Mahoning — for now — won’t enforce portion of new city pit bull law

September 6, 2007 at 5:25p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County dog warden has no intention of enforcing portions of the city’s tougher pit bull terrier law, most notably the ban on future ownership of the breed that takes effect Sept. 15.

“I enforce the Ohio Revised Code,” said Dog Warden Michael Fox. “This is a municipal ordinance. Any municipal ordinance like barking dogs is through the local law enforcement agency.”

Most of the pit bull terrier legislation approved Wednesday by council mirrors state laws on the breed, such as keeping the dogs securely confined, carrying liability insurance of at least $100,000, and registering each dog with the county dog warden.

The city law requires pit bulls to be on a leash no longer than four feet while the state allows the breed on leashes no longer than six feet.

But the ban on future ownership of pit bulls that begins next week won’t be enforced by the county, Fox said today, and would be the Youngstown police department’s responsibility.

Mayor Jay Williams and Councilman Mark Memmer, D-7th, said the county dog warden’s office has a responsibility to make sure people comply with the new ordinance.

Williams plans to meet with the county commissioners shortly to discuss the issue and is confident the matter will be resolved. Commissioner John McNally IV said he wants the county dog warden to follow the Youngstown ordinance because of the city’s problem with pit bulls.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com