Two Big Blows to Breed-Specific Legislation This Week

Things may soon be looking up for some U.S. Pit Bulls and their pet parents. In the near future, the state of Ohio may no longer label all Pit Bulls as “vicious,” and Miami-Dade County in Florida is expected to repeal its Pit Bull ban within the next few months.

Northwestohio.com reports that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill (H.B.) 14 today, which would remove breed-specific language from the state’s 24-year-old dog law. Ohio is the only U.S. state that designates all Pit Bulls as “vicious.”

The bill now only needs Governor John R. Kasich’s signature to become law. It will not affect existing Pit Bull bans in individual Ohio cities, however.

Over in Florida, Miami-Dade County’s 20-year ban on Pit Bulls may finally be ending. The ban got a lot of media attention recently when the Miami Marlins signed star pitcher – and Pit Bull dog dad – Mark Buehrle to a $58-million, four-year contract.

Buehrle publicly complained that he and his family could not live in Miami with Slater, their American Staffordshire Terrier, because of the county’s breed ban. They settled in breed-friendly Broward, Fla.

“It’s kind of ridiculous that because of the way a dog looks, people will ban it,” Buehrle told the Miami Herald last month. “Every kind of dog has good and bad, and that depends on the handlers. If you leave a dog outside all the time, it’ll be crazy. Slater would never do anything harmful.”

The Florida Senate and House of Representatives seem to agree with Buehrle.

According to the Animal Law Coalition, Senate Bill (S.B.) 1322, which would end the ban, was passed by the Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee and is on its way to the Budget committee. Yesterday, the House version of the bill, H.B. 997, was approved by Florida House of Representatives Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee, and now just needs approval by the State Committee.

In Denver, Colo., animal advocates, including celebrities like Shorty Rossi, of Animal Planet's "Pit Boss" are campaigning to end the city's Pit Bull ban that was enacted in 1989.

During a rally held at the state capitol building last year, Rossi said, “We’re killing the most lovable dog in the world because of stupidity.”

PHOTO: bastique

Laura Goldman

Laura Goldman is senior social media writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. She does love dogs. And elephants and turtles. Along with writing about the loves of her life, Laura likes to play with her two pound pups and tell anyone who’ll listen just how awesome Pit Bulls are.