Defend Ohio Pit Bulls - Oppose Ohio HB 568

We the undersigned understand your concern and desire to protect your constituents from the awful tragedy a dangerous dog can cause. You obviously intend to do so with the law you are proposing via Ohio House Bill 568. However, all you will do with such a law is turn thousands of pet loving voters against you personally and you will be viewed as those terrible people who will cruelly deprive animal lovers of their well behaved pets. 

Surely this is not your intention. To avoid making such a terrible mistake in your proposed legislation may it be suggested that you contact the American Kennel Club in New York and ask for their draft version of a dangerous dog law. This law has been enacted in several states and provides the general populace ample protection from dangerous dogs while still permitting the people who properly train and socialize their pets to retain them.

The loss of a child is a terrible thing but many people will claim the loss of a beloved pet is very close emotionally to it. Banning or restricting a specific breed will not keep children or adults from being injured by dogs that have not been properly trained, rather it will merely change the type of dog that is kept by those who desire the protection of a guardian breed. As it is the owners who control the training and socialization of the puppies they purchase or adopt they are the ones responsible for those dogs that learn to bite people.

Neither American Pit bull Terriers nor American Staffordshire Terriers are dangerous dogs per se; rather they are breeds that are popular not only with those devoted to them and their proper care but those who wish a macho or "thug" image. Prior to this decade, other dog breeds were in similar situations for example Dobermans, German Shepherds and Chow Chows, all breeds that were victims of great popularity and subsequent poor handling by less than competent owners bringing them an undeserved reputation as a 'dangerous' breed. Banning American Pit bull Terriers will merely hasten the upswing in popularity of some other breed.

Controlling the people who will abuse the owner/dog relationship through cruelty, irresponsibility, ignorance or otherwise is a far better and wiser solution to the problem these owners present to their neighbors no matter what breed of dog they own.  Instead of Breed Specific Legislation, please consider laws that promote animal advocacy through education, spay/neuter programs, and other such laws to protect innocent pets, as well as individuals, from irresponsible pet owners, breeders and trainers. Ban the deed, not the breed! Thank you for your time and consideration.