By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
A proposed ordinance in Ravenna could end up having more bite than it does bark.
Members of Ravenna City Council's public safety committee are hoping council approves its dangerous and vicious dog ordinance, which would require owners of pit bulls to register them with the police department.
Councilman Bruce Ribelin, who heads the committee, said the ordinance is still a draft and subject to possible changes.
"We feel the need to pass this for the safety of the people in our community," he said.
The draft of the ordinance is seven pages in length and outlines the specifics of the new regulation.
If passed, failure to follow the ordinance could result in misdemeanor charges for the dog owner.
The dogs that would need to be registered are different breeds of pit bull, including American pit bull terrier, bull terrier, Staffordshire terrier and American Staffordshire terrier.
Also, any dog can be deemed "dangerous" and required to be registered if it attacks another animal or human being.
Councilman Frank Seman said there have been complaints from residents who have either been attacked or fear an attack by pit bulls.
"The purpose of the ordinance is to be sure that dogs are secure if (people) have them," he said.
The ordinance defines a dangerous dog as one that "chased or approached in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attack, or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person."
Police dogs and dogs that are provoked into attack are exempt from the ordinance.
According to the ordinance, a vicious dog is defined as one that has killed or caused injury to people has caused injury to or killed another dog or is a pit bull.
Vicious dogs not only will need to be registered, but owners also will need to have the dog insured, and have a microchip implanted by a veterinarian.
Seman said the ordinance was modeled after regulations in several other communities and has been proven to hold up in court.
The determination of dangerous and vicious dogs will be made by the city's animal control officer.
The city will host a public hearing Aug. 4.
"You've got to give people an opportunity to express their points of view," said Seman of the public meeting. "This legislation has been in the works for a long time. It's something we just needed to get done."

 

See also Dutch Government ends 15 Year Pit Bull Ban as Breed Specific Legislation prove a Failure, and the report that proves Spain's Dangerous Dog Act a Failure here.