Controversial ordinance makes vicious dog owners have $500,000 in liability insurance

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio --


A controversial ordinance is leaving some dog owners upset and other residents relieved. Monday night, the village of Amsterdam passed an ordinance requiring owners of a vicious dog to carry liability insurance.

The Fans Of WTOV9 Facebook page has been receiving numerous comments about the ordinance ever since NEWS9 broadcast the story. Lynn Day posted, "The law is ridiculous," while Debbie Bain disagreed and posted, "I think its good and should be law everywhere!!!"


The ordinance requires owners of "vicious dogs" to carry $500,000 in liability insurance and will impose a $1,000 day fine on a dog that owners can't "breed specify," which some people feel is unnecessary and may become too much for some people to afford.

Another cause of debate is the definition of the phrase "vicious dog." In agreement with the state of Ohio's laws, the ordinance automatically says that pit bulls or dogs that look or act like pit bulls are vicious.

Councilwoman Marsha Pokopakis said she thinks that's discrimination.

"They have breed-specified an animal. It is, 'This dog whether it looks, acts or anything like that," Pokopakis said.

Police Chief Todd Walker police said was a move to keep pet owners responsible for their animals and some dog owners who didn't want to be on camera agreed with the ordinance. But Prokopakis said there are better ways to do that.

"I think it would have been a better option to maintain the regular leash law -- the ordinances that protect you and protect your pet as a pet owner," she said.

Prokopakis said she thinks the ordinance can cause even more injuries down the road.

"I strongly disagree with it and I voted 'no' for it as the only council person. Everyone else voted 'yes;' I voted 'no.'"

Walker said once a dog -- no matter what the size or breed -- bites a person, the dog will be considered vicious and the new law would apply to it.

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