Riverside County Considers MSN for "Pit Bulls"

Riverside County, CA considering pit bull ordinance

 

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is considering an ordinance that would regulate the ownership of "pit bulls," requiring the dogs to be spayed or neutered. County officials say the action is being taken because the "breed threatens public safety and fills animal shelters."

Details of the proposed ordinance are not available. but in a staff report to supervisors, animal services officials said the goal is to "mandate the sterilization of all Pit Bull type dogs."

The report from the Department of Animal Services specifically states:

Pit bull and pit bull mixes significantly impact the health and safety of Riverside residents and pets. The media is constantly reporting incidents of death and human injury from attacks of this type of canine. Additionally, this breed of dog makes up 20% of the dogs impounded by the Department has historically very low redemption or adoption rates.

California state law prohibits the passage of breed specific ordinances with the exception of ordinances pertaining only to spay and neuter programs and breeding regulations of specific breeds.

Regardless of your position on spaying and neutering of pets, it is important to remember that any law that applies to one breed or grouping of dogs involves the practice of breed profiling and is breed specific legislation. Breed specific MSN is fraught with the many problems associated with BSL, and opens the door for future additional breed restrictions.

Please send your polite, respectful and informative opposition to breed specific legislation to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors listed below.

Talking points related to breed specific MSN can be found here.

The county Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 9:00 a.m., to consider whether animal services officials and county lawyers should begin working on a pit-bull-sterilization ordinance.

Riverside County Board of Supervisors
(Block copy & paste e-mail)
district1@rcbos.org,District2@rcbos.org,district4@rcbos.org,
district3@rcbos.org, district5@rcbos.org

Jay Orr
County Executive Officer
County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street – 4th Floor
Riverside, California 92501
(951) 955-1110
ceo@rceo.org

As a side note, the city of Pasadena, California is also considering a similar ordinance which needs our continued attention. 
http://blessthebullys.wordpress.com/2013/04/05/riverside-county-ca-considering-pit-bull-ordinance/