http://lacounty.info/BOS/SOP/TRANSCRIPTS/transcripts_2006.asp#P-1_0
January 31, 2006
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ANY QUESTIONS BY OTHER MEMBERS? OKAY. THEN WE COULD HAVE THE REPORT ON MARCH 7TH AS TO RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR ABILITY TO DETECT FRAUD. THANK YOU. ON ITEM NUMBER 4, THIS IS THE ORDINANCE DEALING WITH SPECIFIC BREEDS, REGULATING SPECIFIC BREEDS THROUGH A SPAY, NEUTERING PROGRAM AND ADDRESS OTHER BREEDING RESTRICTIONS WITH PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THIS. AS YOU KNOW-- FIRST, LET ME CALL UP ELIZABETH HAMPTON AND DONNA TERMEER. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A RASH OF PIT BULL AND OTHER ATTACKS ON INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE LED UP TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSING LEGISLATION WHICH THIS BOARD SUPPORTED LAST YEAR BY SENATOR SPEAR AND SIGNED BY GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER, WHICH WAS TO ALLOW CITIES AND COUNTIES TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPOSE STIFFER REGULATIONS AND IMPLEMENT SPAYING AND NEUTERING PROGRAMS. AS A RESULT OF THAT, IT'S NOW THE LAW AND MANY OF THE CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE MOVING FORWARD. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO OR LESS, A LITTLE 11-MONTH-OLD GIRL HAD HER EAR EATEN BY A PIT BULL, I UNDERSTAND, IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY. THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE TODAY IS VERY UNIQUE BECAUSE THE DOG WAS KILLED, THEY WERE ABLE TO EXTRACT THE EAR AND SO THEY ATTACHED THE EAR BACK ONTO THE CHILD. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL SURGERY BUT WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IS A ORDINANCE THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO IMPOSE THOSE ACTIONS RELATIVE TO REQUIRING SPAYING AND NEUTERING FOR ROTTWEILERS AND PIT BULLS. ELIZABETH HAMPTON IS THE GRANDMOTHER OF THE CHILD. SHE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AT THIS TIME. AND DONNA? I'VE JUST BEEN ADVISED THE SURGERY DID NOT WORK, SO THEY'RE GOING TO USE A PROSTHETIC FOR THE LITTLE GIRL. GOOD MORNING. JUST BEFORE YOU SPEAK, GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
ELIZABETH HAMPTON: GOOD MORNING. I'M ELIZABETH HAMPTON. GOOD MORNING. I'M ELIZABETH HAMPTON. UNFORTUNATELY, I'M HERE BECAUSE IT WAS MY GRANDBABY. AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PUT THE EAR BACK ON, SO THEY WILL MAKE ONE UNTIL SHE'S THREE YEARS OLD. SO SHE WILL BE WITHOUT ONE FOR THREE YEARS. SO I'M HERE TO SUPPORT STRICTER LAWS AND I FEEL MAYBE KEEP THEM OUT OF THE CITY LIMITS AND MAKE IT STATEWIDE, STRICTER, MAYBE INSURANCE, INSURANCE RATES ON HOMEOWNERS AND-- SORRY. ..(VOICE WAVERING)...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THAT'S ALL RIGHT. JUST RELAX. WE'LL GET YOU SOME WATER.
ELIZABETH HAMPTON: I ACTUALLY LIVE IN ARKANSAS AND WE HAVE A MAJOR, MAJOR PROBLEM THERE, TOO, WHERE I LIVE AND THEY HAVE BANNED THEM OUT OF CERTAIN CITIES. THEY'RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED IN CERTAIN CITIES AND COUNTIES. SO THAT'S JUST...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I UNDERSTAND. WE THANK YOU FOR COMING UP FROM...
