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Home > Blogs > West Chester News and Issues > Archives > 2010 > March > 10 > Entry
“Vicious” dogs euthanized after attacks on people, other dogs
I received a few calls earlier this week from residents of the Beckett Ridge area, concerned about their safety and hurt over the death of two pets.
That led to this story, regarding two dogs considered by their owner as Presa Canarios, who attacked and killed two other dogs and bit a man and his daughter.
Owners of the maimed and killed dogs, Indy and Pepper, describe finding their pets as horrific. The attacks happened over the past week.
Police and the Butler County Dog Warden say the owner of the two dogs (which the dog warden’s office consider a mix breed of pit bull and boxer, according to court documents) said the dogs somehow escaped their confinement and ran for days in the Beckett Ridge subdivision.
Here’s a few things regarding the case that didn’t make it into the story, mostly because of space. But I’ll also explain additional reasons for their exclusion.
First off, I spoke with a board member of the Dogo Canario Club of America, Inc., regarding the background of the Presa Canario. This was not included in the story because, although the owner of the dog said he thought the dog was at least a descendant of a PC, there was no real proof. Additionally, the county’s dog expert, Chief Dog Warden Julie Holmes, said the dog didn’t have the full characteristics of a Presa, and looked like something more of mix between a bull terrier and a boxer.
Now, Randy Green, board member of the DCCA, said it’s “extremely rare” for PC’s to attack unless, of course, if they’re provoked. He said, in fact, no more so than a poodle or a Labrador.
I agree with that. Any dog backed into a corner is capable of anything. What anyone can’t ignore is the fact that a poodle bite isn’t the same thing as a PC’s, a dog that’s historically trained to hunt down cattle in the Canary Islands so they can be slaughtered. Green agreed.
While Green said dogs are a product of their owners, their surroundings and more (instead of possessing a “killer instinct” for example), Holmes challenged that theory.
She said “There are several factors to how a dog behaves. It’s not just how they’re raised.”
On to the “vicious” designation, which has raised quite a bite with local owners, especially those of the bull terrier breed.
That word, “vicious” is a legal term used by the state of Ohio to designate certain breeds’ owners to carry liability insurance in the event of an attack.
That didn’t happen in the Beckett Ridge case, according to Holmes, which is why the guy is charged (times two) with failure to carry insurance in addition to the failure to confine charges.
Holmes also said she understands the frustration with state law, which actually allows for some subjectivity because the law is enforced according to appearance. So if it looks like a bull terrier, it is, by law a bull terrier, and by law considered “vicious.”
As I’ve said here before…not my decision, but them’s the rules.
Thoughts on any of this?
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By Patty
March 10, 2010 11:41 PM | Link to this
I too am so scared of these dogs. Most people who own these dogs do not have license, no insurance and sometimes let them just walk around in the yard free. They always say my dog wouldn’t hurt anyone??? Well, people, it does happen. After it happens most of the owners have nothing or are’t able to pay for the other persons medical bills or sometimes funeral. I think these dogs should be banned from the city! It is not the dogs fault, it is the people who have these dogs. How many more people are going to be hurt before all this pain and suffering stops?
By james lynch
March 11, 2010 6:08 AM | Link to this
yes we should ban all things that are potentially dangerous. toyota cars, mcdonalds cheesburgers, idiot people, free thinkers, the sun b/c it can cause cancer. Breed specific laws are dog racism!
By Irresponsible Owners
March 11, 2010 7:05 AM | Link to this
Vicious dogs were euthanized. It is a shame the law doesn’t allow the same for the irresponsible owners. Their actions created alot of pain, both physically and mentally. They need to pay the price. Their dogs did.
By McLovin
March 11, 2010 10:35 AM | Link to this
Do a quick Google search for Joel M. Lovins. You’ll find at least one drunk and disorderly conviction. And check out his Facebook picture. What a tool.
By Joel M. Lovins
March 16, 2010 1:49 PM | Link to this
I am the notorious Joel M. Lovins. It isn’t my fault this happened. I personally didn’t do anything wrong. I had no clue the dogs were vicious, they weren’t even 10 months old, I had them in a locked fence they broke out of, and after this happened I had them put down. I am 36 years old and have owned 14 dogs through out my life. Nothing like this has ever happened with any dog I’ve owned being considered vicious. I would never intentionally own a vicious dog. When I was an infant I was mauled in the face by a neighbors dog. I received over 200 stitches, plastic surgery, and I almost died. When I was 10 a neighbors pit bull killed my beagle. I have 5 kids and my youngest 1 year old lives here with me. I do not want anything to do with any vicious dog. I didn’t even buy the dogs. My cousins boyfriend had a pregnant malnourished dog he had no place to keep so I let him keep it here. I didn’t hear from him again until the puppies were 3 months old and he came to get them. He said they were a breed called Presa Canario which I knew nothing about and had never even heard of. He said I could keep 2 for taking care of them. Since my dog of 14 years had just died 5 months earlier I thought “sure, I’ll keep 2 of them”. I’m as torn up about this as the victims are. I feel for them, I feel their pain, and I am sincerely sorry for their loss.
