This summer's pit bull attack on a local young man is tragic and appalling. I hope the dog's owner receives the stiffest possible penalties. When will people understand that owning and controlling dogs is just as serious a responsibility as owning and operating an automobile? Both can be lethal if the owner/operator does not learn and apply the basics of control and safe handling.
To assume "my dog wouldn't bite" is a dangerous self-deception. To believe you are capable of 100 percent control of your dog 100 percent of the time is equally naive. All dogs have fangs, and all dogs know how to use them.
By keeping a dog that is by nature, or by training , aggressive (sometimes proudly called "protective"), your responsibility as well as your threat to our community is frighteningly great. To me, choosing to own such dogs is a blatant disregard for the safety of others and their pets. Don't make excuses when your dog does something vicious. You deserve whatever consequences come your way.
Some of you may remember that my guide dog Sparky was viciously attacked one year ago by a mixed-breed bulldog. We continue to be threatened by people's aggressive, poorly controlled dogs.
Fortunately for service animals like Sparky, Ohio just enacted a new service animal protection law. It sets up stiff criminal penalties for any person, or the owner of an animal, that obstructs, harasses, or injures a working service animal. Now, working animals have a degree of legal protection similar to that of the humans they faithfully serve.
Should Sparky and I have another serious encounter with a dangerous dog, the owner will face charges up to a third degree felony, serious jail time, stiff fines, an can be required to pay replacement costs of the animal should it be unable to continue working. A trained guide dog can cost $30,000 to $70,000 to replace.
I think this community is long overdue for everyone; ordinary citizens, law enforcement, and legislators, to take dog ownership and the prosecution of dangerous dog owners seriously. How many more people and pets have to suffer at the hands of careless, irresponsible dog owners?
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Ted Chism and his guide dog Sparky live in Clifton.
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