ELIZABETH HAMPTON: I APPRECIATE IT FOR LETTING ME SPEAK AND I BROUGHT SOME PICTURES, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THERE'S SOME PICTURES THAT THE SERGEANT SHOULD SHOW THE MEMBERS OF THE EVENT. HE'S ACCESSING PHOTOS AND THEN HE'LL BRING THE-- WHILE HE'S GOING THAT, DURING 2005, THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED 52 REPORTS OF INCIDENTS OF 117 DOGS ARE IDENTIFIED, OF WHICH 63 WERE PIT BULLS, 8 WERE ROTTWEILERS. DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE DANGEROUSLY OR AGGRESSIVE DOGS INCIDENTS IN THE ANTELOPE VALLEY, TWO OF THEM INVOLVED PIT BULLS. AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS CONDUCTED COMMUNITY SWEEPS THROUGH THE COUNTY IN 19-- OR 2005, 221 ANIMALS AND THE ISSUANCE OF 62 CITATIONS TO ANIMAL OWNERS. THE LATEST SUCCESSFUL SWEEP OCCURRED IN LANCASTER AND PALMDALE ON JANUARY 12TH. OUR LETTER-- OUR OFFICE HAS RECEIVED MANY LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS IN SUPPORT AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN LETTERS-- LETTERS IN OPPOSITION TO THAT AS WELL. SO THIS MORNING, WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO SUPPORT AND WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE WHO OPPOSE IT AS WELL AND WE'LL TAKE THAT TESTIMONY AND THEN WE'LL MAKE A DECISION. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS THAT EITHER OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? JUST GIVE YOUR NAME BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
DONNA TERMEER: I'M DONNA TERMEER. I'M FROM LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA. FIRST, I WANT TO EXTEND MY SINCERE THANKS TO MAYOR ANTONOVICH FOR INVITING ME HERE TODAY TO SHARE MY MOTHER'S STORY AND TO THE ENTIRE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, TO LISTEN TO THIS PLEA. WE SUPPORT THE STRENGTHENING OF PENALTIES FOR IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS. AGAIN, I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF TODAY OF MY MOTHER, REBECCA CRANE, SHE IS A RESIDENT IN A VERY NICE ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD IN LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA. SHE IS STILL TOO EMOTIONAL AS A VICTIM OF A PET ATTACK TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK HERSELF. UNTIL AUGUST 15TH, 2005, MY MOM WAS A VERY YOUNG, HEALTHY AND PHYSICALLY FIT RETIREE THAT YOU WOULD BE VERY HARD-PRESSED TO CONSIDER A SENIOR CITIZEN. UNTIL THAT DAY, SHE ENJOYED EVENING WALKS WITH HER FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. UNTIL AUGUST 15TH, 2005, SHE TRULY EXPERIENCED A QUALITY OF LIFE THAT SHE HAD NO IDEA OF THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING IT SO SENSELESSLY. THAT EVENING, WHEN MY MOM WENT TO TAKE HER WALK, A NEIGHBORHOOD DOG WAS OUT AS THE OWNER WAS TAKING OUT THEIR TRASH. THIS IS A MEDIUM-SIZED MIXED BREED DOG AND A DOG THAT HAD BEEN FAMILIAR WITH MY MOTHER FOR YEARS. SHE WENT TO STEP OFF THE CURB OF HER VERY OWN PROPERTY AND, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THIS DOG LEAPED UP, BIT HER TWICE ON THE BACK OF THE LEG AND THEN CLAMPED DOWN ON THE OUTSIDE OF HER CALF, TAKING A LARGE CHUNK OF HER LEG WITH HIM. MY MOM SCREAMED FOR HELP AND THE OWNER CAME TO HER RESCUE, CALLING OFF THE DOG. AFTER BEING RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND EXPERIENCING A GREAT LOSS OF BLOOD, THERE WAS LITTLE THAT THEY COULD DO TO CLOSE THE WOUND BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE LEG. A FEW RANDOM STITCHES WERE MADE TO PULL TOGETHER SOME HANGING SKIN BUT THE WOUND WAS MASSIVE RAW MEAT AND DEEP TO THE MUSCLE. AFTER REMOVAL OF STITCHES AND WEEKS OF TREATING INFECTIONS, MY