Marty
11-03-2005, 02:02 PM
United States -- Opponents of a new law that allows cities and counties to impose restrictions on certain breeds of dogs are trying to have it overturned.
Opponents must collect 373,816 signatures from registered voters by Jan. 5, 2006, to have enactment of the law put on hold until voters have their say on the issue.
The new law allows local governments to create spaying and neutering requirements for specific breeds. Rules pertaining to specific breeds were prohibited previously. The new law was sought by San Francisco officials, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, after a 12-year-old boy was killed by his family's pit bulls earlier this year.
Breed-specific legislation is unfair and might backfire, said Dawn Capp, a Sacramento attorney who is leading the referendum drive.
"Right now it just mandates spay and neutering, but the whole purpose is to control vicious dogs," said Capp, who is also author of "American Pit Bull Terriers: The Truth Behind One of America's Most Popular Breeds."
Signature collection to overturn the law is strictly a volunteer effort, she said.
Capp said people might decide not to get their dogs licensed for fear of further crackdowns on specific breeds in the future.
"Then you've just made the problem phenomenally worse," she said.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, who said citizens have a right to try a referendum effort, but she believes there is overwhelming public support for the law.
"The people who supported SB861 were many of the animal rights movement leaders," she said. "Their goal is my goal. We don't want unwanted animals to be put down, and the vast majority of dogs in animal shelters are given up because of concern about aggressive behavior."
But Capp said the issue is bad owners, not bad dogs.
"Bad owners have German shepherds, they have pit bulls, and they have cocker spaniels," she said. "The dogs are dogs."
E-mail Lynda Gledhill at lgledhill@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/03/BAGNLFI4V61.DTL
Opponents must collect 373,816 signatures from registered voters by Jan. 5, 2006, to have enactment of the law put on hold until voters have their say on the issue.
The new law allows local governments to create spaying and neutering requirements for specific breeds. Rules pertaining to specific breeds were prohibited previously. The new law was sought by San Francisco officials, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, after a 12-year-old boy was killed by his family's pit bulls earlier this year.
Breed-specific legislation is unfair and might backfire, said Dawn Capp, a Sacramento attorney who is leading the referendum drive.
"Right now it just mandates spay and neutering, but the whole purpose is to control vicious dogs," said Capp, who is also author of "American Pit Bull Terriers: The Truth Behind One of America's Most Popular Breeds."
Signature collection to overturn the law is strictly a volunteer effort, she said.
Capp said people might decide not to get their dogs licensed for fear of further crackdowns on specific breeds in the future.
"Then you've just made the problem phenomenally worse," she said.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, who said citizens have a right to try a referendum effort, but she believes there is overwhelming public support for the law.
"The people who supported SB861 were many of the animal rights movement leaders," she said. "Their goal is my goal. We don't want unwanted animals to be put down, and the vast majority of dogs in animal shelters are given up because of concern about aggressive behavior."
But Capp said the issue is bad owners, not bad dogs.
"Bad owners have German shepherds, they have pit bulls, and they have cocker spaniels," she said. "The dogs are dogs."
E-mail Lynda Gledhill at lgledhill@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/11/03/BAGNLFI4V61.DTL