WAYNE ALLEN

PDT Staff Writer

The Scioto County Dog Pound has proposed a new pit bull adoption policy.

“The law was changed (in Ohio) that doesn’t designate a pit bull to be vicious animal. So, Pam (Frowine, Supervisor of the Scioto County Dog Pound) at the dog pound has rewritten the policy for adopting pit bulls,” said Skip Riffe, Chairman of the Scioto County Commissioners. “This was given to Danielle Parker (Assistant Scioto County Prosecuting Attorney) and she advises provisions be added.”

At the Tuesday meeting of the Scioto County Commissioners, the communication about the proposed policy was accepted, but not yet adopted.

The proposed policy states that pit bulls will only be adopted to approved homes. No person with a felony shall be allowed to adopt a pit bull.

Background checks must be done and the new owner will pay the fee to have this done. If married, both spouses must provide their own background check.

Anyone adopting a pit bull may not have children in the home under the age of 10.

Prospective owners may not own another cat or dog in their residence where the pit bull will be living.

All adopted pit bulls will be spayed or neutered through the Scioto County Dog Pound before they leave the shelter, with no exceptions.

The provisions that Parker is proposing to add include, anyone adopting a pit bull and/or pit bull mix must obtain liability insurance with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in each occurrence because of damage or bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the dangerous dog if so ordered by a court and provide proof of that liability insurance upon request to any law enforcement officer, county dog warden, or public health official charged with enforcing this section.

Anyone adopting a pit bull and/or pit bull mix must obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate from the county auditor, affix a tag that identifies the dog as a dangerous dog to the dog’s collar, and ensure that the dog wears the collar and tag at all times.

Scioto County Dog Pound Supervisor Pam Frowine or Parker could be reached for further comment.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.