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Guernsey County, Ohio Mandates Immediate Euthanasia of All Dogs Resembling Pit Bull Type Dogs or Mixes

October 30, 2009, 5:46PM MT

By Katie Bray, Best Friends Network Volunteer

Guernsey County, Ohio Policy Mandates Euthanasia of All Pit Bull Type Dogs in the Shelter

A new Guernsey County, Ohio Animal Warden policy states:

"UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will we permit adoption of or release to rescue any pit bull or mixed breed dog judged by the warden to be a pit bull mix. Per Guernsey County Commissioners, any pit bull or pit mix shall be euthanized immediately (within 24 hours for owner surrender, after 3 days for strays). NO EXCEPTIONS!!!".

The Daily-Jeff.com reports animal control as saying any pit bull dog or resembling a pit bull mix dog will be immediately euthanized "even if it is friendly." Ohio is the only state in the nation that regulates dogs by breed, specifically declaring pit bull type dogs as inherently "dangerous" throughout the state. By contrast, many states have enacted statutes prohibiting this misinformed and near archaic practice. ( West's Ann.Cal.Penal Code § 599aa(f), C.R.S.A. § 18-9-204.5(5)(b), West's F.S.A. § 767.14, IL ST CH 8 ¶ 365, 510 ILCS 5/24, M.S.A. § 343.31 (4-5), N.J.S.A. 4:19-36, McKinney's Agriculture and Markets Law § 107(5) (New York), 4 Okl.St.Ann. § 46(B), 3 P.S. § 459-507-A(c), V.T.C.A., Health & Safety Code § 822.047, Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6540.)

The motion passed states that the animal warden “shall be vested with the decision if a dog is predominately pit bull and shall have the final authority for the determination.” This leaves no room for challenges or appeals by owners claiming their dog is not predominantly pit bull.

A recent study and report by Dr. Victoria L. Voith, explores the difficulties many shelters experience identifying dogs and with new canine DNA testing, how the shelter's visual identification is often wrong. Click here to read the report. Adding credence to the report, a Salina, KS, woman recently saved her dog from euthanasia after she had it DNA tested. The results revealed the dog was predominantly Bernese Mountain Dog. Click here to read about Lucey's story.

It appears, however, the dogs in Guernsey County, Ohio, will face a most certain death if the dog warden visually identifies it as predominantly pit bull.

Write the County Commission Today!

http://www.guernseycounty.org/agencies/commissioners.asp

tlaughman@guernseycounty.org

sallen@guernseycounty.org

sdouglass@guernseycounty.org

Comments

Posted November 03, 2009, 2:53PM by cambridge_rat_mom

I guess they don't have enough oxygen to breathe in Ohio and their brains are dead. How else could you come up with something as freaking STUPID as this legislation? You might as well say that beating children is all right. Who are these people? Kindergarden drop-outs? These people are running the county. Someone voted them in or appointed them. And it's you, the voter, who is allowing this. So get off your butts and DO SOMETHING!

Posted November 03, 2009, 3:32PM by Desertponder

I'm really beginning to wonder about the level of intelligence of people in Ohio. Somehow this BS has to stop. :(

Posted November 04, 2009, 11:1AM by bear1

This is insane! Seriously! What Century are they living in! UN-believeable! This is so incredibly sad! I just met two of the sweetest pitties ever and to think if they were in this county; they'd be murdered! Sickening!

Posted November 04, 2009, 5:17PM by cgardner702

can anybody go in and rescue these dogs and take them out of the county?

Posted November 08, 2009, 4:16PM by patvanil

This is unbelievable. However, not surprising. There are counties run like this everywhere. Towns hire animal control officers who do not even want to deal with animals in the first place. Therefore, it is easier to kill animals than to work finding them homes. This is all it is. Nothing like going back to the 19th Century. I agree they are not breathing enough oxygen. This is beyond anyone's imagination. Do they know how many breeds resemble pitbulls? So these animals have to die because these people are too lazy to find these animals homes by sending them to shelters and rescues. Geez, we are such a humane, compassionate and caring country aren't we? I would like to add stupidity to that list also.