Stricter Vicous Dog Laws in Cleveland, Ohio

[mamasobuco]

This (http://www.newsnet5.com/news/10775860/detail.html) news story says a lot about the problems we have in Cleveland regarding vicious dogs including pit bulls.

I love the idea of forcing owners to go to obedience classes. If it teaches even one person more about loving their pit and bringing out the best in him or her it's worth the effort. I also like the idea of strickter penalties for repeat offenders.

Any thoughts? Is this a possitive approach or negative in your opinion?

[Sweet72947]

Mandatory obedience classes sounds like a good thing! Not all people are malicious. Some just truly don't know about training dogs.

[Zoom]

I'd like to see that idea become more widespread, providing of course that there are enough good trainers out there to teach the classes.

[whatszmatter]

all these laws are great on paper and make politicians and some people feel better, but they really have NO teeth. The undertaking for setting up and enforcing something like this would be astronimcal in labor terms and monetary ones. The impact would be minimal IMO. accidents with pets and with anything have been happening for so long and will continue to happen.

The major maulings and killings that make headlines usually are done by dogs of owners that really don't care. Even if they took a class, do you think they'd really care or listen? They have laws, they could enforce them, they don't need new ones. If you're dog is out of control, running at large, biting people, you aren't being responsible, they can do something, but they don't, usually cause they don't have the resources in man power or money to do it. What's another law going to do? and personally I don't want to go to some state mandated training class just so I can be in compliance with yet another law. My dogs are stable, well trained, and well taken care of thank you very much. If you'd like to send a representative out and have me prove it to you I will gladly, but quit making laws telling me what I can and can't do.

[casablanca1]

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland city leaders want to crack down on vicious dogs, specifically pit bulls, after several attacks in recent months. Postal worker Jack Smith was mauled by a pit bull three months ago while delivering mail on East 77th Street, near St. Clair Avenue. Smith still doesn't have full movement of his left had and he suffered more than 40 puncture wounds to his arms. "If it ever would have got my neck, got the main artery in the neck, in either of my arms, I would have bled out," Smith said....

Council on Wednesday discussed 21 recommendations to give the vicious dogs law more teeth, including stiffer fines for repeat offenders. They also want judge to sentence offenders to mandatory obedience training and responsible pet ownership programs. Smith said that's not enough, but it is a start. "Enforcement of the laws has to get stricter. Even if it's jail time for the owners, something has to change," said Smith.

That last is the real issue; it's good to have laws in place so you can actually charge the owners with something, but enforcement is the problem. NJ has some of the strongest vicious dog laws in the country, but when I tried to have them enforced, I ran into complete stonewalling from the cops and court. My only recourse would have been to sue.

I agree with whatz about the mandatory obedience classes idea. Forcing people to attend a class is a great example of thinking that any old class, with any old trainer, will produce a good result. My first two dogs never went to obedience classes and they were never a problem with anyone. Stayed in their yard, always had licenses, shots, etc. I don't see why making it harder for people to own a dog is justified before the person shows any sign of being irresponsible.

[whatszmatter]

I have to admit I didn't read it, until the quote was just put up. I mistook it as they were proposing everyone had to take a mandatory OB class if they owned dogs, not just offenders, my bad. That's what I based my previous comments on. and yes, enforcement has to get better, but really I think those that are responsible will continue to do so and those that aren't, well they're just an accident waiting to happen.

[RedyreRottweilers]

Strict enforcement of leash laws would prevent these types of attacks and injuries from happening.

The dog should never have been loose.

[mamasobuco]

I have to admit I didn't read it, until the quote was just put up. I mistook it as they were proposing everyone had to take a mandatory OB class if they owned dogs, not just offenders, my bad. That's what I based my previous comments on. and yes, enforcement has to get better, but really I think those that are responsible will continue to do so and those that aren't, well they're just an accident waiting to happen.

That's what I meant. I like the idea of having offenders take obedience. I'm guessing some of them honestly don't know how to train a dog and get a pit just because in their circles they are cool.

[ACooper]

While it is refreshing to hear them referring to owner responsibity more than just blaming the dogs, I don't think that will solve very much.

The very word "offender" means that the dog has already been allowed to get out of control enough to either do or attempt harm/damage. In a lot of cases the first "offense" is the dogs last because the "offense" is so tragic the dog is put down. And that is depending on if they can locate/identify the dog as the "offender".

I think they need to look more into pre offending. I am right back to people who want a larger/powerful breed that could do major harm should have to attend obedience or show that their dog has been trained & under control.
And maybe even convicted felons should not be allowed to own powerful breeds just as with guns. (due to popularity of a few breeds with gangs, drugs, etc........)

Whatever laws they have or create need to be enforced or they are useless paper wasters anyway. Which of course leads back to how to enforce any of the laws if so many of the "bad owners" are not registering or even vaccinating their dogs. It's all so hard to figure out.

Edit: It is a step in the right direction..........maybe they'll lead the way to even better ideas.

[Bobsk8]

Strict enforcement of leash laws would prevent these types of attacks and injuries from happening.

The dog should never have been loose.

Enforcing leash laws is a pipe dream. I live next to a park that has a no leash law and the county that the park is in has a no leash law. I called the cops on 2 different occasions when a large dog was running loose in the park with kids around. They told me that they would call animal control and that I should expect to see someone there in about 4 hours or less.....