Marty
07-20-2005, 11:19 PM
San Francisco, CA -- Opponents have taken some of the bite out of a bill that would allow cities to regulate dangerous dogs.
In the wake of recent vicious dog attacks in the Bay Area, State Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, called for a law that would allow localities to pass any type of breed-specific legislation to address public safety and welfare concerns in their communities -- up to, but not including, banning a specific breed. But now, the proposed law reads that local government can pass breed-specific ordinances that only pertain to mandatory spay or neuter programs and breeding requirements. Additionally, a sentence has been added specifying that no specific breed shall be declared potentially dangerous or vicious.
Those changes mean cities would not be able to require muzzles, fences, leashes, or warning signs for specific breeds -- only spaying and neutering and breeding restrictions. But Speier denies she's bowed to pressure from dog advocate groups.
"I've received 1500 emails and letters, 90% of which are opposed," she said. "So it's not a lack of standing up. I am standing up and I'm doing something, where these individuals would suggest I shouldn't be doing anything at all."
San Francisco Animal Care and Control Director Carl Friedman says he's disappointed the bill was changed to remove the flexibility for localities to decide for themselves what should be done about a breed. But overall he's pleased with the measure.
"I think it would be a major success for the city and county of San Francisco," he said.
Friedman says spaying and neutering and breeding restrictions will cut down on the number of pit bulls overall, and especially the number of poorly trained ones.
In the wake of recent vicious dog attacks in the Bay Area, State Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, called for a law that would allow localities to pass any type of breed-specific legislation to address public safety and welfare concerns in their communities -- up to, but not including, banning a specific breed. But now, the proposed law reads that local government can pass breed-specific ordinances that only pertain to mandatory spay or neuter programs and breeding requirements. Additionally, a sentence has been added specifying that no specific breed shall be declared potentially dangerous or vicious.
Those changes mean cities would not be able to require muzzles, fences, leashes, or warning signs for specific breeds -- only spaying and neutering and breeding restrictions. But Speier denies she's bowed to pressure from dog advocate groups.
"I've received 1500 emails and letters, 90% of which are opposed," she said. "So it's not a lack of standing up. I am standing up and I'm doing something, where these individuals would suggest I shouldn't be doing anything at all."
San Francisco Animal Care and Control Director Carl Friedman says he's disappointed the bill was changed to remove the flexibility for localities to decide for themselves what should be done about a breed. But overall he's pleased with the measure.
"I think it would be a major success for the city and county of San Francisco," he said.
Friedman says spaying and neutering and breeding restrictions will cut down on the number of pit bulls overall, and especially the number of poorly trained ones.