San Francisco, Contra Costa pass sweeping dog regulations
JUSTIN M. NORTON
Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO - City supervisors passed a new set of laws requiring spaying and neutering of pit bulls five months after the fatal mauling of a 12-year-old boy by his family's pit bulls.
Tuesday's decision came in the face of a threat of a ballot initiative to overturn a tough new state dog law. It is the latest move in the contentious debate about how to regulate pit bulls after the death of Nicholas Faibish in June.
"This will serve as a model for other cities in how to responsibly craft laws and policies that deal with dog aggression," said Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who wrote the ordinances. "We needed to do something."
Dufty said that over the next two to three years, the rules will reduce the number of pit bulls in the hands of irresponsible owners.
The ordinances also require city permits to breed pit bulls and prohibit owners of pit bulls or pit bull mixes from retrieving impounded dogs unless the animals are sterilized.
Owners who refuse to spaying or neutering would face fines of up to $1,000. Breeders of show dogs recognized by a kennel club would be exempt. The ordinances are scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1.
"Ultimately, both human and canine lives will be saved because they had the courage to act today in the face of virulent opposition from well-organized and angry dog groups," said Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, who introduced the state law.
Contra Costa County supervisors on Tuesday also approved regulations requiring permits for potentially dangerous dogs that have acted aggressively, and prohibiting felons from owning such dogs. Those rules do not apply to specific breeds.
In particular, convicted felons cannot own dogs over 20 pounds unless they can prove that the dog is not vicious.
The decisions come as a group of dog owners is collecting signatures in an effort to overturn the recently passed state law that allows cities and counties to enact "breed specific" ordinances. The group must collect more than 300,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, by next November at the earliest.
Dawn Capp, the attorney leading the effort, called San Francisco's measure rushed and predicted a legal challenge.
"It's not a surprise - they had their minds made up way back when," said Capp, adding that bad legislation "has far outnumbered dog bites in the history of humanity."
Dufty acknowledged that the law is being challenged but predicted the proponents would not be successful.
"To gather all these signatures is a major effort and I've seen no evidence that's taking place," he said. "I didn't want to delay our city moving forward."
ON THE NET
San Francisco Board of Supervisors: http://www.sfgov.org/site/bdsupvrs_index.asp