I am wondering why the city has not adopted the new breed
specific law in regards to mandatory spaying and neutering of pit
bulls?
“I am wondering why the city has not adopted the new breed specific law in regards to mandatory spaying and neutering of pit bulls? It is 31683 in the Food and Agriculture Code and it could possibly help with the constant pit bull problem in our area. We should have a poll and see what people think.”
Red Phone: Dear Bullish On A Breed, The law that you mentioned actually doesn’t just regulate pit bulls. The regulation allows cities and counties to set up their own laws concerning aggressive dogs, but says “no program regulating any dog shall be specific as to breed.”
“We can regulate dangerous dogs, which we already do, and not ban specific breeds,” said Gilroy Police Community Service Officer Gary Muraoka. “There is no way to determine if a dog is what percent pit bull, mastiff or other breed of terrier. The dogs are classified by their characteristics. All dogs can interbreed, and there is no DNA test to say what dog breed the dog is.”
Pit bulls have received a bad reputation because of the prominence of their attacks. But people who own this breed of dogs swear they are the loyalest of friends.
Like any other dog, they want to be loved. But when they are abused, they tend to snap. Usually they will start giving you warning signs before they attack, such as growling. But aggression toward other animals does not necessarily mean the dog will be aggressive to humans, according to realpitbull.com.
An interesting study done by the American Temperament Test Society (www.atts.org) showed that pit bulls actually have better temperaments than beagles and golden receivers.
To read more about what people are saying about breed specific laws, visit www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/breedlaws.html.
I can’t get rid of this cardboard
“I have a question about recycling cardboard. I have cut up cardboard, and one week they’ll pick up and one week they won’t. This week, they selected various cardboard to pick up. I don’t understand. Do they just decide what they want to take and what they don’t? I understand we have to cut it up. I just don’t understand why they won’t take it all. Help! Why are they selective about the cardboard?”
Red Phone: Dear Boxed In, Recology South Valley – formerly South Valley Disposal – requires that all cardboard must fit loosely inside the recycling bin. It can’t be left on top or the side of the recycling bin. And it must be clean. They won’t take your used pizza boxes from your big weekend bash.
“As long as the cardboard is cut up and not contaminated with food, oil or some other substance, the driver should be taking it,” said Phil Couchee, Recology general manager. “If for some reason cardboard, or any other item, is left behind, the resident can call customer service and we will send the driver back or send a supervisor to investigate to see if there is a problem.”
If you continue to have a problem, you can call Recology at 842-3358. Let the Red Phone know if you still have problems after that.
A well done job at Welburn
“I don’t have a complaint about anything. I just want you to thank who ever had the stop signs put up at Hanna Street and Welburn Avenue. It is really about time. Sometimes you took your life into your hands trying to get across there. So thank you.”
Red Phone: Dear Thanksgiving Comes Early, Wow. Red Phone is speechless, which doesn’t happen too often. Your comment completely violates the spirit of this column, but we’ll go ahead and allow it this once. All joking aside, we do appreciate it. It is always nice to hear about good along with the bad. Red Phone passed on your thanks to the city engineering department, who also appreciated it.
