|
Updated: 6:19 PM Apr 8, 2009
Pit Bulls Banned in Gallipolis, Ohio
Pit bull ban: Gallipolis is saying no to the breed after two viciously attacked a 13-year-old girl.
Posted: 7:10 PM Apr 7, 2009Reporter: Carrie Cline Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com |
|
201 Comments 
GALLIPOLIS, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Pit bull ban: Gallipolis is saying no to the breed after two viciously attacked a 13-year-old girl.
That attack happened in the city in January -- that's clear. But the circumstances surrounding the attack are anything but black and white.
“If my dog was vicious, I'd kill him myself,” Chris Vanmeter said.
He is grieving the loss of two beloved family members.
“I feel like they assassinated my family,” he said.
For years, Vanmeter has owned, bred and raised pit bulls. He said his last two, Face and Little Momma, were so gentle that his two young children, including his 2-year-old son, played and toyed with them fearlessly.
“They weren’t raised to be vicious; they ate out of my kids’ hands,” Vanmeter said .
But in January, the dogs attacked when a family friend, a 13-year-old girl, slipped into Vanmeter's home when no one was there.
“My dogs don’t know her that well, and she’s always roughhoused with every dog she’s ever had," he said. "My dogs are very protective.”
Police responded quickly and shot both dogs, killing them.
“They were very troubled and want to make sure nothing like that happens again,” Gallipolis Police Chief Clint Patterson said.
He said the attack was so gruesome, the little girl's arm was nearly destroyed. It didn't take the City Commission long to create and pass a pit bull ban.
“We won’t go searching for the dogs, but if someone calls us or we run across them in the line of duty, we will take care of them,” Patterson said.
This ban isn't limited to American Pit Bull Terriers. It includes any variation of bull terriers, including the Staffordshire.
Once police find out about it, they can seize the dog if it demonstrates vicious behavior. If it doesn't, the owner has seven days to get it out of town. If the owner fails, the city can then take the dog or impose a penalty of up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.
Amy Bailey has a Poi -- or a type of Hawaiian Terrier -- not included in the ban. But that didn't stop someone from calling the police on her. Needless to say, she has mixed feelings about the ban.
“I don’t think it should target any one breed," Bailey said. "It should be about how the owner raises the dog.”
Back to Vanmeter -- he said this whole thing didn't have to happen, and he's the one suffering the most.
It's up to police discretion as to what's considered a pit bull or any one of the banned bull terriers. Patterson said he's in the process of helping the officers recognize the various breeds.
In the meantime, he encourages owners to keep papers that verify their dog's breed. One more footnote: the ban also includes any other breed of dog that has killed or caused serious injury to another person or dog.
Latest Comments
How about a little pit bull history. Pit bulls were around BEFORE pit bull fighting! They helped with BULLS, what do you know? Ignorant people started fighting them and a man named Dwayne Wright tried to show people how awful it was! Instead all people saw were mean dogs? Makes me think the people that saw "mean" dogs instead of helpless animals are as ignorant as the people who started fighting them. Before Wrights attempt to help them, pit bulls were known as the "nanny dog". People kept them as baby sitters and loved family members. Now these STILL amazing wonderful dogs are getting a bad rap for NO reason at all. Its so sad seeing these perfect amazing pets. If you do your research pit bulls are the top of the list of the best family dogs! People need to see these dogs in person instead of being media addicts and see the good and positive side of them before they make assumptions. MOST cases of pitties in the news is FALSE IDENTIFICATION! LOOK IT UP
@miss v. I wish you were smart enough to understand what you were saying. First you just compared a 50 pound dog to a lion. STUPID. Second, you must not own any pets and if you do you dont love them in any way. My golden retriever i loved as much as i do my sister. He was and always will be my brother. I would have given my life for his ANY day because he was as human as any other human i know. and that goes for MY pit bull as well. She is amazing and second only to Jake. Every pit i know are just LOVABLE happy party dogs who would rather be clowning around then tearing little girls arm off. For me, the saddest thing in the world are people like you. people who cant see that animals matter as much as humans do and that families whi have animals and LOVE them know that they are as big a part of the family as ANY person. You just make me sick. Pitties are NOT dangerous animals, BUT the people who raise them mos deff are!
