about the people who raise pitbulls to be fighters for money instead of themselves actually going out and finding a real job, I may support look at supporting it. What a world!

Cynical Counsel said...

#1 cause of injury and death to children - CARS.

Collect all cars and euthanize them.

The A-Hole.

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