On Nov. 15, Bexley City Council passed an ordinance lifting the ban on pit bulls. The ordinance passed with an overwhelming 6-1 vote for the passing.
The ban raised concern among citizens for dogs that are mixed-breed, but primarily look like a pit bull. Often times, dogs that are adopted from shelters are “mutt,” which means they are a mixture of two or more different breeds. Citizens began questioning the ban three years ago, when resident Rob Burris and his daughter wrote a letter to city council asking them to lift the ban.
Burris said, “I’ve seen vicious pit bulls… I’ve seen vicious Chihuahuas. It all depends on how you bring the dog up.”
Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler stated that the lifting of the ban on pit bulls would mostly be about clearing up confusion about mixed breeds.
“We’re seeing a lot more mixed breeds, and our law is written as such [so] it’s not exactly clear how to handle a mixed breed,” Kessler said in an interview with NBC. “So, we’ve had a very challenging set of conditions in enforcing the law we have on the books.”
The ordinance has gained publicity inside and outside of the community, receiving endorsement from Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella, who owns four pit bulls himself.
Residents interested in owning a pit bull will be required to register any pit bull or animal with pit bull characteristics with the city, spay and neuter these dogs, have physical fencing around their home, and the dog must pass a standardized obedience test.
Story and headline updated Nov. 16 at 10:21 p.m.