By misterrunknown
March 24, 2010 11:51 PM | Link to this
Enuff said.Let it alone ppl.I’m a dog owner have 2 of em,and have always had dogs since I was a kid,I love dogs,but I,like yourself,would not own a vicious dog.
By Linda
April 1, 2010 9:02 AM | Link to this
I think that there should be a law against vicious dogs and a very stiff penalty for the owner that cannot control them..A friend of mine had a cat that was killed by a loose pit bull..and the dog still terrorises the neighborhood.Everyone is scared because the dog can jump the fence at anytime..Animal control is doing nothing and someone will be injured or killed before any action is taken..We need stiffer laws on these animals and owners..
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April 4, 2010 7:53 PM | Link to this
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By Jailhouse Lawyer
April 5, 2010 12:14 AM | Link to this
Linda, there is a law against vicious dogs and stiff penalties. Actually there are several laws. Have you not read any of this article? The guy was charged with two counts of failure to confine a vicious dog, and two counts of failure to have liability on a vicious dog. The dogs were considered vicious because they were considered pit bull mixes. Ohio state law says a dog is vicious if it “belongs to a breed commonly known as a pit bull”. A mixed dog does not fall under that law because it doesn’t belong to a pit bull breed. Pit bull is a term used to classify several purebred dogs that are in the pit bull category. If a person was 25% Caucasian, 25% Indian, and 50% African American they wouldn’t belong to the Caucasian race or “breed”, they would belong to the biracial race or “breed. Therefore a mixed dog cannot fit under this law. Now there are cities in Ohio which have added their own ordinances to include mixed dogs such as Toledo. Their law says “all dogs commonly known as Pit Bull or Pit Bull mixed breed dogs”. In West Chester, Ohio where this incident happened there are no such added laws. The dog warden said “So if it looks like a bull terrier, it is, by law a bull terrier, and by law considered “vicious.” She is wrong. She has based this on an Ohio Attorney General opinion which is just his opinion, but is definitely not a law.
By Doctor Feelgood
April 5, 2010 6:11 AM | Link to this
I agree with Jailhouse Lawyer…Ohio law 955.11 says “(4)(a) “Vicious dog” means a dog that, without provocation and subject to division (A)(4)(b) of this section, meets any of the following: (i) Has killed or caused serious injury to any person; (ii) Has caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person, or has killed another dog. (iii) Belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog. The ownership, keeping, or harboring of such a breed of dog shall be prima-facie evidence of the ownership, keeping, or harboring of a vicious dog.” Now unless a dog is a pit bull it must do either (i) or (ii) to be considered vicious. If you owned a German Shepherd, it got loose, and bit someone, you would be charged with failure to confine a dog. Once convicted the dog would be deemed vicious. If the dog got loose again you would then be guilty of failure to confine a vicious dog. Until it is deemed vicious by a court of law it is not vicious. Ohio law 2901.21 Criminal liability, culpability says “(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, a person is not guilty of an offense unless both of the following apply: (1) The person’s liability is based on conduct that includes either a voluntary act, or an omission to perform an act or duty that the person is capable of performing; (2) The person has the requisite degree of culpability for each element as to which a culpable mental state is specified by the section defining the offense.” A person is not capable of performing the task of confining a vicious dog if he does not know the dog is vicious. I believe that would also apply if the person has no clue the dog is a pit bull. Non the less, the law says “belongs to a breed commonly known as a pit bull dog”. A mixed dog does not belong to a breed commonly known as a pit bull. Mixed dog, or mongrel, or mutt is defined as a dog that does not belong to a specific breed…http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/mutt I also agree with Jailhouse Lawyer when he said the dog warden is going by an Ohio Attorney Generals opinion. That would be OAG Opinion 89-091. That is in fact just an opinion and is not state law.
By Uncle Sam
April 5, 2010 6:32 AM | Link to this
Based on everything I have just read, the two counts of failure to confine a vicious dog should be dropped to two counts of failure to confine a dog, and the two counts of failure to have liability insurance on a vicious dog should be dismissed. With all that information I just read that would be a great argument in court and I do not believe any jury would convict Mr. Lovins. The guy even had his dogs put to sleep so there is no risk of any future threats from them.
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By Gloria
May 16, 2010 10:06 AM | Link to this
jailhouse lawyer: maybe you can help me. i am very sorry to hear about the putting down of a dog always am. i am a dog lover. i had a pit boxer mix,had to get rid of her. i couldnt control her. very friendly she was, but kept getting out of the fenced in yard. plus she chewed everything i owned lol. well now i am taking care of my nieces dog which is a american pit bull terrier. she dont jump the fence thank goodness for that. but she barks alot when shes outside. and my neighbor is not to happy. can i get into trouble for her barking? its always between the hours of 9am and 9pm( she barks cause she wants to play fitch. and keep on until someone thows the stick.) i know i have 90 days to register her if my niece cant find a home for her. but i dont want to get fined just because the dog is enjoying herself.