MOM WAS LEFT WITH A THREE TO FOUR-INCH HOLE IN HER LEG AND STILL IS IN SEVERE PAIN. SHE REMAINED BEDRIDDEN, AS DOCTORS ORDERED HER TO, BECAUSE OF THE SWELLING AND WAS FORCED INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION BECAUSE IT APPEARED THERE WAS GOING TO BE NO END TO THIS NIGHTMARE AS THEY TOLD HER SHE WOULD POSSIBLY FACE PLASTIC SURGERY. MY SISTER AND I WERE FORCED TO BECOME PATIENT ADVOCATES ON HER BEHALF TO GET EXTENDED CARE FROM HER H.M.O., WHICH IS ANOTHER NIGHTMARE IN ITSELF, TO GET A WOUND SPECIALIST THAT COULD EXPEDITE THE HEALING OF THE CLOSURE OF THE WOUND. AS MY MOTHER LIVES ALONE, WE BECAME HER HOME HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS MUCH EARLIER IN HER LIFE THAN WE EVER ANTICIPATED NEEDING TO DO. WE BECAME HER MEDICAL TRANSPORTS AS SHE COULD NOT WALK AND SHE COULD NOT DRIVE. DAILY, WE CHANGED HER BLOOD- ADHERED BANDAGES AND TREATED THIS OPEN WOUND AS WE WERE INSTRUCTED BY THE DOCTORS, WHILE HAVING TO STILL WATCH FOR THE SERIOUSNESS OF ANOTHER INFECTION. WE WITNESSED HER EXPERIENCING EXCRUCIATING PAIN ON A WEEKLY BASIS AS THEY SCRAPED THE WOUND AND THE BACTERIA AS IT BUILT UP. WE WATCHED, BY HER SIDE, AS SHE NEARLY PASSED OUT FROM PAIN EVERY TIME SHE ATTEMPTED TO STAND, WEEK AFTER WEEK AND EVENTUALLY MONTH AFTER MONTH. MY MOTHER HAS ALWAYS HAD A VERY POSITIVE SPIRIT AND ENDLESS ENERGY. THROUGH THIS, SHE HAS BEEN FACED WITH HER OWN MORTALITY AS HER AGE DEMANDED A VERY SLOW HEALING PROCESS. WHILE SHE'S EXTREMELY THANKFUL TO STILL HAVE HER LEG, MY MOM IS RESENTFUL THAT SHE WILL NEVER KNOW LIFE AS SHE KNEW IT BEFORE HIS HORRIFIC EVENT. THIS ONE EVENT HAS STOLEN YEARS FROM HER AND I THINK AS OUR FAMILY THAT'S BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF THE ORDEAL IS WATCHING THE TERRIBLE TOLL THAT IT HAS TAKEN ON THIS ONE VERY VIBRANT LIFE. I WATCHED AN ACTIVE, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN DETERIORATE TO FRAIL AND FEARFUL. THIS WAS NOT JUST AN ATTACK ON HER BODY BUT HER MIND AND SPIRIT. SHE HAS LOST COMFORTS THAT WE ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED, THE COMFORT OF GETTING UP AND WALKING WITHOUT PAIN, THE COMFORT OF SPENDING THE DAY IN ACTIVITY WITHOUT TIRING IMMEDIATELY, THE COMFORT OF THE FREEDOM OF ENJOYING WALKS IN HER OWN NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT FEAR IN WHAT SHE HAS ALWAYS KNOWN AS A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. MY MOM HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT, THROUGH THIS ORDEAL, IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO CHAMPION HER INTO BELIEVING THAT THIS LIFE-ALTERING EVENT HAPPENED FOR A REASON, THAT THE END OF HER QUALITY OF LIFE HAPPENED FOR A REASON. AS SHE TRIES TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF THIS, SOMETIMES IT JUST MAKES HER FEEL BETTER TO BELIEVE THAT SHE TOOK THIS FALL FOR ANOTHER SMALL CHILD THAT PLAYS IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD. IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER GREAT- GRANDCHILD, MY ONLY GRANDCHILD, WHO HAS BEEN IN THE YARD WITH HER MINUTES BEFORE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. MAYBE THE REASON IS SIMPLY FOR ME TO BE HERE TODAY AND PLEAD TO YOU TO ENCOURAGE STRONGER ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS AND TO CREATE MANDATES AND ORDINANCES FOR RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS OUT OF PET OWNERS. IT IS THE REASON SIMPLY THAT WE WANT YOU TO HEAR OUR CALL TO ACTION. WE URGE YOU TO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT OF OUR CURRENT LAWS AND TO WORK TO CREATE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENFORCE ORDINANCES THAT WILL