Published: September 23, 2007 12:03 am      

Frostburg officials fail to address pit bull ordinance

Citizens speak out against breed-specific approach

FROSTBURG — Citizens who crowded the Frostburg mayor and council meeting room expecting to discuss a potential ordinance banning pit bull ownership were short-changed when the elected officials did not broach the subject.

Although the council had indicated an ordinance could be presented at the September meeting held Thursday, such was not the case.

Public Safety Commissioner John Ralston has the lead on the effort, according to City Administrator John Kirby.

“The rest of the council will wait for Commissioner Ralston to draft an ordinance and then determine if they want to move forward with it,” Kirby said.

An ordinance introduced at one monthly public meeting will generate a public hearing on the subject a month later, at which time it could be passed, according to Kirby.

Most recently, Ralston said he favored a breed-specific approach that would outlaw ownership of pit bulls. The city began to consider an ordinance following an incident this summer in which an unleashed pit bull bit a small dog and its owner.

Jonel Nightingale spoke Thursday, asking the group to avoid such an ordinance.

“I don’t own a pit bull, but I am an avid animal lover,” she said. “A ban on a breed will not be effective. People who want fighting dogs will just train a different breed.”

Nightingale asked that the city enforce an existing leash law and enact laws that would require owners to be more responsible.

Another woman, whose name could not be ascertained by either the Times-News or the city and who was wearing a T-shirt that read “Keep Your Dog In Frostburg,” read statements from numerous organizations that oppose breed-specific regulations, including the American Kennel Club, Maryland Veterinarian Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States. She said a similar ordinance in Prince George’s County has been costly and ineffective. She said that neutered pit bulls have never been responsible for a fatal dog attack in the U.S.

Danielle Yutzy, who spoke at length opposing a pit bull ban at an earlier public meeting, blamed the media, including local companies for demonizing pit bulls.

The next public work session at which dog regulations may be discussed will take place Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The next public meeting is Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Frostburg Community Center. The meetings have been pushed back one week from the usual gathering time so that city officials may attend a function of the Maryland Municipal League in Ocean City.

Michael A. Sawyers can be reached at msawyers@times-news.com.