Pit bull law

Fatal Dog Attack Changes Laws in San Francisco, Could Texas Be Next?

By Megan Conley

On November 15, 2005, the city of San Francisco took the first step in stemming the tide of injuries caused by vicious pit bulls. The city supervisors unanimously approved new city ordinances requiring pit bull owners to have their dogs spayed or neutered. The radical move requiring pit bulls to be fixed was a direct result of a dog mauling which left a 12 year-old boy dead in June.

The new ordinances also place restrictions on the breeding of pit bulls. A person who violates the new ordinance and gets caught with a pit bull that has not been spayed or neutered will face a $1,000.00 fine.

Who is to blame, the owner or the dog? Studies show that when animals are mistreated they have a tendency to be more aggressive, be it a pit bull or another kind of dog. Beating, abusing, starving, and unstable living environments can wreak havoc on any dog, causing it to react in the way it knows – biting and attacking.

In Texas, owners of dangerous breeds such as a pit bulls can be held strictly liable for the injuries caused by their dogs. All too often the victim is a small child.

Dogs are predators and a small child is prey.

In San Francisco this new law is causing big controversy. Pit bull lovers are currently collecting signatures trying to overturn the recently passed state law allowing cities and counties to pass breed specific laws. The law in San Francisco does have exceptions; breeders of show pit bulls are exempt from having to neuter or spay their dogs. To be exempt each pit bull must be recognized and registered by a kennel club.

Texas is not likely to follow suit and pass breed specific laws restricting ownership of dangerous breeds. In certain areas of Texas it is legal to own an exotic animal like a lion or a tiger. The owners of these big cats are likewise subject to strict liability for the damage caused by these exotic animals, and that is probably sufficient for Texas.

To help stem the tide of vicious dog attacks, owners of pit bulls and other dangerous breeds along with the rest of the population should be diligent in reporting any mistreatment of animals to the SPCA. A dog that is mistreated is more likely to attack than one that is loved and cared for properly. And when a mistreated dog attacks, the owner is to blame.

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