Cincy'sMom
03-13-2006, 10:08 PM
The dog warden here is Toledo is notorius for being against any pit bulls and wanting them all labelled vicious dogs. On March 3, the court overturned Toledo's vicious dog ruling,allowing pit bull owners to have their dogs outside with out a muzzle, and no longer limits the number of pit bulls that a person can own. While there is some concern about fighting dogs here in Toledo, it is victory for many good dog owners. Of course the dog warden is still fighting, ( and from his comments in this article and statements he has made in the past, when he his talking about pit bulls, he is talking all pits, not just thosed used for fighting of a histroy of issues). For the time, the pitties win :)
Dog Warden Wants Pit Bull Ruling Overturned (http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=4625397)
TOLEDO -- The fallout continues at the Lucas County dog warden's office from a March 3rd court ruling that struck down Toledo's vicious dog ordinance. News 11 has new details on this developing situation.
Dog warden Tom Skeldon met Monday with several Lucas County officials to discuss what he and his staffers can do to control the local pit bull population. Skeldon says not only has the recent court of appeals ruling put a hold on Toledo's vicious dog law -- it has neutered the state law as well, taking the bite out of its restrictions.
Skeldon said, "People can have as many vicious dogs as they want." He added that the ruling means dog owners needn't muzzle pit bulls -- nor must they confine them in a locked, fenced yard.
According to Skeldon, law enforcement now has virtually no ability to stop pit pulls from attacking people or other dogs in public. He says the only power people do have in controlling pit bulls is connected to biting incidents. In that situation, the dog can be put in quarantine for 10 days to ensure the animal does not have rabies, but then the owner is allowed to take the dog home.
Skeldon says he fears there's going to be a rash of pit bull attacks in public during the spring and summer as a challenge to the court ruling works its way through the court system. He predicts that rash of pit bull attacks because there's now no limit on vicious dog ownership, and little restriction when it comes to confinement.
And Skeldon has another concern. If the ruling is upheld, Skeldon worries that the city and county could be held accountable by those pit bull owners whose dogs were put down in recent years.
Last year, the Lucas County dog warden's office confiscated a total of 900 pit bulls.
Dog Warden Wants Pit Bull Ruling Overturned (http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=4625397)
TOLEDO -- The fallout continues at the Lucas County dog warden's office from a March 3rd court ruling that struck down Toledo's vicious dog ordinance. News 11 has new details on this developing situation.
Dog warden Tom Skeldon met Monday with several Lucas County officials to discuss what he and his staffers can do to control the local pit bull population. Skeldon says not only has the recent court of appeals ruling put a hold on Toledo's vicious dog law -- it has neutered the state law as well, taking the bite out of its restrictions.
Skeldon said, "People can have as many vicious dogs as they want." He added that the ruling means dog owners needn't muzzle pit bulls -- nor must they confine them in a locked, fenced yard.
According to Skeldon, law enforcement now has virtually no ability to stop pit pulls from attacking people or other dogs in public. He says the only power people do have in controlling pit bulls is connected to biting incidents. In that situation, the dog can be put in quarantine for 10 days to ensure the animal does not have rabies, but then the owner is allowed to take the dog home.
Skeldon says he fears there's going to be a rash of pit bull attacks in public during the spring and summer as a challenge to the court ruling works its way through the court system. He predicts that rash of pit bull attacks because there's now no limit on vicious dog ownership, and little restriction when it comes to confinement.
And Skeldon has another concern. If the ruling is upheld, Skeldon worries that the city and county could be held accountable by those pit bull owners whose dogs were put down in recent years.
Last year, the Lucas County dog warden's office confiscated a total of 900 pit bulls.