Ever since a 12-year-old boy was mauled to death by his own family’s pit bulls, the state has been considering legislation to allow cities and counties to enact breed-specific ordinances affecting dogs.
The bill, SB 681, would not allow cities to ban any particular breed of dog outright, but would allow cities to set breed-specific policies for spaying, neutering and breeding.
If this bill makes it all the way through both houses and is signed by the governor, should Gilroy enact ordinances to control pit bulls?
An unscientific Web poll conducted by The Dispatch finds overwhelming support for an outright ban on pit bulls: 73.48 percent in favor. The reasons for this unequivocal response are not hard to discern.
Carl Friedman, San Francisco’s director of animal control, testified before the state senate that 50 to 60 percent of all the dog bite cases in the City could be attributed to pit bulls or pit bull mixes. (He also testified that 70 percent of all dog bites were inflicted by un-neutered dogs.)
On the other hand, pit bull owners such as Janet Breslin insist that pit bulls “are great dogs if they’re raised right.”
She maintains that blame for aggressive dogs should lie with owners who do not properly care for or socialize their dogs.
We agree – to a point.
The fact is that certain breeds have genetic predispositions to engage in certain behaviors. Border collies love to herd sheep, and will herd children if no woollies are available. Labrador retrievers and Irish setters show a deep and abiding interest in birds; if unacquainted with game birds, they will be interested in songbirds and chickens.
A terrier shakes a stuffed animal with the selfsame jerk he would use to break a rat’s neck, were he lucky enough to catch one. Chihuahuas yap.
Pit bulls attack.
But The Dispatch agrees that the owner can make a huge difference in whether a dog becomes a good canine citizen or an outlaw. Consequently, we favor ordinances that will further the following aims:
n Dog ownership is a privilege, not a right. To own a pit bull, the owner must agree, through license or contract, to provide obedience training. Any owner who trains his dog to fight or attack will lose his dog.
n All pit bulls, other than those owned by responsible licensed breeders, shall be spayed or neutered.
n Pit bulls surrendered to an animal shelter who are deemed unadoptable due to aggressive or shy behavior shall be euthanized.
n Any dog that mauls another dog, or livestock or a human shall be euthanized. If an owner refuses to comply, criminal penalties will ensue.
The key to any dog ownership is responsibility. The potential consequences of irresponsibility are more severe with pit bulls than with cocker spaniels.