AFFECT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT AND INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO-- OKAY. LET ME JUST ALSO SAY THE TOWN COUNCIL-- WE HAVE, FROM THE LATE LITTLE ROCK TOWN COUNCIL LEND THEIR SUPPORT; THE ROOSEVELT RURAL TOWN COUNCIL IN ANTELOPE VALLEY, LANCASTER, THEIR SUPPORT; LAKE LOS ANGELES TOWN COUNCIL'S SUPPORT; A LETTER FROM VAL VERDE ASSOCIATION, I BELIEVE IT IS, LETTER OF SUPPORT. SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THE TOWN COUNCILS FROM THE SANTA CLARITA, ANTELOPE VALLEY WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE BOARD'S ACTION TODAY. AS YOU KNOW, THE ACTION TODAY IS THAT WE WOULD DIRECT COUNTY COUNSEL TO-- WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO DRAFT THE ORDINANCE AND REPORT BACK WITH THE ORDINANCE FOR A VOTE ON FEBRUARY 15TH, SO TODAY IS MAKING THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNTY COUNSEL FOR THAT ACTION BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN AND OUR SYMPATHIES AGAIN TO YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER AND TO YOUR DAUGHTER AND YOUR FAMILY. OKAY, THOSE WHO OPPOSE THAT, LET ME CALL THEM UP AT THIS TIME, IS LOREN CHIEVER, KYM DELISI, JENNIFER FREILICH. AND JUST BEFORE YOU SPEAK, JUST GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. GOOD MORNING.
JENNIFER FREILICH: THANKS.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WHOEVER WANTS TO GO FIRST.
JENNIFER FREILICH: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JENNIFER FREILICH, AND I'M THE OWNER OF "AT THE END OF YOUR LEASH" DOG TRAINING. I HAVE SPECIALIZED IN THE TRAINING OF ALL BREEDS FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR THE BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS. DURING THE PAST 10 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN BIT OR ATTACKED BY AS MANY COCKER SPANIELS AND DALMATIANS AS ANY OTHER BREED OUT THERE. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ALSO KNOW THAT I HAVE 100% SUCCESS RATE IN REHABILITATING AGGRESSIVE DOGS OF ALL BREEDS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER HOLDING ALL BREEDS EQUAL AND ALL BREED OWNERS EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE GENERIC DANGEROUS DOG LAWS ENFORCED. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT YOU ALSO CONSIDER MAKING OBEDIENCE TRAINING MANDATORY FOR ALL DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS IN ORDER TO TEACH RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP SO THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS SHOULD NEVER, EVER OCCUR AGAIN. THIS COULD BE AS MANDATORY AS LICENSING FOR ALL DOGS. IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAVE HELPED MANY ROTTWEILER AND PIT BULL OWNERS ACHIEVE CANINE GOOD CITIZEN CERTIFICATES THROUGH THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB AND THERAPY DOG TITLES. THESE THERAPY DOGS, ROTTWEILERS AND PIT BULLS, HAVE GONE INTO MANY HOSPITALS, CHILDREN'S CANCER WARDS AND HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT HELPING THEM FEEL A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY AND EXPRESS MY CONCERNS IN REGARD TO THE BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS. I ALSO HAVE PICTURES, IF YOU GUYS-- IF I MAY PASS THESE AROUND, OF MY OWN ROTTWEILER WITH CHILDREN AND IN PUBLIC GOING INTO STORES AS A THERAPY DOG.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU.
JENNIFER FREILICH: THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: YES, MA'AM.
KYM DELISI: HI.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: LET ME-- LET ME CALL THE NEXT PERSON UP. LERI HANSON. YOU'LL GET YOUR PICTURES BACK AS SOON AS HE GIVES THEM BACK. YES, MA'AM.
