Vicki
Administrator
ELYRIA, Ohio -- Calls to the Elyria Police Department about pit bulls have become fairly common. Now the city is researching a ban on the breed.
On July 17th, a 4-year-old girl was attacked by a pit bull while she played near a home on West Avenue. The dog's owner was cited for not properly containing the dog.
Elyria Police Captain Daniel Jaykel says community watch groups recently brought their concerns to the city. He says people who own pit bulls must keep them confined in a fenced in area, and if the dog is walked it must be on a leash no more than six feet long.
The issue is controversial no matter where the law is considered.
Elyria resident Ken Holbert says he agrees with a ban on the breed.
"I think they should ban them because they're dangerous dogs they're known to attack they're unpredictable and pit bulls probably shouldn't be the only ones banned. They've got like a top ten dangerous breeds that you shouldn't have around kids, I think they should at least ban the top three on that," Holbert said.
Others agree there has to be some control over dogs, but say banning pit bulls may be going too far.
"I'm in favor of more control because some people have pit bulls and they take care of them and love their dogs and that's ok as long as they're doing what they're supposed to be doing it's just like having a child you have to be responsible for your child you have to be responsible for your dog," Brandy Logan said.
The city's law director is researching laws to ban the pit bull breed. He will present the law to the safety committee on August 19th, 2009.
http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-elyria-pit-bull-ban-txt,0,3173481.story
On July 17th, a 4-year-old girl was attacked by a pit bull while she played near a home on West Avenue. The dog's owner was cited for not properly containing the dog.
Elyria Police Captain Daniel Jaykel says community watch groups recently brought their concerns to the city. He says people who own pit bulls must keep them confined in a fenced in area, and if the dog is walked it must be on a leash no more than six feet long.
The issue is controversial no matter where the law is considered.
Elyria resident Ken Holbert says he agrees with a ban on the breed.
"I think they should ban them because they're dangerous dogs they're known to attack they're unpredictable and pit bulls probably shouldn't be the only ones banned. They've got like a top ten dangerous breeds that you shouldn't have around kids, I think they should at least ban the top three on that," Holbert said.
Others agree there has to be some control over dogs, but say banning pit bulls may be going too far.
"I'm in favor of more control because some people have pit bulls and they take care of them and love their dogs and that's ok as long as they're doing what they're supposed to be doing it's just like having a child you have to be responsible for your child you have to be responsible for your dog," Brandy Logan said.
The city's law director is researching laws to ban the pit bull breed. He will present the law to the safety committee on August 19th, 2009.
http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-elyria-pit-bull-ban-txt,0,3173481.story