Lakewood Eyes Dropping 'Dangerous Dog' Registration Fee

Per its 2008 ordinance, the city of Lakewood requires that owners of dogs deemed “dangerous” pay a $50 registration fee each year.

That may change with an ordinance introduced this week by that would “eliminate the fees associated with the annual renewal of registrations of dangerous animals.”

Ward 2 councilman Tom Bullock, who proposed the measure, said that the fee was included in the to cover the city’s initial cost of registration — including verifying that dogs were insured and had microchips implanted in them. 

“However, registration for subsequent years is less work-intensive,” Bullock said, adding that most of the work now consists of filling out a renewal form. 

“Given that our rationale for collecting fees is not punitive but rather to compensate the city for expenses incurred, the attached ordinance proposes to adjust the fee to zero for registration of dangerous dogs in subsequent years after the initial registration.”

The ordinance was referred to council’s public safety committee where the issue will be discussed further.

The statehouse voted in the Ohio Revised Code, declassifying pit bulls as “vicious animals” at the state level.

However, it does not apply to local municipalities.

Under the new state law, a dog can be labeled vicious only if it kills or causes serious harm to a person while unprovoked. However, Kevin Butler, the 's law director, told Lakewood Patch earlier this year that Lakewood’s ban would stand.

Lakewood Patch this year that the city should end the ban. , and let us know what you think in the comments