The Fremont, Ohio Law Director, Bob Hart, would like to see pit bulls banned or more regulation of them.

But Ohio already defines "vicious" dogs to include "pit bulls" and has extensive regulations for these dogs.  

There will be a town meeting on the issue at City Hall on October 15 at 6:30 PM. Please plan to attend. Also, and if you cannot attend,call Mr. Hart and write or call city officials below and urge them to stop any further breed restrictions. Tell them breed restrictions are costly to enforce.

Tell them it is a myth to think a dog bites because of his appearance or breed.  Fremont will not be safer because of restrictions on dogs based on breed. BSL simply doesn't work, penalizes responsible dog and is notoriously costly to implement and enforce. It is virtually impossible for anyone to determine breed by simply looking at the dog or assessing a few characteristics. DNA tests are proving many dogs thought to be "pit bull" breeds are actually a mix with little or no "pit bull".  Most dogs are judged to be pit bulls based on the determination of animal control or police. That means many mis-identified dogs will end up seized and removed or killed. No major animal or health organization supports BSL. For more information...

There are some steps city officials can take to address the reasons dogs do bite: fear resulting from poor socialization and training by owners and criminal or negligent treatment including fighting, abuse, chaining, and neglect:

1. Require training and responsible pet ownership classes for owners who violate animal control ordinances. Promote early socialization and training with community-wide programs to reward responsible dog owners and encourage socialization and training as part of basic and common canine care practices. 81% of fatal dog attacks are by dogs that were isolated or not included in the family's activities.

2.  Increase access to off-leash parks for proper socialization of dogs. 

3. Pass a dangerous dog law that recognizes that any dog, regardless of breed, is potentially dangerous or considered dangerous if the dog has demonstrated aggressive behavior. The dangerous dog law should allow for different levels of aggressive behavior. The point is to protect the public by encouraging owners to take action to control and manage their dogs - through spay/neuter, training and pet owner responsibility classes - before their dogs' behavior causes them to be classified at a higher level of aggression.

4. Pass strictly enforced leash or dog-at-large laws that require spay/neuter after the second violation. 82% of dog bites are by dogs running loose. (JAVMA, September 15, 2000) After passing a leash law, the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, reported a 35% drop in dog bites.

5. Pass a law that restricts the tethering, chaining and penning or caging of dogs. Dogs that are chained are 2.8 times more likely to be aggressive. The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated:  "Confine your dog in a fenced yard or dog run when it is not in the house. Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior." (May 15, 2003).  Lawrence County, Kansas, adopted an anti-tethering ordinance. From 2005 to 2006, the number of calls concerning cruelty and dog fighting dropped from 800 to 260. Officials attribute the decline in large part to the anti-tethering law.  

6. Encourage spay/neuter and provide low-cost spay/neuter. 90% of fatal dog attacks are by dogs that are not spayed or neutered. Research cited in a 2000 Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association study indicated unsterilized dogs are 2.6 times more likely to bite. (Delise, National Canine Research Council) 80% of dogs seen by veterinary behaviorists for dominance aggression were not spayed/neutered. (JAVMA, Vol. 218, No. 11, June 1, 2001) More than 81% of dogs involved in bites or attacks were found in one survey not to have been spayed/neutered. (Texas 2002 Severe Animal Attack and Bite Surveillance Summary) The key to encouraging spay/neuter is education and also the availability of a subsidized, low cost spay neuter program. Also, mandate spay/neuter for potentially dangerous dogs, dogs adopted out by shelters or rescues or sold by breeders or pet stores, and dogs impounded more than once or found at large.

7. Strengthen and enforce animal fighting and cruelty laws. Breeders should be registered or licensed and subject to inspections and sales of their dogs tracked. Sales of dogs along roads, in flea markets and other public places should be banned. Stop felons from owning dangerous dogs. 61% of fatal dog attacks are by dogs that were not humanely controlled, or had been abused or neglected.

 

Fremont City Officials to contact 

Fremont Law Director Bob Hart, who is pushing for the ban: 419-334-2908

City Councilmembers
Mike Koebel, 419-334-4231 home, 419-332-5300 work
Jim Melle, jmelle@fremontohio.org
Larry Jackson, ljackson@fremontohio.org
O. Duane Simmons, odsimmons@fremontohio.org
Rick Root, rroot@fremontohio.org
Jim Weaver, jweaver@fremontohio.org
Karen Wagner, pwags43@yahoo.com
Don Nalley, nalley1stward@aol.com