Pit Bulls May No Longer be Labeled “Vicious” in Ohio ?Toledo dog bite attorney

Ohio is the only state that labels pit bulls automatically as “vicious”, but that may come to an end. “Vicious dog” is currently defined by law as “one that, without provocation, has seriously injured a person, has killed another dog, or is of the general breed known as ‘pit bull’”. The new bill will take pit bull off of that law. Rep. Barbara Sears is the one that has sponsored the bill and the House passed it 69-29 last spring. Many people are against the law being changed because pit bulls have been used to guard drugs and be involved in dog fighting.

House Bill 14 will just changed the label “vicious dog” just to ones that have injured a person and those that have would be confiscated and euthanized. Also there will be a new “dangerous dog” classification, which is for dogs that have caused minor injuries to a person that wasn’t provoked, killed another dog, or is a three-time offender under a new “nuisance dog”. A nuisance dog will be the minimum classification by one that without provocation and not in the premises of the keeper, has chased, menacingly approached, or attempted to bite a person. If the dog is classified as “dangerous” than pay $50 to the county auditor to register the dog and get tags that make clarify it as dangerous. Also they will have to let the local dog warden when the animal gets loose, bites someone or animal, and also the transfer of ownership or if the dog dies. The last part of the bill makes felons have to wait a three-year period before they can own certain dogs.