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Council Right On Dog Limits

St. Clairsville City Council members were right to back away from a proposal that could have been unnecessarily tough on law-abiding dog owners. They should not retreat from action to guard the public against irresponsible pet owners, however.

Council had approved two readings of an ordinance that would have established harsh new limits on pit bulls and their owners. Third reading and adoption had been scheduled for Monday night.

But when that time came, council chambers were filled with people who objected to the plan. Many complained the proposed ordinance singled out pit bulls and their owners unfairly.

City officials’ concern about pit bulls is understandable, as we have explained previously. While that breed of dogs does not deserve to be branded as vicious, the fact remains that people who want aggressive animals and encourage such behavior often select pit bulls.

One of those at Monday’s meeting, John Paglialunga, made an excellent point in that regard. “Why not punish those people instead of the breed?” he suggested to council.

After hearing complaints and suggestions about their initial proposal, council members discussed amending it. A motion to remove references to a specific breed of dog was approved in a 4-2 vote.

Council members have agreed to rework their proposal and try again on a plan to put new restrictions on owners of vicious dogs. But as Mayor John Pugh pointed out, that may be difficult. Without some sort of definition in the ordinance, a dog could be declared vicious only after being involved in an incident — possibly an attack — he said.

Pugh has a point.

Still, members of council have agreed to move forward with an ordinance that does not target specific breeds of dogs. They are right to want a new layer of protection against irresponsible pet owners. Here’s hoping they can come up with a compromise providing such safeguards — then enforce them.

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