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Lisbon has no problem with pits

LISBON –The dog duo lobbying local town councils to change pit bull ordinances attended this week’s village council meeting only to learn the state law removing the breed from the list of so-called “vicious” dogs supercedes Lisbon’s ordinance.

Animal advocate Jason Cooke from Boardman met with council to urge them to amend the village’s dangerous animal law because it defines all pit bulls as “vicious” animals. He said it is untrue and to continue to list all pit bulls as vicious animals is a form of breed discrimination.

Brenda Austin, who also attended the meeting with Cooke, agreed.

“There are tons of pit bulls and most of them are very nice dogs. It’s not always about the breed. It’s more about the dog” and its owner, said Austin, a former agent for the Humane Society of Columbiana County and former part-time deputy county dog warden.

Police Chief Mike Abraham said they do not have a problem with pit bulls, nor do they enforce the village ordinance because the state legislature in 2012 removed pit bulls, or any breed for that matter, from automatically being deemed “vicious” under the law defining what is a dangerous animal.

“Anytime there is a conflict between our ordinances and state ordinances, the state prevails,” he explained.

Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner said the council could still remove pit bulls from its dangerous animal law the next time they update village ordinances in 2018.

Cooke noted they are working with the city of Columbiana to make the same changes with its dangerous animal ordinance, but Wonner pointed out that as a charter city, Columbiana can enact laws that supercede state law.

Cooke said he would also like to talk with council about adopting an anti-tethering law prohibiting dog owners from leaving their pets tied up outside for extended periods. Mayor Joe Morenz told him to send the village copies of some anti-tethering laws in other communities and they will review them.

Abraham suggested that may be a solution in search of a problem. “There aren’t a lot of dogs tied up outside in this community,” he said.

In other action at the meeting:

— Local preservationist Stevie Halverstadt received permission from council to plant two to three willow trees at Willow Grove Park, with the trees to be purchased with proceeds from the Lisbon Landmark Foundation’s upcoming Founders Day pancake breakfast on Feb. 11.

Halverstadt said there are no longer any willow trees at the park named after them. “We need to bring the willow trees back,” she said.

— Morenz, with council’s agreement, created an economic development committee consisting of councilmen Roger Gallo, Jeff Snyder and Dawn Thomas to work with him in drafting a plan to designate Lisbon a federal Community Reinvestment Area. Businesses and homeowners in the CRA would be eligible for tax breaks when making property improvements.

tgiambroni@mojonews.com

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