NEWS9 Special Assignment: Pit Bull Problems
Local police have responded to numerous calls about pit bulls biting people, even killing other families' pets.
So far this year, the Steubenville Police Department has responded to 64 calls involving pit bulls.
The dogs are deemed vicious in Ohio.
Steubenville veterinarian Dr. Michael Martello said, “I think they're a breed you need to be careful with. If they're not brought up properly, they can be difficult. They can do damage.”
Martello and Steubenville Police Chief Bill McCafferty agree that pit bull attacks this year are out of control.
“It's a problem,” said McCafferty.
In March, NEWS9 reported that police said a pit bull attacked another dog in Brilliant then bit two women.
In July, another attack happened in Steubenville. Two pit bulls snatched a Yorkshire terrier killing the family pet.
“They kind of feed off each other,” said Martello. “It's like mob behavior in people."
In August, an attack occurred in Toronto. One man hit the dog with a two by four to stop it.
Steubenville police were forced to open fire in September and kill a pit bull that mauled another dog.
“It's bad enough to have any dogs running loose, but especially these dogs that are known to be vicious,” said McCafferty. “They instill fear in people just by their presence."
Action against the dogs is happening elsewhere.
Guernsey County officials will no longer adopt, rescue or foster pill bulls or pit bull mix breeds at the county pound because of liability concerns.
Toronto's safety director wants police to enforce the city's vicious dog ordinance.
While Ohio requires vicious dog owners to have $100,000 liability insurance, other local cities have passed their own ordinances including Steubenville, Mingo Junction and Bellaire.
Dr. Martello said people cannot blame the breed because any dog can have a mean streak.
“The pit bull breed can be a very, very good breed,” said Martello. “It should be brought up properly and have the right owner.”
Martello said that pit bull owners should take a pack leader approach to the dogs because they need to be controlled. Ohio House Bill 69, which has yet to pass through committee, would remove pit bulls from the list of vicious dogs.
If it passes, pit bull owners would no longer have to buy $100,000 liability insurance.
West Virginia's law on vicious dogs isn't nearly as strict, but individual cities can adapt their own ordinances. Wheeling did in 2006 and now requires owners of vicious dogs to register them and buy insurance.
http://www.wtov9.com/news/21531759/detail.html
From the Steubenville Code of Ordinances, a "pit bull" is defined as:
"Pit bull terrier" as used herein includes, but is not limited to, any American Pit Bull Terrier, any Bull Terrier, any Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog, or any mixed breed of dog which contains as an element of its breeding the breed of American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier as to be identifiable as partially of the breed of American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier.
