Supervisors to consider mandatory spay/neuter ordinance for pit bulls

A proposed Riverside County ordinance mandating thatall pit bulls over 4 months old — with few exceptions — be sterilized for thesake of public safety will be debated by the Board of Supervisors tomorrow.

“While the majority of pit bull owners are responsible and takeappropriate measures to ensure that their dogs do not have unwanted offspring,there is a need to mitigate the large number of unwanted pit bulls in thecounty,” an introduction to the proposed ordinance reads.

The Department of Animal Services broached the issue of restricting pitbull breeding to the board during a meeting in April, receiving a mixedresponse.

Many pit bull owners complained that the breed had been“sensationalized,” and argued that the dogs were unfairly targeted forcriticism. Victims of pit bull attacks, including Beaumont City CouncilwomanBrenda Knight, countered that the canines have a vicious streak and physicalmakeup that make them inherently dangerous.

According to a Department of Animal Services statement, the purpose ofthe proposed ordinance is to “protect the public’s health and welfare fromirresponsible owners of pit bulls by mitigating the over-population of unwantedpit bulls.”

Animal Services Director Rob Miller noted that 20 percent of impoundeddogs and 30 percent of those euthanized at county shelters are pit bulls, which“historically have very low redemption or adoption rates.”

Under the measure, which will be the subject of another hearing nextmonth, any pit bull over 4 months old would be required to be spayed orneutered unless an owner can qualify the animal for one of the following fiveexemptions:

— the dog belongs to a registered breeder at the time the ordinance wasenacted;
— is trained for law enforcement duties;
— is an “assistance dog” for a disabled person;
— has been certified by a veterinarian as having a health defect thatsterilization would aggravate; or
— is in training and licensed in another county.

In its proposal, the Department of Animal Services defines pits asStaffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, American StaffordTerriers “or any mixed breed which contains … any one of these breeds so asto be identifiable as partially of one or more of these breeds.”

A dog owner may request a “breed determination,” which would requirethe county’s chief veterinarian or a member of his staff to examine the pet. Ifthe dog is designated a pit bull, an owner would have the opportunity to appealthe finding by before a county administrative officer, or take the case tocourt.

Individuals who fail to comply with the ordinance would be assessedfines and penalties, according to county officials. Enforcing the ordinancewould occur when a dog is impounded or when it’s brought in to be vaccinated,licensed or microchipped.

Numerous pit bull attacks have been reported countywide this year.

In June, an 80-year-old French Valley man was seriously mauled by hisson’s 90-pound Mastiff pit mix. In February, a 91-year-old Hemet woman waskilled by her two pit bulls.

Supervisor John Tavaglione said in April that he wanted toughregulations targeting owners after learning that an 84-year-old Jurupa Valleyman was torn apart by a pit bull while sitting in his wheelchair.

If approved, the ordinance would only apply to unincorporatedcommunities, though area cities could choose to adopt the county measure.