Marty
07-22-2005, 11:16 AM
Cincinnati, OH -- Dog wardens will be at some residents' doors prepared to take away pit bulls, which have become a banned breed in this city.
But pit bull owners will have time to find other homes for their beloved pets outside the city.
The move will only happen after residents are informed about the new law, Mayor Ed Schroeder said.
Council voted July 14 to approve an ordinance banning pit bulls within city limits.
The issue has been discussed for more than a year now, City Attorney Chris Mehling said.
But last week's decision was prompted by a pit bull attack that happened within the last month, he said.
Ludlow joins the cities of Walton, Erlanger and Elsmere, all of which have bans on the breed.
Covington allows pit bull ownership but regulates it.
The law requires having an identification microchip in the dog, $100,000 liability insurance and keeping the dog on a leash and muzzle when it's outside.
Ludlow resident Chris Stallings and his fiancée Jenny Rapp have owned their 2-year-old pit bulls, Tyson and Teya, since they were 8 weeks old.
The dogs wear collars for an invisible electronic fence at the Victoria Lane home they bought in March.
Stallings, a Covington firefighter, is currently in litigation with the family of a 17-year-old who was allegedly running through Stallings' yard and bitten by one of the pit bulls. Stallings said the dog was teased.
"Any dog would do that," he said of an animal being teased or threatened on its property. There's a German shepherd across the street that would have done the same."
Before the incident, Stallings said his dogs, which cost $1,500 each, had never done anything potentially harmful to anyone.
"My dogs are socialized," he said. "We take them to the dog park all the time, to my softball games ... they're fine."
In Kenton County, Taylor Mill resident Robin Denny is concerned about pit bulls in her neighborhood.
"This is a small street... and there are kids that play out here," she said. "We've got to have some regulations."
Denny, whose 5-year-old son plays outside, recalls instances where pit bulls on her street have been loose.
"People are pretty good about keeping them (contained) but it can happen - dogs get out," said Denny, who owns a dog and a cat.
Taylor Mill City Council is to discuss the issue at its Aug. 10 meeting.
Cincinnati's ordinance banning pit bulls took effect in November 2003. It stipulates only pit bulls registered before that time can stay, and those caught violating the ordinance can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
Mehling and Schroeder said they will advertise the decision in the local newspapers and allow a grace period for owners to make arrangements for their dogs.
"It's tough to take rights away from anyone," Schroeder said. "But we wouldn't want to see anyone else hurt or killed.
"We know there are a lot of people who do take care of their dogs ... but you have to weigh that with safety," he said. "If you have to walk your dog with a muzzle on, maybe it's just not safe."
Schroeder said the city likely will start enforcing the ban near the end of August.
The charge for having one pit bull will be a misdemeanor. Fines will range from $10 to $500 a day, Mehling said. The police and dog wardens will also have the authority to seize dogs.
Stallings is not about to give up his pets.
"I'll end up selling my house before I give up my dogs - they're like kids to me."
But pit bull owners will have time to find other homes for their beloved pets outside the city.
The move will only happen after residents are informed about the new law, Mayor Ed Schroeder said.
Council voted July 14 to approve an ordinance banning pit bulls within city limits.
The issue has been discussed for more than a year now, City Attorney Chris Mehling said.
But last week's decision was prompted by a pit bull attack that happened within the last month, he said.
Ludlow joins the cities of Walton, Erlanger and Elsmere, all of which have bans on the breed.
Covington allows pit bull ownership but regulates it.
The law requires having an identification microchip in the dog, $100,000 liability insurance and keeping the dog on a leash and muzzle when it's outside.
Ludlow resident Chris Stallings and his fiancée Jenny Rapp have owned their 2-year-old pit bulls, Tyson and Teya, since they were 8 weeks old.
The dogs wear collars for an invisible electronic fence at the Victoria Lane home they bought in March.
Stallings, a Covington firefighter, is currently in litigation with the family of a 17-year-old who was allegedly running through Stallings' yard and bitten by one of the pit bulls. Stallings said the dog was teased.
"Any dog would do that," he said of an animal being teased or threatened on its property. There's a German shepherd across the street that would have done the same."
Before the incident, Stallings said his dogs, which cost $1,500 each, had never done anything potentially harmful to anyone.
"My dogs are socialized," he said. "We take them to the dog park all the time, to my softball games ... they're fine."
In Kenton County, Taylor Mill resident Robin Denny is concerned about pit bulls in her neighborhood.
"This is a small street... and there are kids that play out here," she said. "We've got to have some regulations."
Denny, whose 5-year-old son plays outside, recalls instances where pit bulls on her street have been loose.
"People are pretty good about keeping them (contained) but it can happen - dogs get out," said Denny, who owns a dog and a cat.
Taylor Mill City Council is to discuss the issue at its Aug. 10 meeting.
Cincinnati's ordinance banning pit bulls took effect in November 2003. It stipulates only pit bulls registered before that time can stay, and those caught violating the ordinance can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
Mehling and Schroeder said they will advertise the decision in the local newspapers and allow a grace period for owners to make arrangements for their dogs.
"It's tough to take rights away from anyone," Schroeder said. "But we wouldn't want to see anyone else hurt or killed.
"We know there are a lot of people who do take care of their dogs ... but you have to weigh that with safety," he said. "If you have to walk your dog with a muzzle on, maybe it's just not safe."
Schroeder said the city likely will start enforcing the ban near the end of August.
The charge for having one pit bull will be a misdemeanor. Fines will range from $10 to $500 a day, Mehling said. The police and dog wardens will also have the authority to seize dogs.
Stallings is not about to give up his pets.
"I'll end up selling my house before I give up my dogs - they're like kids to me."