Marty
11-08-2005, 02:03 PM
USA -- Law to mandate spaying or neutering of selected breeds
Opponents of Senate Bill 861 are working to combat the initiative that would mandate spaying or neutering of dog breeds that have been deemed dangerous or vicious by local authorities.
SB 861, which goes into effect on Jan. 5, gives local governments the power to enact dog-breed-specific legislation that proponents say would protect the public from some animals, a measure the opposition calls “unjust.”
According to Dawn Capp, attorney, author and citizen opposed to the bill, this legislation is an outright ban against larger dogs. She noted that if a dog attacked a person, under this bill the local government would then have the power to ban that dog.
SB 861 was authored by Jackie Speier, (D-San Francisco), in response to the mauling death of 12-year-old Nicholas Fabish by a pit bull last June.
The bill is an attempt to regulate dog breeds that show signs of aggression and violence.
Jackie Speier could not be reached for comment.
Capp said that breed-specific legislation is not effective because it targets animal behavior and not owner behavior.
“There was an outright ban of pit bulls in Prince George County, Maryland,” Capp said. “And the problem didn’t go away; there was just a new breed that became a problem.”
UC Davis employee and citizen working to petition the bill Jackie Marshall said she feels that the bill hurts those who currently follow dog breeding laws.
“If you were to take away all the guns from all the citizens, the only people who would have them would be the bad guys,” she said. “It is the same with dogs. The only people who are hurt here are the ones who follow the rules.”
According to Capp, some insurance companies make it difficult to get home insurance with certain types of dogs.
“If people cannot get insurance with the type of dog they want, people are going to go to the shelter and give up their loving family pet,” Capp said.
She added that many insurance companies do not recognize show dogs or work dogs, which include police dogs and guide dogs for the blind.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which is in support of SB 861, said the bill would combat the overpopulation crisis of animals and help prevent dog attacks.
“The bill would also make California safer,” said the PETA website. “As you may know, dogs who are not neutered are 2.6 times more likely to attack humans than dogs who have been sterilized.”
Capp feels that the bill has the wrong direction and that many attacks are the result of poor training.
“They need to target the behavior of the owners,” she said. “We need to make legislation that is rational and responsible.”
For more information on the petition of SB 861, visit http://chako.org/.
MAK MILES can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com.
http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/?id=11390
Opponents of Senate Bill 861 are working to combat the initiative that would mandate spaying or neutering of dog breeds that have been deemed dangerous or vicious by local authorities.
SB 861, which goes into effect on Jan. 5, gives local governments the power to enact dog-breed-specific legislation that proponents say would protect the public from some animals, a measure the opposition calls “unjust.”
According to Dawn Capp, attorney, author and citizen opposed to the bill, this legislation is an outright ban against larger dogs. She noted that if a dog attacked a person, under this bill the local government would then have the power to ban that dog.
SB 861 was authored by Jackie Speier, (D-San Francisco), in response to the mauling death of 12-year-old Nicholas Fabish by a pit bull last June.
The bill is an attempt to regulate dog breeds that show signs of aggression and violence.
Jackie Speier could not be reached for comment.
Capp said that breed-specific legislation is not effective because it targets animal behavior and not owner behavior.
“There was an outright ban of pit bulls in Prince George County, Maryland,” Capp said. “And the problem didn’t go away; there was just a new breed that became a problem.”
UC Davis employee and citizen working to petition the bill Jackie Marshall said she feels that the bill hurts those who currently follow dog breeding laws.
“If you were to take away all the guns from all the citizens, the only people who would have them would be the bad guys,” she said. “It is the same with dogs. The only people who are hurt here are the ones who follow the rules.”
According to Capp, some insurance companies make it difficult to get home insurance with certain types of dogs.
“If people cannot get insurance with the type of dog they want, people are going to go to the shelter and give up their loving family pet,” Capp said.
She added that many insurance companies do not recognize show dogs or work dogs, which include police dogs and guide dogs for the blind.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which is in support of SB 861, said the bill would combat the overpopulation crisis of animals and help prevent dog attacks.
“The bill would also make California safer,” said the PETA website. “As you may know, dogs who are not neutered are 2.6 times more likely to attack humans than dogs who have been sterilized.”
Capp feels that the bill has the wrong direction and that many attacks are the result of poor training.
“They need to target the behavior of the owners,” she said. “We need to make legislation that is rational and responsible.”
For more information on the petition of SB 861, visit http://chako.org/.
MAK MILES can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com.
http://www.californiaaggie.com/article/?id=11390