Canfield police put bite in city’s vicious-dog law

By Elise Franco and Ashley Luthern

efranco@vindy.com aluthern@vindy.com

Canfield

Canfield police and administration are taking dog attacks in other area towns seriously for the sake of their own.

The police department has begun implementing the vicious-dog ordinance approved by Canfield City Council in January.

Sgt. Cristobal Ruiz said the ordinance covers two types of dogs — vicious and dangerous.

The ordinance defines a “dangerous dog” as one that has caused another individual injury without provocation.

A “vicious dog” is defined as one that has inflicted severe injury without provocation, has been trained for dog fighting or has been used in the commission of a crime.

Jeff Buchanan lives in the city limits and has two greyhounds. He said he’s never had trouble with a vicious or dangerous dog.

“I don’t have a problem with the ordinance,” Buchanan said. “I like the idea of people cleaning up after their dogs, and the dogs should be on leashes.”

Ruiz said the department was mainly concerned about the pit bull breed, commonly known as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier.

“The point for us is to be a proactive agency, and we’re familiar with some of the incidents in the Mahoning area,” he said. “The concern is public safety and the potential for injury if these animals are loose.”

Ruiz said to his knowledge no pit bulls or other vicious or dangerous dogs now reside in Canfield city.

“Pit bulls aren’t a problem if they’re raised right,” said Stephanie Ensley, a city resident who owns a golden retriever.

“It’s only when they’re raised to be nasty,” she added.

Residents with a dog defined as dangerous or vicious must register it with the police department, Ruiz said.

The registration includes an identifying microchip and a number tattooed on the animal’s inside thigh.

He said anyone who owned a pit bull in the city before Feb. 6 must register their animal. No new pit bulls are permitted in the city after that date.

The pet owner is also required to have liability insurance for at least $100,000 to protect against injury or death caused by the dog.