Tag Archives: spay

Riverside County California is trying to pass breed discriminatory spay/neuter law

Riverside County California has been having some issues recently with dog attacks including a fatal attack that happened in February. As a response to these incidents officials have been given the go ahead to draft a mandatory spay/neuter law that would target pit bull type dogs.

The topic of mandatory spay/neuter is a tricky one. Spay/neuter itself is by no means a bad thing for several reasons.

The problem comes in when these laws are mandatory and targeted to one type of animal.  A mandatory, discriminatory spay/neuter law by itself does nothing. What does affect pet over population is broad reaching community outreach initiatives, very much like the Pets for Life program. All the laws in the world will not get people to alter their pets but by providing inexpensive care and education on the topic more people are able to be reached.

It would be much better for Riverside County to implement a community outreach program to target under served neighborhoods than to pass a law that would target the owners of dogs who look a certain way. Breed discriminatory is breed discriminatory, no matter what the regulation, and always has a much larger impact on the community than expected. The only times these laws have been shown to work are when they are combined with the types of programs mentioned above.  Which goes to show that it is not the law itself, but the outreach, that affects the community.

This topic has been covered extensively by Brent Toellner, KC Dog Blog, where he has taken a detailed look at mandatory spay/neuter laws in various locations. Here is a link to the category of postings on the topic of mandatory spay/neuter.

Find out more information on mandatory spay/neuter laws.

Riverside County residents: Officials are crafting a mandatory spay/neuter law targeting pit bull type dogs. Please reach out to urge the county to spend the resources on more effective education and community outreach instead. You can find you specific district here or contact all the supervisors whose information is provided below.

First District Supervisor Kevin Jeffries: district1@rcbos.org

Second District Supervisor John F. Tavaglione: District2@rcbos.org

Third District Supervisor (Vice Chairman) Jeff Stone: district3@rcbos.org

Fourth District Supervisor (Chairman) John Benoit: district4@rcbos.org

Fifth District Supervisor Marion Ashley: district5@rcbos.org

Cuyahoga County, OH: BS-MSN proposed

A Cuyahoga County councilwoman has proposed breed-specific mandatory spay-neuter for “pit bulls” only. A public hearing on the proposal is expected to be held this summer (date currently unknown).

The reason proposed for MSN in this case makes no sense. County Councilwoman Simon says her proposed BS-MSN is meant to stop dog fighters. The reality is that this ordinance will only affect responsible, law-abiding citizens with “pit bull”-looking dogs. Dog fighters are already committing a felony—why would they suddenly agree to follow this law? We suspect this proposal is really giving the county a new way to portray “pit bull” owners as second-class citizens and criminals, now that the state law no longer enables such discrimination.

Please ask Cuyahoga County officials to drop the breed-specific portion of the proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance. Breed identification is a subjective, non-scientific process, which results in unfair and unequal application of the law. Disputes over breed identification are also inevitable, and appeals and court cases fighting breed designations are expensive and resource-consuming.

StopBSL takes no position on mandatory spay/neuter as long as it is not breed-specific.

Cuyahoga County officials contact information:
Cuyahoga County Council, 1219 Ontario Street -Room 424, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
216-698-2010 (phone)
216-698-2040 (fax)
County Council email block
ceconnally@cuyahogacounty.us; ssimon@cuyahogacounty.us; dgreenspan@cuyahogacounty.us; damiller@cuyahogacounty.us; dbrady@cuyahogacounty.us; cgermana@cuyahogacounty.us; mjgallagher@cuyahogacounty.us; jschron@cuyahogacounty.us; yconwell@cuyahogacounty.us; pjones@cuyahogacounty.us; jrogers@cuyahogacounty.us
Additional administrative staff emails can be found here: http://council.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/council-members.aspx

Cuyahoga County Council member proposes requiring pit bulls to be sterilized (poll)

By: Laura Johnston, The Plain Dealer

A Cuyahoga County councilwoman is [...] proposing a countywide law that would force all pit bulls to be sterilized.

