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Trial on county's pit bull adoption policy begins
A civil trial that will decide the legality of the Loudoun County Animal Shelter's policy against putting up pit bulls for adoption got under way in Loudoun County Circuit Court on May 5.
Judge Burke McCahill heard from attorneys representing plaintiffs Ron Litz, of Sterling, and the Animal Rescue of Tidewater about how the policy violates a section of the Code of Virginia that says dogs cannot be deemed dangerous based solely on breed.
In her opening statement, Lynne Rhode said that since a policy was enacted in 2007 that stated pit bulls can be transferred to another shelter if deemed adoptable, management at the Loudoun County Animal Shelter declared 84 percent of pit bulls in their care unadoptable and in need of being euthanized as opposed to 48 percent of other dog breeds.
“The numbers do not lie,” Rhode said, adding that only 24 pit bulls have been transferred while 122 have been killed.
Animal behavior and training manager Sherry Woodard testified as an expert for the plaintiffs.
In her testimony, Woodard sorted through behavioral assessments of several dogs at the Loudoun County Animal Shelter and determined that pit bulls that score well on the assessment are being euthanized, while other breeds with lower scores are being trained and put up for adoption.
Woodard said that based on the documents she reviewed, she saw a “breed bias” against pit bulls and pit bull mixes.
After the plaintiffs presented evidence, Zeta Thompson, the attorney for Loudoun County, issued a motion to strike the case, saying that the dangerous dog statute does not govern the county animal shelter, but only pertains to dogs that are seized, and determined to be dangerous by the court.
The county animal shelter operates under the section of the code that specifies if an animal goes unclaimed at the shelter for three days, the shelter has several choices, one option being euthanasia.
McCahill deferred ruling on the motion to strike until after the county has presented evidence May 6.
Before the trial began, several pit bull owners and rescue workers lined up outside the courthouse with their dogs, protesting the county's policy.
“This breed is a very friendly, super loving breed,” said owner Anja Schattschneider, of Marshall. “The only reason they are talked about badly is because many of them have been in the wrong hands.”
Contact the reporter at jwagoner@timespapers.com
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