Lakewood Ohio's ban on pit bull and canary breeds, like all breed bans, is a tragedy. Family pets are being ordered out of the city.

The local animal control does not even look at the dogs, much less do a DNA test or have a trained expert examine the animal. Instead, animal control which is run by the city police department, has simply issued notices to residents when someone reports them for having a pit bull type dog.  

Even if animal control looks at the dogs, it is virtually impossible for anyone to identify a breed, let alone a mix, by appearance.  DNA tests are not yet reliable.

Of course, regardless, breed is not a basis for predicting whether a dog will bite or attack.    

Take Buddy, pictured here.  Buddy is about 18 months old. He loves other animals and people and "is just a sweet, loving dog".   He has been ordered out of the city of Lakewood.  His family has offered to pay all costs and expenses of relocating him to a temporary home out of Lakewood until they can also move from there.

If you can help Buddy and other dogs with foster or new adoptive homes, relocation expenses and other care, please email dawn@canineadvocatesofohio.org

What the Lakewood Law Requires

The ordinance bans pit bulls and canary breeds and mixes that were not in the city previously. These dogs already there can stay but only if they are registered and their owners comply with the requirements of Ohio's vicious dog law.  Ohio law already defines "pit bulls" as vicious simply because of their breed.

Vicious dogs and pit bulls - and now also canary dogs in Lakewood - must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet long and muzzled or otherwise confined to prevent escape in a "locked pen" that has a top. "Dangerous" dogs - as opposed to vicious dogs - can instead be kept on a tether or chain.  OH Rev. Code §955.22  Why anyone would encourage chaining or tethering of any dog, let alone a so-called "dangerous" dog.  Chained dogs are 2.8 times more likely to bite.  

Curiously, these restrictions don't apply to dogs used for hunting or in training for hunting, even if they are "vicious".  Concerns for "safety" give way when there is another interest at stake like hunting.   

What Else You Can Do

Let's call on the Lakewood City Council to repeal this law. Go here to find and write or call council members, the clerk of the council and the mayor!

Please be polite. If you are rude, you do more harm than is already being done to these dogs. Send Lakewood officials this link and tell them:

Talking Points

No major health or animal welfare organization including the Centers for Disease Control, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the National Animal Control Association support BSL.

BSL does not make communities safer and does not reduce incidents of bites or attacks.  Study after study has proven this. Dogs don't bite because of breed. Dogs bite because of lack of early socialization and positive training, poor owner management, isolation, chaining, neglect, abuse or use or misuse for fighting or other criminal activities.

BSL penalizes responsible dog owners and is very costly to enforce. In the end the law will simply result in the deaths of family pets and untold heartache as well as waste of tens, even hundreds of thousands of tax dollars. No one will be safer. Go here for responsible solutions.