By Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GOLF MANOR - Pit-bull terrier owners got a break Monday night when Village Council failed to act on a law to ban improperly registered and insured pit bulls.

Only three members of council came to the meeting, one short of a quorum.

But the owners are not out of the doghouse yet. Councilman Charles O. Hughes, who is pushing for the ban, said he has taken out petitions to get the issue on the November ballot as a referendum.

"It will come up again on June 23," Hughes said. "If council doesn't pass it, I plan to start the drive to get a referendum. Maybe the residents should make the decision."

The proposed law is an attempt to strengthen an ordinance that requires owners to register and insure pit bulls.

But according to Police Chief Steve Tilley, only one person has registered as owning a pit bull. "My officers have seen at least 25 throughout the village," he said.

The new law would place a ban on ownership unless the owner registers and properly insures the dogs, Hughes said.

E-mail ahoward@enquirer.com