MARY JO NAGY | Pets Privilege brings responsibility

With the recent news of dog attacks in the Youngstown area, it is important to remind people about the responsibilities that dog owners have. The dog warden's office issues a pamphlet that states, "Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right."
Unfortunately, some owners abuse that privilege.
As a result and to the dismay of many dog owners, communities have issued bans against certain types of dogs instead of pursuing the irresponsible owners.
As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to know your dog and the law.
There is more to owning a dog than just giving it food and water. You need to be responsible for your animal, your neighbors and the community.
Take action: There are some simple steps to take to ensure that this happens.
First, all dogs 3 months of age or older must be licensed every year by Jan. 31. Dogs that are acquired after that date should be licensed immediately.
The tag needs to be attached securely to the dog's collar. This is important for several reasons. An owner can claim a dog that is lost and has been picked up by the pound. However, if there is no tag, the pound needs only to hold that dog for three days before it is euthanized.
Second, you must obey leash laws. ORC indicates that all dogs must be kept confined to your property or kept under reasonable control at all times.
Whether you live in the city or in a rural area, your dog needs to be on a leash. This is to protect yourself and your neighbors.
No one should be afraid to get out of a car or to walk down the street for fear of being bitten.
No rural farmer should have his animals maimed or killed by roaming dogs.
An owner can be held responsible for both personal injury and property damage done by his dog.
It is also dangerous for your dog to run in traffic. Exercising your dog should not consist of opening the door and letting your dog go out for a run.
Proper exercise: A dog needs to be walked, on a leash, daily. There is no excuse for poor weather or the time of day, either.
In addition, your dog should be properly socialized and/or professionally obedience trained.
To help reduce aggression, don't play tug-of-war games; instead, try appropriate games such as fetch.
And never let your dog chase the mail carrier or other persons in uniform for fun.
Although there are no laws for cats because they do not pose attack problems, cat owners should still keep their cats from destroying the neighbor's garden, vehicles, etc.
Third, a dog owner needs to immunize his pet. All dogs and cats need to be vaccinated for rabies at 4 months of age and should be given a distemper vaccine.
This is to control the spread of rabies from animal to animal and from animals to people. The rabies tag should also be worn on your dog's collar.
Ask your veterinarian to spay and neuter your pet. Spaying can help to reduce aggression and biting, but will not reduce the ability of your dog to protect you.
Needless cruelty: It is unfortunate that some owners think they need to make their dogs vicious by hurting or starving them. If you witness abuse, neglect or illegal dog fighting, call the local police and your humane officer. If you see roaming packs of dogs, call the dog warden.
For additional information about dog bites, contact The Humane Society of the United States for a pamphlet on how to avoid being bitten and what to do if you think a dog may attack.
Angels for Animals has these pamphlets and others about obedience training, spaying, neutering and veterinary care available upon request.
As a responsible citizen, if you cannot provide the proper care for a pet, then you should not own a pet. Owning a dog is truly a privilege and not a right.
XMary Jo Nagy is a volunteer with Angels for Animals.