Law on pit bulls ending Tuesday [Dayton Daily News, Ohio]

May 22--The 25-year-old state law declaring the pit bull breed as vicious, and requiring owners to take extra precautions, ends Tuesday in Ohio.

The law is going into effect just days after Makayla Darnell, a 3-day-old baby girl, was attacked and killed by her family's pit bull in the northwestern county of Allen County.

Ohio was the only remaining state to automatically label pit bulls as vicious -- a label given to any dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person or has killed another dog, according to state law.

Previously, owners of pit bulls were required to have liability insurance of $100,000 because the animals were labeled vicious.

Dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claims paid out in 2011, costing nearly $479 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

"It's not fair to have legislation based on breed," said Meg Stephenson, executive director of Animal Friends Humane Society in Hamilton. "Any dog has the capability to bite someone or harm someone; it's up to responsible pet ownership and socialization of the animals."

Middletown's law is more comparable to the proposed new state law, in that pit bulls themselves are not banned, but any aggressive dog can be declared vicious, according to Law Director Les Landen.

"Our law is based more on the behavior of the dog," Landen said.

Any dogs that have previously been deemed as dangerous or vicious, will remain so under the law, said Butler County Chief Dog Warden Julie Holmes.

In July 2011, a pit bull owned by Justin Brewer of Middletown mauled the leg of a 5-year-old boy who was visiting a neighbor. The dog was declared vicious and Brewer was charged with several misdemeanors.

Holmes said owners of vicious dogs are required to register their dog as vicious; muzzle and leash their dog in public; have the dog secured while outside; provide proof the dog is spayed or neutered and microchipped; and have liability insurance of $100,000.

In Butler and Warren counties, the cities of Fairfield, Springboro and Lebanon prohibit the ownership of pit bull dogs, according to city ordinances from as early as the mid-1980s.

"Cities cannot have a more lenient law but can have a stricter one (than the state)," Stephenson said.

Fairfield Mayor Ron D'Epifanio said as far as he knows, there's "no interest in rescinding the ordinance." D'Epifanio said the ordinance is not outwardly enforced but city staff will investigate complaints of pit bulls or pit bull look-a-likes.

Laura Crabtree of Middletown said she's been the proud owner of a pit bull mix for 10 years. She is happy to see an end to this breed-specific legislation.

"This is a good thing because these dogs are being punished because they are loyal and master-centric," Crabtree said.

Crabtree said her pit bull mix, named Princess, doesn't like any controversy and has been attacked in the past by a rottweiler.

Crabtree said she's never been bitten by her pit bull, but has been injured by both a Golden Retriever and Miniature Pinscher.

In 2011, there were 221 licensed pit bulls in Butler County, according to Tom Kamphaus, consumer services director for the Butler County Auditor's Office.

But he said that number is not reflective of the actual pit bull population.

"There were probably more pit bulls than any breed, but (owners) don't always license them," Kamphaus said. "We're hoping people will come forward and license them."

Holmes estimated around 2,000 of the 8,000 dogs brought to the shelter in 2011 were pit bull or pit bull mixes.

Stephenson said while the change in law is a positive move, it won't completely erase the negative connotation surrounding pit bulls.

"Still a lot of people are going to have that conception of them and be afraid to let them into their home," Stephenson said. "This is great for owners that know (pit bulls) are a loving breed."

Stephenson said there are seven pit bulls available for adoption at the Princeton Road facility. She said potential adopters are asked a series of questions to ensure they are prepared to own a dog and know what to expect with each breed.

"We're relying on pet owners to know their pets and what they are capable of," Stephenson said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or [email protected].

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