I got this in an email today.  I wrote to Rep. Yates, but I don't live in OH.  If you live in OH and you own a pitbull it could be taken from you and killed:

Ohio proposed a bill today to Ban ALL Pit bulls - HB 568
Posted by: "Rita Fazio" r.e.fazio@worldnet.att.net   kodiakstar2004
Tue May 20, 2008 7:52 pm (PDT)
Ohio citizens Go to: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ to find contact info. for Ohio's reps and protest this bill! Crosspost and send to everyone you know.

From: Katie Walter

From: barebonesrescue@earthlink.net (@earthlink.net)
Date: Wed, 21 May 2008 01:18:53
Ohio to Ban ALL pit bulls HB 568

I know shelter woman in OH who has saved and adopted about 15 of the sweetest Pitties. Now they would all be at risk. This is not right. Please help.

Crossposted ~ Please crosspost far and wide!

Unbelievable! They're proposing search warrants/seizing dogs that resemble pits and killing them, WITHOUT ANY HISTORY OR PROOF OF AGGRESSION, WITHOUT ANY EVALUATION!

How many other breeds will they kill "by mistake" if this law passes? This isn't just pitties that are in danger! Get the word out to everyone you know in OH and get them to contact their legislators NOW before it's too late! LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE PEOPLE! Punish the deed, not the breed!

"Ohio State Representative Tyrone Yates has proposed a bill today, that would prohibit the ownership of pit bulls in the state of Ohio. The bill requires all owners to surrender their "pit bulls" within 90 days of the effective date of the proposed law. The bill is unequivocal that the dog warden "shall" euthanize all pit bulls within 10 days of their surrender.

Also under this proposal a dog warden or other officer that has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, may apply for a search warrant. With the search warrant the officer will have the authority to seize the pit bull dog and surrender it to the dog warden to be killed."

Read more at: http://www.animallawcoalition.com/breed-bans/article/524

or go to: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_568

This is over the edge what happen to our freedom???? They can come in your house if they even think you have a pit bull. Most people don't even know what a pit bull looks like (don't piss off your neighbor or all of a sudden your boxer x is now a pit bull x), all different breeds will be targeted as pits or pit bull type dogs. What ever happen to do process!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't worry about my pit biting someone, but I do with my border collie. What is wrong here, do they think I am going to turn over my dog so they can kill it. I think not !!!!!!

Thanks!  I will go post on the Best Friend's message board.

Here is the link to the Ohio House of Representatives website that has all the contact information, names of committee chairs, etc. on it.
http://www.house.state.oh.us/index.html

Since being called an  idiot, I went and read the bill.  Just to clarify, I am on a mail list on Yahoo for animal alerts.  I received the email in that alert and copied it here.  I assumed it was accurate.  They've also been talking about it on other boards.  If you read the bill, it appears to have been amended so that the only pit bulls that would be banned would be the ones who have injured someone.  Please read the link and clarify for me and everyone else:

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=127_HB_568

To the person who called me an idiot - I think an idiot is a person who would refer to someone they don't even know as an idiot because of information that was received and shared.  It would have been just as easy, and much more effective, for you to have nicely clarified the issue rather than just to call me an idiot.  At least I'm willing to admit to my mistakes.  I wonder if you're capable of the same.

I guess I really am an idiot, because I still don't understand this bill or the amendment.  I find it to be very confusing.  And apparently I'm in good company.  If you click on this link, everyone who commented on this bill is very upset and people on petfinder, despite my post about a supposed amendment are still writing to the reps:

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/breed-bans/pendingbill/523

I live in Ohio and have a friend who works for the one of the bigger shelters. I talked to her and she talked to her supervisor. He said that they got a copy of the proposed bill this morning.  He said that a bill like that would never pass. It would put to much strain on the animal control officers not to mention the money it would cost. The members of the animal control association would never vote for a bill like that and would not support such a bill.  Still though she encouraged people to write thier representives.

