Mahoning County officials will back Youngstown’s tougher pit bull law

Dog owners say the new law unfairly targets a specific breed.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

CITY HALL REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — Top city and Mahoning County officials say there won’t be a problem enforcing Youngstown’s tougher pit bull terrier law.

But it will probably be a few days after the law takes effect on Saturday.

Word has yet to trickle down to Michael Fox, the county’s dog warden.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and city Prosecutor Jay Macejko as well as county Commissioners John McNally IV and Anthony Traficanti said the city and county are in agreement about the enforcement.

The commissioners will sit down early next week with Fox to instruct him to follow the new city ordinance, Traficanti said.

Fox told The Vindicator last week that he had no intention of enforcing portions of the city’s pit bull law that exceed Ohio Revised Code.

Fox recently said he hasn’t been told anything different from county officials.

But “I work for the county commissioners ... and if they told me to enforce a municipal ordinance, I would,” Fox said.

Fox’s initial comments didn’t sit well with Traficanti, Williams and Macejko.

“Mike Fox shouldn’t be making policy statements for the commissioners,” Traficanti said.

Williams said he had cooperation on this issue from the commissioners and spoke to county Administrator George Tablack, who told him the ordinance would be enforced. Tablack couldn’t be reached to comment Tuesday or Wednesday.

“People above [Fox’s] pay grade tell us differently” about enforcement, the mayor said.

“Mr. Fox was a little too quick to offer his comments,” added Macejko.

What’s in new law

McNally, a former Youngstown law director, said the county will cooperate fully with the city’s new pit bull law.

Much of the pit bull legislation approved by city council last week is similar to state laws, such as keeping the dogs securely confined, requiring owners to carry liability insurance of at least $100,000, and registering each dog with the county dog warden.

The Youngstown ordinance has two major departures from state law: a ban on future ownership of pit bulls beginning Saturday, and requiring the dogs to be on a leash no longer than 4 feet. The state allows pit bulls on leashes no longer than 6 feet.

The ordinance, making Youngstown one of a small number of cities in the country with an outright ban on new pit bulls beginning Saturday, has drawn a great deal of complaints from dog lovers in Youngstown, the Mahoning Valley and throughout the country.

A Web site — nopitbullbans.com — founded in 2003 in the Chicago area to oppose dog breed specific legislation recently posted information on the Youngstown law. Included is a comment with the home telephone numbers of the seven city council members to call and complain about the law. Also listed is the e-mail address of the city clerk.

Some complaints

Several dog owners and breeders have complained that the legislation unfairly targets canines considered pit bulls or pit bull mixes. They say it’s a misconception that pit bulls are dangerous.

City officials said the law was approved because of an escalating problem involving pit bulls, including dog fighting contests and attacks toward people and other pets.

The legislation was adopted last week at a special council meeting. Council doesn’t permit the public to speak at special meetings.

Teri Kechler of Fifth Avenue, who owns two pit bull mixes and attended last week’s meeting, is asking council to let her speak against the legislation at its meeting next Wednesday.

Also, Maura R. Evans of Rigby Street, who adopted what she believes is a mixed pit bull, has asked to speak at the meeting.

“I wonder why so much is going into banning pit bulls and making it difficult on owners who follow the law,” she said. “I truly believe the problem lies with owners who aren’t doing what they should. I am amazed that they think those people who are already not the best owners will go ahead and follow this law.”

skolnick@vindy.com