Ohio Voters for Companion Animals - OVCA

Ohio Voters for Companion Animals - OVCA

OVCA "TWO PAWS UP" TO DEDICATED ADVOCATE, Mary Clark, FOR SERVING AS A STRONG VOICE AGAINST BREED DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION IN CINCINNATI (HAMILTON COUNTY)! As shared by Mary:

Dear Council Member Wendell Young:

As a Cincinnati resident, I believe one of the goals of the city council should be to provide for public safety in the most effective and comprehensive way possible. Everyone benefits from a safe community - both people and pets. Yet, breed-discriminatory legislation (BDL) fails to make society safer because it targets dogs by appearance instead of focusing on the real cause of most dangerous dogs - the behavior of the dog and its owner.

Our communities should be protected against any dangerous dog, no matter what the breed or appearance. Rather than punishing dogs because of their appearance, our community should work to come up with better solutions that hold reckless owners of dangerous dogs accountable. The simple truth is that breed discrimination doesn't work because breed has nothing to do with dangerousness. That is why the national trend is against BDL. In fact, 19 states have outlawed breed discrimination because it infringes on property rights, fails to enhance public safety and is extremely expensive to enforce.

Now we have Councilman Smitherman trying to turn back the clock. His poorly written ordinance discriminates against dogs by breed and, if enacted and enforced, would be disastrous and expensive for Cincinnati. Our city already has experienced the gross failures of breed-discriminatory legislation, including both outright bans and registration requirements. It is unreasonable, irrational and, frankly, perplexing why we would tread down this same road again.

BDL failure is not unique to Cincinnati. It's been a global failure as well. Studies done in the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany revealed that BDL fails to reduce the number of dog bites. Communities that enacted breed discrimination actually saw their dog bite incidents increase.

Based on these studies and valid concerns about property rights and the constitutional due process deficiencies inherent in this kind of legislation, the American Bar Association, the National Animal Care and Control Association, the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behavior, and the American Veterinary Medical Association all have policies against breed discrimination. Along with numerous other credible organizations, they have long ago shifted their support to laws that deal with the real problem - the behavior of the individual dog and the behavior of the reckless owner.

Breed discrimination also severely interferes with citizens' property rights. Every American citizen who follows the safety rules as a responsible dog owner should be allowed to own whatever breed of dog he or she chooses. In a recent national survey conducted by Luntz Global, 84 percent of respondents said local government shouldn't regulate what breed of dog citizens may own.

For these reasons, I urge you to abandon consideration of enacting any ordinance, policy or regulation that is specific to breed. It's time to move forward instead of repeating the legislative mistakes of the past.

As a licensed property manager in Cincinnati, I can assure anyone involved in this terribly misguided attack on responsible pet ownership that BSL costs cities investment and homeowners. Informed people refuse to invest in areas which have elected officials who attempt to pass destructive legislation which harms the law abiding citizens and taxpayers. Any attempt to start BSL again in the city will result in residents moving out, even more than usual. BSL is an offense against taxpaying, law abiding citizens and causes financial losses for taxpayers.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to harm the city in this manner. Cincinnati just removed BSL and joined the 20th century. The effort to push dog breeding and dog fighting back into their criminal activity is the inevitable result of BSL. BSL puts everyone at risk and for no reason.

This is ridiculous.

Thank you for your consideration of this important public safety and property rights issue.

Sincerely,

MP Clark

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COUNCIL MEMBER WENDELL YOUNG'S RESPONSE:

Hi there,

Thank you for contacting our office with your concern about making sure dog owners are accountable for the behavior of their dogs, regardless of breed. Councilmember Young agrees that breed specific laws are problematic and do little to address the real problem of irresponsible owners. Our office will we working hard to make sure any legislation that is passed by city council reflects this belief.

Thank you again for your concern,

Liza

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Liza Druck
Director of Policy and Communications
Office of Councilman Wendell Young
801 Plum St., Rm. 352
Cincinnati, OH 45202
(513) 352-3466
liza.druck@cincinnati-oh.gov

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Mailing Address For City Council Members:
801 Plum Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202

Vice Mayor David Mann
513-352-4610
david.mann@cincinnati-oh.gov

President Pro Tem Yvette Simpson
513-352-5260
yvette.simpson@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council Member Kevin Flynn
513-352-4550
kevin.flynn@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council Member Amy Murray
513-352-3640
amy.murray@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council Member Chris Seelbach
513-352-5210
chris.seelbach@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council Member P.G. Sittenfeld
513-352-5270
pg.sittenfeld@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council Member Christopher Smitherman
513-352-3464
christopher.smitherman@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council Member Charlie Winburn
513-352-5354
charlie.winburn@cincinnati-oh.gov

Council Member Wendell Young – AGAINST BREED DISCRIMINATION!
513-352-3466
wendell.young@cincinnati-oh.gov