[News] Ohio Woman Wants Vicious Dog Laws

[fasteddie]

GREEN TWP.,OH - Helen Vassiliou would like to see Ohio take a stronger stance against vicious dogs.

Her mother has twice been attacked by their neighbor's hybrid German shepherd, and her Yorkshire terrier, which was recently attacked for the fourth time, was nearly severed in half by the vicious dog, she said.

The dog first attacked her mother in September 2004 and the second attack took place June 13, she said.

Vassiliou said her mother had to be rushed to the hospital both times for treatment of puncture wounds.

"All the attacks have taken place on our property," she said. "It's just preposterous."

More disturbing than the physical and mental wounds caused by the attacks is the fact that the police, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the county humane society cannot do anything about the neighbor's dog, she said.

In 2004, the Ohio Supreme Court overturned a state law regulating vicious dogs, and now neither the state nor the township has authority to remove vicious dogs from their owners, Vassiliou said.

"We need a law, not only in Green Township but in the state of Ohio as well, that says if you harbor a vicious dog or your dog bites another person you will face a serious penalty," she said.

Vassiliou's neighbor, Douglas Kramer, was cited by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office on June 13 for allegedly failing to confine a dog.

Kramer said he doesn't consider his dog to be vicious and doesn't think his dog is purposefully attacking Vassiliou.

He said his dog, who is not friendly to other dogs, was likely going after Vassiliou's dog and she was attacked when she stepped in to break up the two animals.

"I admit the dog shouldn't be getting out of the yard," Kramer said. "That is my problem."

He said he thought he fixed his fence to keep his dog on his property, but the most recent attacks took place after his dog was able to escape by getting under the fence.

"I had a false sense of security," he said.

Vassiliou said her neighbor has the right to own a dog, but her mother also has the right to enjoy her own property and home on Werk Road.

"My mother is not provoking his dog," she said.

"She is 56 years old and all she wants to do is work in her garden."

Green Township Police Sgt. Gary Wilhelm said, "Currently there is nothing enforceable that deals with vicious dogs."

He said police officers can only issue a failure to confine citation to a resident whose animal run loose from their property.

The first offense for failing to confine a dog is a minor misdemeanor and carries at $25 fine plus court costs, Wilhelm said.

Penalties increase as the number of violations increase. If a dog gets loose four or more times the offense is a misdemeanor carrying a $250 fine and up to 30 days in jail, he said.

"We get a fairly good number of calls for dogs running loose, it's not uncommon," he said.

Before the state Supreme Court deemed the vicious dog law unconstitutional, Wilhelm said it was a more serious offense for dog owners if their dog was considered vicious and attacked a person.

"The law as it was written was good," he said.

"We have a need now for legislators to re-write the law to fit the constitution."

One reason the state Supreme Court overturned the law is because it did not contain a good method for determining how a dog gets labeled as being vicious, he said.

Justices decided there should be a court hearing to determine whether a dog is vicious before going forward with the harsher penalties, Wilhelm said.

Vassiliou said she wants township residents to be aware that laws against vicious dogs do not exist and encourages people to write state lawmakers.

"We need dog laws," she said.

"I have horrific photos of what that dog did to my mom and my dog."

http://www.communitypress.com/Colera...Date=6/29/2005

[maggiepie]

I cannot believe that story!!! It is so backwards how law works sometimes!

[cookiemonster]

OMG! That house that they're refering to in this article is less than 2 miles from my house (I looked it up). That lady and her poor Yorkie . I definately think that something needs to be done as far as the owner goes. The owner needs a hefty fine. And this house is no small, poor house...from the area, I know this man has a decent amount of cash. If that was my Yorkie, I would be stepping in between the 2 dogs to protect my dog as well! Just because the neighbor's dog doesn't like other dogs does not give him the excuse to attack the neighbor or the Yorkie! There's no excuse!

[txshopper73]

I think that this law should be passed across the country. We've got enough things to worry about without having to worry about your neighbor's dog attacking you in your own yard!

[ingallsra]

I have a hard time believing the DA in that county can't use another law for the purpose of charging the dog's owner. The owner is perfectly aware his dog is dangerous and even admits it. Since it's happened more than once why can't they charge him with assault with a deadly weapon?
Coming from a law enforcement standpoint, it's been my experience that the DAs and judges are often unwilling to think outside of the box. If they can't pigeon hole an offense they tend to sweep it under the rug. Unfortunately, it will probably take someone being killed by that dog before action is taken. Lawmakers would be much quicker to enact a vicious dog law if it were themselves or there loved ones being mauled.

[Ciera's mom]

Things like this are terrible!! Goes to show you how the law is. We have a problem here with our neighbors, they have no fenced in yard and two dogs they let run loose. My son, who is one year old, was walking up the sidewalk at our house and one of the dogs ran up behind them and my husband grabbed him up and turned toward the dog and it ran. He went to the neighbors front door and told them that they had better do something with their dog. Another incidence, my sister has a 16 year old ****zu that can hardly get around anymore, and she was at my house and took it out to relieve himself and the dog saw him in the yard and came running down here after him and my sister ran and grabbed her dog before the other one got to him. The only thing the neighbor will do is tie her dogs up for a week and then they are right back loose again. We have called the humane society, who tells us that they know exactly who we are talking about and they have had several complaints from others, and that they will do something about it. Which nothing has ever been done!!! Worse than that, we have a cop that lives right across the street, mind you who also has a loose dog!! I will never understand the system. What happened to the leash laws that we have in place?

[JCarlson2004]

Just terrible.

[apaprikao]

I can't beleive this guy. I had an aggressive dog and was smart enough to at least give him to someone expeirienced in handling them. I can't believe the cops couldn't do anything. It makes me so mad!

[FireFish]

She needs to go after him in Civil Court. Get him where it will hurt him.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Originally Posted by FireFish

She needs to go after him in Civil Court. Get him where it will hurt him.

[jesscruz]

maybe his dog will turn around and bite him someday maybe then he'll learn!

[LvMyYorki]

Originally Posted by txshopper73

I think that this law should be passed across the country. We've got enough things to worry about without having to worry about your neighbor's dog attacking you in your own yard!

I totally agree!!!