Anyone familiar with vicious dog laws in the US, more specifically pitbulls?

Question

I was recently attacked by a pitbull that has attacked 7 other people in the past. The dog belonged to a friend of my fiance and I did not want to press charges or report the incident to the dog warden, instead I suggested the owner put the dog to sleep. Unfortunately, the owner refused to cooperate, at which point my fiance notified the dog warden and both of the owners pitbulls were removed from his home. I'm not familiar with laws throughout the US but I am from Ohio where it is illegal to own 2 pitbulls per household. I also know that the owner of these pitbulls did not have proper insurance coverage, so he faces a $3,000 fine ($1,500 for each dog.) The dog warden said that the owner will have to pay my doctor bills and my doctor has said that the owner will face felony charges. Is anyone familiar with vicious dog and/or pitbull laws? If so, what type of charges does this man face and how do I go about making sure he pays my medical bills?

The owner receives disability because of a work related injury. He claims he is unable to work, therefore unable to pay my medical bills and his fines.

Answer 1

I live near Cleveland (45 min south). There are MANY laws pertaining to Pits in Ohio. All the way down to the color of collar they are required to wear. He will face numerous charges and to get him to pay the medical bills you will have to take him to court unless he is arrested, then you can go to the grand jury and request that the prosecutor seek financial restitution (The prosecutor will be there at the grand jury and should ask what it is that you want to see happen) The dog warden should be able to tell you what all laws pertain to this situation, if not make an appointment with the cheif of police to discuss what all laws pertain to this. You also may look up the ORC (Ohio revised Code) online. In addition to your city may have additional laws pertaining to viscious animals.

Answer 2

This depends on the individual law, utterly. I do agree that other dog breeds can easily be as aggressive or damaging as pit bulls, indeed breeds that we don't even consider stereotypically aggressive. I have also seen pit bulls that were quite nice. Whether or not they should be outlawed is a matter of opinion. The best thing, in my opinion, to be done is to temperament test all animals moving through shelters, and focus our efforts on those animals which are wonderful pet dogs... regardless of breed. However, socialization and how people treat their animals is not the entire picture of an individual dog's behavior. Indeed, an aggressive dog and an undersocialized dog, although there can be some overlap in behaviors since you can have both, display radically different behavior patterns. The problem is that our spay and neuter message, at least in the United States, particularly in urban areas, has reached most families and thus their family pets as well. We're sterilizing the kinds of dogs that we want as pets, and the dogs left reproducing are unsuccessful pets or fighting stock. Although rural areas of the South and Midwest are not as affected, it's beginning to occur there more. There's simply more aggression than even ten years ago. But this is really all quite divergent from the question, so I'll stop.

Answer 3

Hi Desiree!!
1. Contact your State Representative and your State Senator and tell them your are problems.
2. Contact the Task Force:

Jim Hoekstra
ODA Enforcement
8995 E. Main St #1
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
614-728-6240
614-728-6328 FAX
[e-mail]

Lieutenant Governor Maureen O'Connor
30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-466-3396
ltgov.o'[e-mail].

Ohio Agriculture Director Fred Dailey
Ohio Department of Agriculture
8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068
614-728-6200
614-466-6124 FAX
[e-mail]

Jason Homan

Answer 4

Through the Act in CA, you can own as many pits as your county allows but they all must be altered unless you pay a special breeding license (which requires proof of showing)

In CA i believe if you are attacked by a pit, SPCA takes the dog and depending on the county, the dog is either put to sleep (like in LA) or goes through testing to see if the dog is adoptable.

Its a felony if your dog bites (this goes for any dog that will raise house insurance: Akitas, Rotties, Dobies, pits...)

His dog should have already been taken. He is likely to serve quite a bit of time in jail and maybe never be able to own a dog again

EDIT:

If he is unable to work then his disability check is what he pays from......

(dog still is to be seized)

Answer 5

Pit bull owners like this one is a nightmare for those of us who train and control our pits at all times. It is a@@hole like this guy that is getting BLS passed all over the US. If this dog had attacked 7 people something should have been done about it a long time ago. Each city or county as it own laws about dangerous dogs. This guy could afford to feed two pit bulls.

Answer 6

Please log into -http://www.pitbullregistry.com and you will be able to get ALL BSL(Breed Specific Legislation) available per state this is very important for all targeted breeds....and you will need legal representation or small claims case can be filed by you and easily won with the medical evidence and eyewitness

Answer 7

Get a lawyer and nail that guy to the wall. He WILL NOT get away with it, especially since you are victim 7 and not victim 1.