You know it is funny that I come across this post today......I was on the beach and at least 3 different folks had their pitts out there just runin loose and they were the most sweet and I might add beautiful babies!  I am a firm believer that an animal is taught to either hate or love and maybe we should think about putting the blame on the bad owners of such beautiful babies and not blame the breed!!  I have had small dogs in the past that would make my Rotts run for cover!   I have also owned a Pitt and he was the biggest baby that you would ever find.....although he was very protective of my kids when outside.  I hate to even hear of such bans!!

And my apologies to the person that was called an "idiot" on this thred.  I have been part of this site for many years and that is not an everyday occurance.

I'am guessing everybody in the state of Ohio better start looking at another state to live in.... but don't think Massachusettes is a safe state to live in.....especially if you own your home, AND own a dog that is on the "banned dog" list....btw, most all home owner insurance companies in MA have a compiled list of 12-15 dog breeds that are banned. Well the 12-15 dog breeds was 4 years ago, I am sure the number has gone even higher since then....if you own one of the dogs on the list, the insurance company drops your policy.....no home owners insurance and your dog bites someone.....you get sued and lose your home! I do remember some of the breeds from 4 years ago....

German Shepard

Rottie

Pittbull

Great Pyreenes

Berneese Mountain Dog

Shar Pai

Doberman

Saint Bernard

Standard Poodle

Newfoundland Dog (I have 2)

Springer Spaniel

Huskie

Mastif

there were more, but these are the ones I remeber from 4 years ago.....

Having adopted a mixed pit bull though I intend to look the entire bill through and if necessary will also write.  Im not in Ohio but Ohio does border PA .. if the bill does pass..PA could also be affected.

Again, everyone on petfinder interprets it like this, along with links to back it up:

Here are some other links that seem to say the same thing, that the law is to seize and ban all pits.

http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3506



http://hsus.org/legislation_laws/state_legislation/state-legislation-list.html?state=ohio



http://www.nopitbullbans.com/?p=684#more-684

 This is the NEW language they want...
Sec. 955.111. (A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.

(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.

(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(D) As used in this section, "officer" has the same meaning as in section 959.132 of the Revised Code.

Here is a petition you can sign:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-euthanizing-in-americas-animal-shelters

The best thing anyone can do is write a handwritten letter. Emails are quicker, but can also be deleted quicker too. Handwritten letters shows you took the time to express your thoughts....
http://www.canineadvocatesofohio.org/BSL/Pending_OH_BIlls/H.B._568_Action.htm This is an excellent link.

This is great that you posted this.  Only OH residents may sign this.  I hope everyone here who is from OH will sign it.

It is very important to emphatically write your state lawmakers and try to make them realize how stupid this is. Faced a similar situation in Tennessee a few months ago, and the public outcry was strong and the breed specific legislation was removed. If there needs to be a vicious dog law that's one thing, but it's ridiculous, with statistics to back it up, to pass a law that punishes one amazing breed over some stupid rednecks that wanna be the street bully and have to use their dog to do it. We have to convince our lawmakers to punish the people. How is that hard for anybody to see? Even if you don't love animals, it's common freakin sense. Punish these fools and you will see a decline in animal cruelty, neglect, dogfighting etc..

The most amazing thing about the APBT is their undying loyalty and desire to please their owners. Unfortunately it may be their ultimate downfall.

Good Luck in Ohio.

EVERYONE SHOULD EMAIL EVERY OHIO STATE LAWMAKER ASAP.

I added every Tennessee State representitive to my address book and emailed them every day until I finally got a reply from the bill sponsor.

Especially if you can leave emotion out of the message and try to educate them with facts and a reasonably intellectual argument. When enough people speak up, they will hopefully choose to address the real problem. But who knows, with our governments, it wouldn't be unusual to see a scapegoat. Why is it always the pit bull? I just DO NOT get it.