Cleveland Rejects Canine Profiling, State of Ohio Could Be Next

Jean Keating of the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates is a canine's best friend. Because of her perseverance and organizational skills, she's made huge strides for pit bull terrier type dogs in the Buckeye State.

Jean is determined to save dogs' lives and stop the discrimination of laws in her home state that target "pit bulls." She worked with Best Friends Animal Society and a task force in Toledo to get the city's breed specific legislation repealed.

After this victory, she wanted to showcase how wonderful pit bulls are. Enter Cat Whitehill, soccer star and pit bull advocate. Best Friends Animal Society helped the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates put on an event in Cleveland featuring Cat, one of the top U.S. Women's soccer players. Cat had done a similar event for Best Friends in Salt Lake City and volunteered her time to help educate people about pit bull terrier type dogs.

During the event, Keating met Cleveland City Councilman, Matt Zone, a hero to anyone who loves short-haired muscular mutts. Zone and Keating began corresponding about safe humane communities and discussed ways to change the Cleveland ordinance.

At the same event, Jeff Theman, an independent filmmaker, was shooting a documentary about pit bulls called Guilty Until Proven Innocent. According to Keating, "Jeff asked me to help him make some changes at the  Cleveland City Kennel. I sent in a records request and opened up a dialogue with Chief Animal Control Officer, John Baird. Baird also wanted to see Cleveland move towards a breed neutral ordinance."

After much networking and disccusion, the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates presented a draft ordinance to a working group of city councilmen. Changes were made, and on Monday, the new ordiance was unanimously voted into law — all thanks to the efforts of  activists.

As Stephanie Feldstein noted in a previous blog, Ohio is the only state that deems a type of dog vicious, judging based on appearance instead of behavior. But now, the state is poised to follow Toledo and Cleveland's lead. On June 8, a hearing will be held in Columbus on HB 14. The measure, spearheaded by Representative Barbara Sears, would repeal the section of the law that declares all "pit bulls" automatically "vicious."

Joshua Hahn, an attorney with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, will join Keating to testify for the latest version of the bill. According to Hahn, "The amendment represents the culmination of months of work and compromise with stakeholders such as the Best Friends Animal Society, and addresses the constitutional shortcomings in Ohio law. The language removes due process concerns by making the law responsive to the dog's behavior. In our opinion, it greatly enhances public safety."

It takes good lawmakers and tenacious activists to get effective  provisions passed. Please support Hahn, Keating and Ohio dog lovers today as the General Assembly considers HB 14. Sign this petition and send the Ohio legislature a reminder that the Change.org community is watching.

Photo Credit: Metro East Humane Society, Darrow