Dog owners tell council: Pit bull ban stinks

Dog owners tell council: Pit bull ban stinks

YOUNGSTOWN — Objections from dog owners to the city’s tougher pit bull terrier law won’t alter the legislation, city council’s safety committee chairman said.

It doesn’t matter at this point because the Mahoning County dog warden still isn’t enforcing the law that took effect Saturday.

At its meeting today, city council heard complaints from three dog owners about the new law.

Council’s safety committee will meet sometime next week to hear from people about the new pit bull law, said Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st and the committee’s chairman.

The committee may consider a recommendation from those who spoke at the council meeting to establish a committee to take a closer look at the legislation.

“But we’re not changing the language of the law,” Gillam said. The meeting is “just to let people know what it means.”

The ordinance makes Youngstown one of a small number of cities in the country with an outright ban on new pit bulls. It has attracted opposition from people throughout the country who say Youngstown is unfairly targeting one type of dog.

City officials say pit bulls have terrorized citizens and the ban is needed.

Enforcement of the ban, city officials say, falls to the county dog warden. County commissioners agree and say the dog warden will enforce the city law, but that hasn’t happened yet.

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