With one stroke of John Kasich’s pen, Ohio’s statewide Pit Bull stereotyping is no more. House Bill 14, as of just a few hours ago, has been signed into law. This bill removes the statewide language that had been in place for the last 25 years, language automatically labeling all Pit Bulls as “vicious.” Ohio had been the only remaining state in the nation to continue classifying a dog as “vicious” solely by breed and appearance, and not by individual behavior. At last, this crime against common sense has finally been corrected.

Unfortunately the new law will not counteract the breed-specific legislation that numerous local communities (like Cincinnati) have in place. What it does do however is do away with the constant targeting of innocent dogs, as well as enforced regulations that created unjustified hurdles for every Pit Bull guardian in the state. Just as important, it creates precedent and pushes the momentum for justice in the correct direction. Just last year both Cleveland and Toledo ended their BSL ordinances. They’ve since moved to breed-neutral policies that are far more sensible and humane.

Being an Ohioan for the first 24 years of my life, and having Sway for 4 years before we moved out to California, I saw firsthand the kinds of unspoken bigotry and ignorance that these kinds of labels (vicious) produce. These prior determinations caused (and in many areas continue to cause) many wonderful animals to be immediately killed. Those that did find homes with loving humans continued to face barriers created by language, created by a system that made them guilty without a chance to be proven innocent. It was wrong for so long. Me and Sway are very happy to finally say so long to wrong.

Thank you Governor Kasich. Thank you to all of the countless unnamed persons who positively added, in any way, to this long and difficult effort.