Gilroy Police Chief Denise Turner said that she wanted to see
the city
”
put a little more teeth
”
into its animal control ordinance. The City Council did just
that Monday – unanimously voting not only to approve changes
recommended by city staff but adding even tougher provisions.
Gilroy Police Chief Denise Turner said that she wanted to see the city “put a little more teeth” into its animal control ordinance. The City Council did just that on Monday – unanimously voting not only to approve changes recommended by city staff but adding even tougher provisions.
The council’s vote came after council members heard horror stories from residents about how they and their animals had been chased or mauled by dangerous dogs.
“Gilroy definitely needs to toughen its dog laws,” said Zinnia Street resident Sharon Pepper, whose dog, Sammy, was killed by a neighbor’s pit bull and bulldog on Nov. 16.
Council members agreed. The city’s nearly 15-year-old ordinance now institutes “strict liability,” in which the owners of dogs who bite people or attack other pets will be penalized regardless of the circumstance. In addition, dogs that are a menace will be required to be spayed or neutered and microchipped at the owner’s expense, council members decided.
The council also stiffened penalties for unleashed dogs that act viciously. Dogs that attack and kill other animals now can be recommended for euthanization.
Owners of dogs that are deemed dangerous because they act as a menace now will be required to carry liability insurance for their pets, in accordance with a city staff request. In addition, Gilroy Police Department will require proof of registration and vaccination for all dogs and cats on all animal control calls. In cases where proof is not available, owners will be cited.
Council members also approved preparing a cost-benefit analysis to determine how easy it would be for the City of Gilroy to have its own animal licensing service, as Gilroy residents must now go to the Morgan Hill Police Department’s animal control officer to obtain those services.
Monday’s decision came after the council requested during its Oct. 19 meeting for city staff to review a San Francisco pit bull ordinance and report back to them. The San Francisco ordinance imposes fines of up to $500 on a first offense for dog owners who do not spay or neuter pit bulls. The City of Santa Monica also requires that pit bulls be muzzled and on a leash by an able-bodied person if they are on public property.
Turner noted that state law actually prohibits cities and counties from passing laws that are based upon breed. As a result, she recommended only making changes to the ordinance that were not specific to breed.
Councilman Dion Bracco, who owns a pit bull himself and said it was a loving animal, made it clear that he opposed breed-specific laws. Still, he said there needs to be stiffer penalties for dogs that act dangerously.
“Once an animal kills, it will kill again,” Bracco said. “We need to enforce the laws that we have.”