By Jailhouse Lawyer
July 11, 2010 3:42 AM | Link to this
Gloria, You will need to check with the laws where you live about noise. Where I live it would be okay for a dog to bark non-stop between 9:00am and 9:00pm. Also, if the dog is a pitbull, you will have to get at least $100,000 in liability insurance if you live in Ohio. If not you risk the chance of being charged with failure to have liability insurance on a vicious dog, just like Mr. Lovins was charged. By law a pitbull is already considered vicious in Ohio. Even if it has never done anything wrong.
By Amber
July 22, 2010 4:50 PM | Link to this
First of all if you want to blam the breed you should know the breed. I researched the Pit Bull extensively for a paper for school. The breed was originally bred to be just that pit bull bait dogs. They were bred to fight bulls in a pit. When this was out lawed the original dog was rebred from being domestic to being what is considered “vicious” dogs. People still wanted a sport involving these dogs so they bred the most aggressive dogs together to make even more aggressive dogs and if the dog showed no aggression it was immediately killed. This dog went from being a house dog trained to play with bulls to being an unsafe dog in the house and chained outside. Many owners were bitten by their dog and were proud of this. The breed is not to blame they did not choose this but if they like most other breeds are not used for what they are bred for they get bored and destructive. I do not condone dog fighting in any way and actully am a big supporter of cross breeding this dog with a tamer breed of dog to make a “safe” pit bull. I do not see why this breed can not be changed slightly to make it a safer pet to have and less likely to attack people or animals. As for this owners tickets, I do not care the age of the dog it was at his house over 6 mo and he has access to the internet and could have looked up the breed himself to find out what it was or even take it to animal control and ask them. I do think he feels remorse but how bad would he feel if this had happened to his child one day. He says he has a 1 yr old in his house and unknown breed of dogs. As far as I am concerned that would be negligence for anyone who was attacked including his kids. Shame on you.
By Kathy
October 21, 2010 10:51 PM | Link to this
People need to be educated on responsible pet ownership. Punish the deed not the breed. Responsible pet owners need to be rewarded and irresponsible owners need to to be made accountable. Too many dogs are suffering because of irresponsible pet owners.
By Addendum by Kathy
October 21, 2010 11:01 PM | Link to this
I am not debating that dog bites are a serious problem. It’s horrible to hear when someone has been injured due to a dog bite or attack. “Pit Bulls” are not the problem - society and irresponsible people are the problem. These dogs score extremley high in tempermanent testing according to the American Temperament Testing Society (google it). Lower scores are poor temperament.
By Joel M. Lovins
February 24, 2011 1:55 PM | Link to this
Well I haven’t updated the status of the case in a while. Everything was dropped to two minor misdemeanors of failure to confine a dog. They carried no jail sentence. I had a whole folder of documents and was ready for trial, but the prosecutor was smart enough to know he would lose so he offered me a deal. He just wanted to make sure they got some type of conviction so I would be liable for restitution. Just like any other case it’s all about money.
By Minecraft Guide
March 10, 2011 12:04 PM | Link to this
It’s interesting to see this point of view. I can’t say fore sure if I agree or not, but it is something I will think about now.
By Joel M. Lovins
March 23, 2011 5:31 PM | Link to this
Amber, the dogs weren’t pit bulls. I had a D.N.A. test on them. 75% couldn’t be determined, 50% couldn’t be determined, and 25% couldn’t be determined because they were so mixed. The results finally said at least 12.5% of the dogs were a mixture of German Shepherd, Bull Dog, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Staffordshire Bull Terrier is Pit Bull. Let’s say they were 25% Staffordshire Bull Terrier, should they be considered Pit Bull? If I was 75% African American, and 25% Caucasian, would I be considered white? No I wouldn’t. I would be considered mixed or mostly black. The Ohio state law says “Belongs to a breed commonly known as a pit bull”. The definition of a mixed dog, mutt, or mongrel is a dog that does not belong to a specific breed. Oh and the dogs didn’t bite two people. They jumped on a 16 year old girl trying to play and her dad came out swinging a stick at them and he got bit. It took two whole staples to close his wound. I would have bit him too. For the record, I did get on the internet and look up the breed Presa Canario (which is what I was told they were) before any of this happened.
By Jennifer
May 14, 2011 2:17 PM | Link to this
In my personal oppinon I think the whole vicious dog law is bull! I own a pit whom is 5 years old this year we have never had a incident with him. I have 2 cildren of my own 3 and 6 months and as I tell every one my 3 year old is meaner than my dog! My daughter can do anyyy thing to this dog and he just licks her. I feel this llaw is unfair to owns like my self becuase the fact that one person raises there dog wrong then all pits must be so horrible . You always hear of people complaining about how millions of animals die in shelters every day yet they have a law that just kills of even more of these animals. IMO I think so people are ill informed about these dogs, the dont know any thing about these dogs never been around them an so on. I would trust my dog with my life and my childrens lifes. If they are so horrible why were they labled the nanny dog back in the older dogs ? I just believe there are sooo many stero types out there and ill informed people that there need to be way more pit bull awarness groups out there. My dog lives with 2 kids a cat and my husband and I an we have never had a incident.
By That Dude
June 25, 2011 2:35 AM | Link to this
Jennifer, just shut up. Seriously, just shut the hell up. You just rambled on and your Grammar was horrible.