Council Vice President Sunny Simon [...] plans to hold a hearing this summer before officially introducing pit bull legislation.

Simon said she wants to discourage dog fighters from breeding and selling pit bulls for sport, in the wake of the state dropping a provision that automatically labeled pit bulls as “vicious,” a designation that placed restrictions on owners. [...]

Full article retrieved 6/1/2012 from http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2012/05/cuyahoga_county_council_considers_requiring_pit_bulls_to_be_sterilized.html

City of Ventura, CA: BSL passed

Ventura city council members voted for mandatory spay/neuter for “pit bulls” during its council meeting this week.

StopBSL takes no position on mandatory spay/neuter as long as it is not breed-specific. Unfortunately, Ventura’s breed-specific MSN brings with it all of the problems that are associated with any BSL: unnecessary discrimination against citizens based on their dog’s physical appearance; subjective, nonscientific visual guesses about a dog’s possible breed, resulting in unequal application of the law and resource-consuming lawsuits and court challenges; enforcement difficulties; and so on. (Think animal shelter workers can reliably identify “pit bulls”? Check out this study done by Maddie’s Fund.)

Some city officials have already expressed concerns that the law will be difficult to enforce. And, of course, BS-MSN has not solved any problems anywhere else it has been implemented.

City of Ventura Mayor and City Council
mike.tracy@cityofventura.net, cheitmann@ci.ventura.ca.us, nandrews@ci.ventura.ca.us, bbrennan@ci.ventura.ca.us, jmonahan@ci.ventura.ca.us, cmorehouse@ci.ventura.ca.us, cweir@ci.ventura.ca.us

All alerts for Ventura (county and cities): http://stopbsl.com/?s=ventura

Ventura council approves pit bull ordinance

By Arlene Martinez
Posted May 23, 2012 at 5:12 p.m.

Despite concerns that enforcement might be difficult, the Ventura City Council voted 6-1 on Monday to require pit bulls to be spayed or neutered by the time they are 16 weeks.

[...] Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers fall under the “pit bull” category. Dogs used in law enforcement and purebreds registered with the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club or “other national registry” are exempt from the ordinance. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/24/12 from http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/23/ventura-council-approves-pit-bull-ordinance/

City of Ventura, CA: Council will consider BS-MSN proposal, May 21

Ventura city council members will vote on mandatory spay/neuter for “pit bulls” during its council meeting on May 21, 6:00 PM, in Council Chambers, 501 Poli Street, Ventura, CA.

Agenda: http://www.cityofventura.net/meeting/city-council-meeting-118

Please ask the city of Ventura to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance. Breed identification is a subjective, non-scientific process, which results in unfair and unequal application of the law. Disputes over breed identification are also inevitable, and appeals and court cases fighting breed designations are expensive and resource-consuming.

StopBSL takes no position on mandatory spay/neuter as long as it is not breed-specific. Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, the city of Ventura can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

City of Ventura Mayor and City Council
mike.tracy@cityofventura.net, cheitmann@ci.ventura.ca.us, nandrews@ci.ventura.ca.us, bbrennan@ci.ventura.ca.us, jmonahan@ci.ventura.ca.us, cmorehouse@ci.ventura.ca.us, cweir@ci.ventura.ca.us

All alerts for Ventura (county and cities): http://stopbsl.com/?s=ventura

Upland, CA: BS-MSN proposal sent to committee

The Upland, CA, Advisory Committee has recommended mandatory spay/neuter for all ”pit bulls.” After they presented this recommendation to council on Monday, the council sent the proposal to the Public Safety Committee for further consideration.

I’m going to say it again: this proposal is NOT about reducing a shelter overpopulation of medium-sized, short-coated dogs. The Upland Advisory Committee believes “pit bulls” are dangerous (despite their own city statistics that indicate otherwise). State law is the only thing preventing them from going further. The committee communicated the danger of “pit bulls” to council on Monday, and the council acknowledged that concern.

Please ask city officials to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance.

Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If you think MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” then it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, Upland can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

Upland City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, Ca 91786
(909) 931-4100
City Clerk, smendenhall@ci.upland.ca.us
Mayor and City Council, citycouncil@ci.upland.ca.us
City Manager, citymanager@ci.upland.ca.us

All alerts for Upland, CA: http://stopbsl.org/?s=upland

Upland Public Safety Committee to review pit bull ordinance

Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/14/2012 10:32:27 AM PDT

UPLAND – The city’s Police and Fire Committee will review a proposal to implement a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance for pit bulls and pit bull mixes.

[...] “You’ve raised some very interesting issues that many citizens of Upland have raised whether it be at the dog park or be at the AYSO fields or whether it be at the Lemon Festival with people walking around with some of these breeds with children around,” Councilman Brendan Brandt said. [...]

Full article retrieved 5/16/12 from http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_20618731/upland-council-hear-pit-bull-report

Upland, CA: Committee will recommend BS-MSN to council, May 14

The Upland, CA, Advisory Committee has recommended mandatory spay/neuter for all ”pit bulls.” They will present their recommendation to city council during the council meeting on May 14 at 7:00 PM in council chambers, City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Avenue, Upland.

Make no mistake, this proposal is not about reducing a shelter overpopulation of medium-sized, short-coated dogs. The Upland committee is recommending BS-MSN because they believe “pit bulls” are dangerous (despite their own city statistics that indicate otherwise). State law is the only thing preventing them from going further.

Please encourage city officials to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance.

Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If you think MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” then it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, Upland can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

Upland City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, Ca 91786
(909) 931-4100
City Clerk, smendenhall@ci.upland.ca.us
Mayor and City Council, citycouncil@ci.upland.ca.us
City Manager, citymanager@ci.upland.ca.us

All alerts for Upland, CA: http://stopbsl.org/?s=upland

Upland, CA: Committee recommends BS-MSN

The Upland, CA, Advisory Committee has recommended BS-MSN for “pit bulls.”

Please encourage city officials to drop the breed-specific language in their proposal. Breed-specific MSN—like any other breed-specific law—discriminates against people and their dogs based on whether the owner or dog have a “desirable” or “undesirable” physical appearance.

Whether you support or oppose MSN, it doesn’t need to be breed-specific. If you think MSN is good for dogs that look like “pit bulls,” then it is good for any dog. By removing the breed-specific focus, Upland can avoid the expense and inequality that goes with BSL.

Also of note, committee members did not choose BS-MSN in order to control overpopulation. (If so, Chihuahuas would also be named.) Rather, committee members voted for BS-MSN because, as committee member and councilor Tom Mitchell says, there’s a “problem” with “pit bulls” according to “a preponderance of the evidence.” What evidence? We’re not sure. According to city statistics, Labs and Chihuahuas racked up the most dog bites in 2011. “Pit bulls” and German Shepherds came in next. As we would expect from the most popular breeds / types of dogs in Upland.

Upland City Hall, 460 N. Euclid Ave., Upland, Ca 91786
(909) 931-4100
City Clerk, smendenhall@ci.upland.ca.us
Mayor and City Council, citycouncil@ci.upland.ca.us
City Manager, citymanager@ci.upland.ca.us

Upland committee recommends mandatory spay/neuter of pit bulls

Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 05/05/2012 02:00:37 PM PDT

UPLAND – The City Council Advisory Committee is recommending the City Council move forward on implementing a mandatory spay and neuter ordinance for pit bulls and pit bull mixes.[...]

The ordinance mirrors the ordinance implemented by San Bernardino County in 2010. [...]

Committee Member Mark Creighton voted against the recommendation and is against breed specific legislation. [...]

Chihuahuas, like pit bulls, also make up the majority of dogs in shelters, Creighton said.

“We should have mandatory spay and neuter for them as well, but we’re not arguing that because Chihuahuas aren’t rabidly aggressive dogs,” he said. “Obviously this conversation is only because of people’s fear of a specific breed.” [...]

Full article retrieved 5/7/12 from http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20556996/upland-committee-recommends-mandatory-spay-neuter-pit-bulls