City Council Changes Language in Pit Bull Ban

voted to clarify language in the banning pit bulls and canary dogs Monday at city hall.

The new language establishes a stronger framework for the enforcement and appeal process of the ordinance, and exempts police dogs and service animals, which have been trained to aid disabled persons.

The owner of a dog determined to be a pit bull can now appeal that decision to a common pleas court, where the decision must be based on “competent and credible” evidence.

Law Director Kevin Butler, who proposed some of the changes, said the new language will make hearings necessary in an appeal, where before they were not.

“The impetus behind the ordinance is to clarify the actual due process steps that need to be taken both from the city’s standpoint and the owner’s standpoint,” he said. “It’s just to be sure that the steps that need to be taken are clarified better.”

The 2008 ban required residents, who owned pit pulls and canary dogs to register the animals, carry special insurance and implant a microchip in the dogs. The measure also ruled no new pit bulls could live in the city. 

Council President Mary Louise Madigan said dog owners would be happy with the new language.

“It does add clarity and openness for the dog owner and/or the animal control officer,” she said.

Some residents that breed specific legislation, or BSL, is an unfair generalization, and that bad or negligent owners are more to blame for a dog’s dangerous behavior than its genetic make-up.