KYM DELISI: HI. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I CAN HEAR YOU.
KYM DELISI: OKAY. MY NAME IS KYM DELISI, I LIVE IN LAKE LOS ANGELES. I'VE LIVED OUT THERE FOR 30 YEARS AND I'VE DONE A LOT OF UNOFFICIAL RESCUE OF PITS, ROTT MIXES, ET CETERA, PEOPLE DUMP THEM OUT IN THE DESERT. I RAISED FOUR CHILDREN BY MYSELF. I'VE NEVER HAD ONE DOG BITE. WELL, I TAKE THAT BACK. I HAD ONE DOG BITE AND THAT WAS A COLLIE TRYING TO CHASE MY DAUGHTER'S CAT. SO, IN ANY CASE, I'D LIKE TO READ THIS TO YOU. I AM AGAINST BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. I AM FOR VERY STRICT, GENERAL LEGISLATION. PIT BULLS, WE REFER TO, ARE REALLY THREE BREEDS OF DOGS AND MIXED BREEDS OF DOGS, THEY'RE NOT ONE TYPE OF DOG AND IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO TELL WHICH ONE WAS MORE LABRADOR AND MORE PIT BULL. I AM A SCIENTIST AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU FIRST NEED TO DEFINE YOUR PROBLEM. ORIGINALLY, THIS BREED-SPECIFIC LAW STARTED OUT AS A BAN AND THEN IT TURNED INTO SPAY AND NEUTER. SO WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO SOLVE? ARE WE TRYING TO FIX OVER- POPULATION OR ARE WE TRYING TO FIX DANGEROUS AND VICIOUS DOGS?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO BOTH.
KYM DELISI: BOTH, THAT'S RIGHT. AND SO, ANYWAY, I-- I FEEL THAT, WHEN YOU'RE DEFINING A PROBLEM, THAT YOU NEED TO ANALYZE WHAT YOUR OPTIONS ARE AND ILLINOIS HAS A VERY GOOD DANGEROUS DOG LAW CALLED RYAN'S LAW. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S EVER REFERENCED IT BUT IT HAS VERY BIG PENALTIES, IT'S BECOME VERY EFFECTIVE. I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO THAT. IT'S GENERALIST LAW, IT'S NOT BREED-SPECIFIC. IT HOLDS DOG OWNERS RESPONSIBLE, FINANCIALLY AND CRIMINALLY, FOR ATTACKS ON PEOPLE AND COMPANION ANIMALS. ACCORDING TO THE L.A. COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL LETTERS TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OVER THE LAST YEAR, L.A. HAS A STRONG DANGEROUS DOG LAW ALREADY. THEY ARE LACKING-- WHAT THEY ARE LACKING, ACCORDING TO THEM IS ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE ENOUGH STAFF FOR PROPER PATROLLING, INVESTIGATING AND EDUCATING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH PROBLEMS. WHERE CAN THE PUBLIC ATTAIN DOG BITE STATISTICS? I COULDN'T FIND THEM, FOR THE COUNTY. HAVING SAID ALL THIS, POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GENERALIST WOULD BE SPAY/NEUTER ALL MIXED BREEDS. THERE'S NO REASON FOR MIXED BREEDS OF ANY TYPE TO BE INTACT. HOWEVER, THE DOG SHOW HOBBY BREEDERS AND ENTHUSIASTS, THEY CANNOT SHOW THEIR ANIMALS. YOU CANNOT GET A PUREBRED DOG RAISED IN SOMEBODY'S KITCHEN, WHICH IS EXPOSED TO CHILDREN AND NOISES IN THE HOUSE AND WILL TURN INTO A GREAT THERAPY DOG IF YOU OUTLAW HOBBY BREEDING OF ROTTWEILERS AND PIT BULLS. PLEASE CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES AND FOCUS ON EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO SOLVE. DON'T BREAK THREE THINGS TRYING TO FIX ONE THING. I ALSO WANT TO LIVE IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANOTHER THING, BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE WENT A LITTLE LONG, I WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF A PANEL OF DOG PEOPLE AND LOCAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS TO WORK ON WRITING SOUND, FAIR, EFFECTIVE LEGISLATION. PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES WILL KNOW BEST WHAT WILL WORK. WE ALL WANT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. TWO PIT BULLS WERE KILLED LAST WEEK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WAS GLAD. THEY WERE VICIOUS ANIMALS. WE HAD CALLED THE ANIMAL CONTROL MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES AND THEY ALWAYS WOULD COME OUT, THE DOGS WEREN'T RUNNING LOOSE, SO THEY WOULD LEAVE. AND I THINK THEY NEED MORE STAFFING AND I THINK WE HAVE THE LAWS WE ALREADY NEED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: AND WE INCREASED, WITH FOUR ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, AS YOU KNOW, AND WE JUST HAD THAT RECENT SWEEP.
