Tag Archives: dog attack

Olyphant, PA – Attack Victim Approaches Council

On September 18th, 2012 while out walking her mother’s small dog, Jackie Blazek, 35, witnessed a loose ‘pit bull’ attack and kill her mother’s dog.  She believes she too would have been killed had neighbors not responded and shot the attacking dog.

Reports claim the woman was bruised and bloody, and she still walks with a limp as was evident when she entered the Council work session Tuesday along side her mother, Jill Kidwell.  The pair came to ask Council about laws that would prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.  Five other neighbors joined them.

While Borough Manager and SOlicitor C.J. Mustacchio assured residents and Council that police are investigating the matter, he said “Our ordinance really isn’t about criminal punishment, it’s a nuisance ordinance.  The dog law is state law.”

Pennsylvania is one of the 13 states that currently prohibit breed-specific-legislation in the U.S.  State law fines up to $5000 and jail time in PA for negligence leading to a loose dog, Mustacchio stated.

“If we enforce the laws on the books, they are very adequate,” he said.

Ms. Blazek and Ms. Kidwell both questioned how the law(s) were being enforced, and Ms. Blazek went further to reference other state’s laws that ban certain breeds. 

NOTE:  There are no state level laws in the U.S. that bans any breed of dog.

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/dog-attack-victim-speaks-out-at-olyphant-meeting-1.1379032

At this time no action is required, monitoring of this developing situation will continue.

Ohio: Ohio’s ‘pit bull’ law sticks despite tries for change

The full article explains how the breed-specific language was adopted by the Ohio legislature decades ago, and is recommended reading.

Ohio’s ‘pit bull’ law sticks despite tries for change

By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
Article published December 06, 2009

COLUMBUS – […] The law has firmly stuck despite multiple attempts to repeal the language. Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Sylvania) has launched the latest offensive. Her bill would simply pull references to the “pit bull” from the definition of vicious dog. It has received its obligatory first hearing, but there’s been no action since.[…]

Full article retrieved 12/06/09 from http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091206/NEWS24/912060323

UK: Dangerous dogs law is a mess, warn campaigners

Dangerous dogs law is a mess, warn campaigners

Dog attacks and number of people taken to hospital have doubled since 1991 act, activists say

Helen Carter
guardian.co.uk, Sunday 6 December 2009 21.07 GMT

[…] Clarissa Baldwin, the Dogs Trust chief executive, said: “By banning certain breeds of dog rather than focusing on tackling anti-social behaviour it has not prevented a large number of dog attacks or reduced the number of pit bull terrier-type dogs in the UK. Since that act was introduced. the number of hospitalisations is reported as having doubled.”

[…] “If people have bull breed-type dogs they find it difficult to walk them and they will often not be allowed at training classes when they are legally held, exercised and treated by vets.”

[…] The pit bull was made illegal under the Dangerous Dogs Act, along with Japanese tosas, fila brasilero and dogo argentino. The only way they can be allowed is if the owner obtains a certificate of exemption from a court after having the dog neutered, insured and a transponder implanted and an identification tattoo.

Full article retrieved 12/6/09 from http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/06/dangerous-dogs-act-calls-repeal

Mobridge, SD update: BSL passed

Previous alerts for Mobridge: http://stopbsl.com/?s=mobridge

Dog Law Debate

Erich Schaffhauser
12/04/2009 10:03 PM

[…] Mobridge city council recently passed a law that doesn’t ban pit bulls but does single them out.

Pit bull owners are required to have $250,000 liability insurance and a sign warning people they have a pit bull. They also need to keep a pit bull fenced or kenneled if it’s running around outside.[…]

But the Mobridge law is tame compared with one passed by a public vote last year in Leola.

There, the law bans a handful of breeds. The city passed it after complaints of Rottweiler and German shepherds running in the streets. Concern also rose when a meter reader in a North Dakota town was a dog attack victim.[…]

Full article retrieved 12/6/09 from http://www.keloland.com/News/EyeonKELOLAND/NewsDetail6403.cfm?Id=93591