Youngstown, Ohio Ordinance Is Law! No New Pit Bulls!

Mahoning Valley Ohio
News Report

Youngstown, Boardman, Canfield, Poland, Austintown
 and surrounding Ohio communities in
 Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana Counties.

Youngstown, Ohio Ordinance Is Law!
 No New Pit Bulls!

• All pit bulls and pit bull  dogs must be registered with the Mahoning County Dog Warden annually.
• When outside the home, pit bulls must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than four feet or contained in a latched enclosure.
• Owners must display "Beware of Dog" signs on their home and the enclosure.
• Owners must carry $100,000 liability insurance policy on each pit bull.
• Puppies born to registered pit bulls must be immediately removed from the city limits.

Dog bites now account for one-third of all homeowner’s insurance liability claims, costing roughly $310 million, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), and it's not just pit bulls doing the biting. Any dog can hurt someone. Even normally docile dogs may bite when they are frightened or when protecting their puppies, owners, or food

Approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs annually, resulting in an estimated 800,000 injuries, fifty percent of which are children under the age of 18. During 1979–1998, (the most recent numbers available), dog attacks killed more than 300 Americans. With 70 percent of the bites occurring on the dog owner’s property, there clearly is a greater need for training.

Under most state laws, if your dog bites someone, you are responsible for the expenses and damages. Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover dog bite liability, according to the I.I.I. Most policies provide $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage. If the claim is under your limit, your policy will pay. If it exceeds your limit, you are responsible for all damages above that amount, including legal expenses.

The I.I.I. also warns against getting a dog for the purpose of guarding your home. Deadbolt locks and home security systems are better burglary deterrents and will often get you a discount on your insurance premium.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, here are the "Top Nine" purebreds responsible for the greatest number of dog-bite-related fatalities. They are listed here in declining order of fatalities:

1. Pit bull-type
2. Rottweiler
3. German Shepherd
4. Husky-type
5. Malamute
6. Doberman Pinscher
7. Chow Chow
8. Great Dane
9. Saint Bernard

The Insurances Information Institute recommends that before deciding to buy a dog, consider the following:

• Some insurers may charge higher premiums for certain breeds of dogs.
• Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, a responsible breeder) to find a suitable breed of dogs for your household.
• Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use extreme caution when bringing a dog into the home of an infant or toddler
• Consider spaying/neutering your dog (this can reduce aggressive tendencies).
• Do not play aggressive games with your dog.
• Properly socialize and train any dog entering the household.
  Immediately seek professional advice if the dog starts exhibiting aggressive or undesirable behaviors.