Vet argues against Ohio pit bull measure

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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- An Ohio veterinarian testifying in a hearing on restrictions on pit bulls said she was more worried about being bitten by a Dachshund than a pit bull.

Dr. Linda Lord, appearing before a state Senate committee, testified on behalf of 2,400 veterinarians and 300 student members of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, urging lawmakers to shut down Ohio's restrictions against "pit bulls," the Toledo Blade reported Wednesday.

"The effective control of vicious animals is in the best interest of the state. However, current law placing restrictions on one specific type of dog is contrary to actually addressing the problem of aggressive canine behavior," Lord, president of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association, said. "From a veterinary medicine standpoint, the most effective animal-control laws focus on responsible and humane animal ownership and the actions of the animal. Placing arbitrary limitations on the ownership of a specific type of dog only serves to create a stigma and place undue burdens on responsible animal owners."

Ohio has breed-specific language on the books specifying how owners of pit bulls must contain and control their animals, the newspaper said.

It categorizes a dog as "dangerous," "nuisance," and/or "vicious."

State Sen. Mark Wagoner, the committee chairman, has scheduled a committee vote for January on the bill.