KYM DELISI: THAT'S RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF THE RESIDENT DEPUTY PROGRAM. WE HAVE A GREAT RESIDENT DEPUTY PROGRAM IN LAKE LOS ANGELES. I'D LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR LIKE THAT IN THE ANIMAL CONTROL WORLD.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. THE TESTIMONY FROM TODAY'S HEARING WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COUNTY COUNSEL AND YOUR POINT RELATIVE TO RESIDENT DEPUTY FOR ANIMAL CONTROL IS VERY CONSTRUCTIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A PROGRAM FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE IT FOR THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE IT FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND PERHAPS WE COULD DO SOMETHING COMPARABLE HERE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE THE DEPARTMENT...
KYM DELISI: I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO VOLUNTEER ANY OF MY TIME TO ANY KIND OF COMMITTEES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY. YES, SIR. LET ME CALL UP SHERI GRANT. YES, SIR.
LOREN CHIEVER: HI. MR. ANTONOVICH AND THE L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, MY NAME IS LOREN CHIEVER. I AM FROM COLTON, CALIFORNIA. I ATTENDED YOUR BOARD MEETING TODAY BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED DOG LEGISLATION AND THE PRECEDENT IT SETS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ABOUT DOG BITES AND VICIOUS DOGS. IT IS MY OPINION THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ELIMINATE THE BITES AND DANGERS. IT IS ALSO MY OPINION THAT SPAYING AND NEUTERING ANY BREED OF DOG IS GOING TO DO LITTLE TO ELIMINATE THE DOG BITES, AND TO SINGLE OUT ANY DOG FOR SPAYING AND NEUTERING IS GOING TO DO LITTLE TO CHANGE THE STATISTICS. PIT BULLS AND ROTTWEILERS ARE TWO OF ALMOST 200 BREEDS OF DOGS AND POSSIBLY CONSTITUTE 5% OF THE TOTAL DOG POPULATION IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. OF THE 500 FATAL DOG BITES IN THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1965, THERE HAVE BEEN 30 DIFFERENT BREEDS RESPONSIBLE, FROM ROTTWEILERS AND PIT BULLS TO THE SMALL POMERANIAN THAT MAULED A SIX-WEEK OLD BABY TO DEATH IN LOS ANGELES IN OCTOBER OF 2000. MY POINT IS TO SINGLE OUT ANY BREED TO SPAY AND NEUTER IS NOT THE ANSWER. ENFORCING THE LICENSING LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS WOULD BE A GOOD STARTING POINT, AS WELL AS HELPING TO FILL THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE COUNTY. IN MY CITY, AN INTACT DOG IS $50 PER YEAR TO LICENSE. A SPAYED/NEUTERED DOG IS $15, A LOSS TO THE CITY OF $35 PER DOG. I BELIEVE MANY DOG LAWS ARE OLD AND OUTDATED AND NEW LAWS ARE NEEDED TO FIT THE POPULATION IN TIMES WE LIVE IN TODAY. A GENERIC BREED LAW THAT REQUIRES ANY LOOSE DOG PICKED UP BY ANIMAL CONTROL TO BE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED BY EITHER A MICROCHIP OR A TATTOO AND TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO THE OWNER AT THEIR EXPENSE WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN CONTROLLING LOOSE DOGS, CUT DOWN ON BITES AND GIVE ANIMAL CONTROL MORE TIME TO CHECK LICENSES. I UNDERSTAND THE BOARD'S CONCERN ABOUT DOG BITES AND ANIMAL CONTROL BUT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS OF PART OF YOUR PEOPLE TO OWN A BREED OF SHOW-- PARDON ME. I'M GETTING NERVOUS. BUT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTS OF PART OF YOUR PEOPLE TO OWN, BREED OR SHOW THE DOG OF THEIR CHOICE SEEMS WRONG TO ME. I THINK MAKING ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND THE ACTIONS OF THEIR DOGS, NO MATTER THE BREED, IS A MORE RESPONSIBLE ACTION. IN SUMMARY, EFFECTIVE ANIMAL CONTROL IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND MUST BE ADDRESSED IN A FAIR AND CONSISTENT MANNER. DOGS AND DOG BEHAVIOR ARE THE SAME ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A SET OF MODERN, STANDARDIZED AND EFFECTIVE LAWS RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS, COMBINED WITH FAIR AND CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT WILL ENSURE A SAFE AND PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE FOR DOGS OF ALL BREEDS AND ALL HUMANS. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. LET ME CALL UP SHAY TUTTLE. SHAY? OKAY. GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. YOU'RE ON.
