Action alert:  Cleveland area city bans pit bulls as pets  
Friday, October 26th, 2007

The city of Garfield Heights, which is a suburb in the Greater Cleveland area, began a "pit bull ban" this week, because city leaders believes the dogs are not safe to have, even as pets.  The city prosecutor said there were two pit bull attacks in the last six months, and a decision had to be made.

Shana Klein, a local resident, organized a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals meeting in Bratenahl last night.  She and her husband adopt animals in need.  She told a local news channel in Cleveland that pit bull bans do not work, and the group is looking for support to reverse the ban.

"When you're confronted by a dog that's about to attack you, you're not saying, "well it's not a pit bull, then it must be nice," Shana said.  "You're afraid because it's a dog that's not being controlled by its owner...It's very scary to live in a place where a family member can possibly be confiscated because of the way they look."

If a complaint comes into the police station about any pit bulls in Garfield Heights, police will respond and give owners a chance to find their dogs a new home, outside of the city.  If the owner does not comply, the city now has the right to put the dog(s) in a shelter, or even euthanize them.

The ordinance passed in September, and owners can also get 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.  And it's not the only city in Northeast Ohio that has a pit bull ban:  the neighboring suburb of Parma has had such a law since 1987.

The 14th amendment of the Constitution states:  "No state shall..deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

Our dogs - who are also friends, members of our family - but are they not our own property?

I would like to post further information and a petition regarding this ban:  if anyone has any further information, please contact us.

Visit Shana's website, fortheloveofpits.org.

   

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