Spay-Neuter Law for Pit Bulls Only?
After a string of complaints, Animal Control officials in Orange County are considering a new law that would mandate spaying and neutering only for specific breeds, according to the OC Register.
Most of the complaints that have led to the potential new law are from incidents involving the same pit bulls and the same pit bull owners that have allegedly been involved in aggressive behavior towards other dogs in Cypress.
In the City of Los Angeles, a mandatory spay-neuter law is already in effect, which requires all dogs (of all breeds) 4 months and older to be spayed-neutered unless a special breeding or show-dog permit is obtained.
Aside from the breed specific legislation issues that the potential OC law raises, the challenge in many of these cases is enforcement.
Part of the solution in L.A. has come in the form of fees - if you don't spay/neuter your dog, you pay $100 to register your dog each year instead of $15. For dog owners who choose not to fix their dogs or register them, the city is hard-pressed to actively pursue them as the number of animal control officers is limited.
OC Animal Control officials have not yet said which breeds would be targeted in the under-discussion law, but they will consider the new law in January. San Bernadino County passed a "pit bull type" spay-neuter law earlier this year in an attempt to keep the pit bull population low by levying $100 fines against owners who don't sterilize their dogs.