Youre an Idiot Casey. If pitties are raised RIGHT, they DO NOT "turn and go bad" That stupid little girl shouldnt have been walking into someones house that had 2 guard dogs. The funny thing is, if this was any other dog guarding a house none of this would be a big deal.. its ONLY because they were pitties. Its really sad because these dogs are amazing amazing animals!
|
|
|
Popular Searches Powered by Local.com |
- UPDATE: Two More Arrests in Parking Lot Armed Robbery
- Convicted Sex Offender Wanted
- Three Aging W.Va. Power Plants Closing
- UPDATE: Man Dies in Early Morning Fire in McArthur, Ohio
- IRS Warns to Expect Some Refund Delays
- UPDATE: Man Charged in Violent Armed Robbery at Huntington Bar
- NASCAR Racer Visits Charleston
- St. Albans Man Arrested in Large Drug Bust
- UPDATE: Mother Awaiting Sentence Faces More Trouble
- Metheny Still Missing
- UPDATE: Vigil for Missing 3-Year-Old Girl
430 Comments - UPDATE: New Chief Deputy in Mason County Releases Department Mission Statement
148 Comments - UPDATE: Woman Fires Attorney in Sniper Digging Case Lawsuit
127 Comments - UPDATE: Mother Awaiting Sentence Faces More Trouble
61 Comments - UPDATE: Some Questions Remain Unanswered in Deadly CO Leak
48 Comments - NEW INFO: South Point Man Sentenced in Marijuana Conspiracy
40 Comments
- 126 reported killed as attacks escalate
- Doctor in Homs: We're all waiting to die
- Hacked e-mails reveal al-Assad spin
- Stay out U.S.
- Deep freeze overloads Ukraine EMS
- Ousted Maldives president faces arrest
- Same-sex marriage OK'd in Washington
- 911 response probed in Powell killings
- Opinion: Google knows too much
- Brother: Clementi more than his suicide
- Embattled LA school set to reopen
- Same-sex marriage OK'd in Washington
- Mississippi pardons to be challenged at court hearing
- Authorites probe 911 response to Josh Powell's home
- Official: Suspect in 'South Park' threats to plead guilty
- Rutgers student's suicide shouldn't define him, brother says
- School will continue using Fighting Sioux nickname
- University of Florida suspends fraternity for 'physical hazing incident'
- Victim in Atlanta video beating to speak out
- The deadly path to legal status
- Deep freeze puts strain on Ukrainian EMS
- More than 700 suffer food poisoning after Mexico rally
- Spy agency called before Pakistani high court
- Deposed president faces arrest in the Maldives
- Greek leaders ready to back austerity deal
- Officials: Drone strike kills 4 in Pakistan
- Asylum or 'medical leave' for Chinese crime buster?
- UK: 'No negotiations' on Falklands
- Betting on Olympians -- for charity
- Drillers reach hidden Antarctic lake
- Band camp, other clubs suspended
- Champion remembered at event
- More members accused of hazing
- Sandusky urged to stay inside
- Words matter in Penn State case
- Out-of-county jury for Sandusky?
- 4th accuser drops abuse allegations
- Accuser pleads guilty to child sex
- Attorney: Victims to sue university
- Miss. high court considers pardons
- Rivers' three adds another chapter to Duke-UNC rivalry
- Game Recap
- All eyes on Tiger at Pebble Beach
- Syracuse earns OT win vs. Hoyas
- Memphis joining Big East in 2013
- Lin dazzles again as Knicks win
- Kansas flattens Baylor with 32-4 run
- Slive says discussion of BCS changes 'premature'
- Magic KO Heat with barrage of 3's
- Big Ten exploring a four-team playoff
 |
SOMC
Very good things are happening here. Click here to learn more |
 |
Click here for school closings and delays |
 |
Watch the Lottery Live Monday - Saturday @ 6:59pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. Need to check your numbers? Click here. |
 |
Watch the Ohio Lottery Drawings weeknights @ 7:29pm and Cash Explosion Saturday @ 7:30pm on WSAZ NewsChannel 3. |
 |
Click here to donate and help WSAZ help children at risk in our region. Thank you. |
 |
Click here to see how our partners are making Moms and women's lives easier. |