LERI HANSON: MY NAME IS LERI HANSON, I'M FROM LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. I'M NOT QUITE AS PREPARED AS SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS BUT I'LL TRY TO BE BRIEF AND HOPEFULLY GET MY POINT ACROSS. I'M A FOUNDING MEMBER AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WORKING PIT BULL TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA. WE'RE A FULL SISTER CLUB OF THE AMERICAN WORKING DOG FEDERATION. I'M ALSO A REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE FEDERATION OF AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIERS. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE BREED FOR OVER 20 YEARS. I COMPETE REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY WITH MY DOGS. I'M CONTRACTED WITH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON AS A K-9 SAFETY CONSULTANT, TEACHING THEIR FIELD SERVICE PERSONNEL DOG BITE PREVENTION, HOW TO MINIMIZE A BITE IN THE EVENT THAT THEY ARE BITTEN. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP. I RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE OVERPOPULATION OF DOGS, OF ANIMALS IN GENERAL, AND I ALSO FEEL FOR THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS FOR THEIR DOGS RUNNING LOOSE AND HAVING TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT PIT BULLS AND PIT BULL-TYPE DOGS ARE VERY POPULAR AMONGST INCONSIDERATE AND IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERS. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR BREEDS AND ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION FOR CONSIDERATION IF YOU DO THE SPAY/NEUTER, THAT YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF LENIENCY TOWARDS OWNERS WHO ARE ABLE TO PRODUCE CERTIFICATION OF OBEDIENCE, TEMPERAMENT TESTING, K-9 GOOD CITIZEN, ANY TYPE OF WORKING TITLE, FOR THOSE OF US WHO TAKE OUR DOGS SERIOUSLY. AND THAT WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT LIMIT US FROM OUR COMPETITIONS. THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. DARRYL HOUSER. DARRYL HOUSER. GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SHERI GRANT: YES. I'M SHERI GRANT FROM COLTON AND I AM VERY ILL PREPARED FOR THIS. IT CAME AT THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT BUT I JUMPED IN MY CAR AND CAME DOWN HERE TO HELP SUPPORT MY FRIENDS IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO THIS AND MY OPPOSITION, ALSO. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO SEVERAL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN UP HERE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF STATISTICS AND A LOT OF DATA AND I AGREE WITH IT. I'VE BEEN A HANDLER, OWNER AND BREEDER OF ROTTWEILERS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. THESE DOGS-- AND I'M VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS. I LOVE THESE DOGS AND I FEEL VERY BADLY FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SUFFERED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS AND EVENTS BUT THESE DOGS ARE MISUNDERSTOOD AND, IN THE HANDS OF THE WRONG PEOPLE, THE IRRESPONSIBLE BREEDERS, THEY ARE CAUSING US TO BE IN THIS SITUATION NOW, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING WE WORKED FOR, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE STRIVED FOR AND ALL OF OUR COMPETITIONS, ALL OF OUR SHOWINGS. ..(VOICE WAVERING)... SORRY.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: JUST RELAX.
SHERI GRANT: YEAH BUT, AGAIN, I'VE-- I'VE HAD THESE DOGS FOR 20 YEARS. I'VE NEVER HAD AN INCIDENT. I RAISED MY FAMILY WITH THEM AND WE ARE IN THE PUBLIC ALL THE TIME WITH THE DOGS. I WAS AT A SHOW OVER THE WEEKEND. MANY OLDER WOMEN IN THEIR HANDICAPPED VEHICLES WERE STOPPING BY, HUGGING THE DOGS AND WE WERE RIGHT AROUND ALL THE LITTLE DACHSHUNDS AND SMALL BREEDS. THEY CAN BE WONDERFUL DOGS IF THEY ARE TRAINED PROPERLY AND IF BREEDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE IN PLACING THEIR ANIMALS IN RESPONSIBLE HOMES. AND THAT'S REALLY BASICALLY WHAT I'VE COME HERE TO SAY AND BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS ARE NOT THE ANSWER AND IT ISN'T FAIR TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. MARTHA SALAZAR. MARTHA? OKAY. JUST GIVE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SHAY TUTTLE: MY NAME IS SHAY TUTTLE AND I AM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TRI VALLEY WORKING DOG CLUB. I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF PUREBRED DOGS NOW FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS NOW. I DO OBEDIENCE, I DO CONFIRMATION, WE DO HERDING TRIALS. SOME OF MY DOGS HAVE BEEN THERAPY DOGS. THEY HAVE BEEN ASSISTANCE DOGS. WITHOUT PEOPLE WHO BREED GOOD DOGS, WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO HAVE DOGS THAT WORK. I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED A GENERIC DOG LAW FOR AGGRESSIVE DOGS AND IT IS-- I THINK IT IS ON THE BOOKS ALREADY AND, IF THEY WERE ENFORCED, WE WOULD BE NOT LOOKING AT BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IF A DOG GETS LOOSE OUT THERE THAT BITES. THAT HAS-- IT'S THE PERSON WHO OWNS THAT DOG WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DOG'S BEHAVIOR. IT'S NOT THE DOG. SO WHO OWNS THIS DOG SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DOG'S ACTIONS. THE DOG CAN'T BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T KNOW THAT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. IF YOU DON'T SOCIALIZE YOUR DOG, IF YOU DON'T TRAIN YOUR DOG, THEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PROBLEMS. YOU KNOW, FIRSTLY, IF I'M GOING TO SELL A PUPPY TO SOMEBODY, THEY'VE GOT TO GO THROUGH, LIKE, THREE OR FOUR INTERVIEWS, WE DO HOME CHECKS, WE MAKE SURE THE DOG IS OBEDIENCE TRAINED AND RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE TO RESPONSIVE PEOPLE. AND, FOR ME, IF YOU'RE GOING TO OWN THESE DOGS, YOU MUST BE RESPONSIBLE. YOU CANNOT-- I CAN'T MAKE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR MY DOG'S ACTIONS. PENALIZING PEOPLE WHO CARE AND WORK AND TRAIN THEIR DOGS IS NOT FAIR. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THANK YOU. YES.
DARRYL HOUSER: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR ANTONOVICH AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS. MY NAME IS DARRYL HOUSER. I AM HERE IT TODAY TO TESTIFY AGAINST THE PROPOSAL OF THE MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER OF SPECIFIC BREEDS. I AM REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF DOG AND ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS TODAY. I OWN A DOG AND CAT BOARD FACILITY IN ANTELOPE VALLEY. I AM AN AVID PARTICIPANT OF THE SPORT OF DOG SHOWS. I HAVE BEEN HANDLING SHOW DOGS FOR 30 YEARS. I AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF A NUMBER OF KENNEL CLUBS, BOTH AT THE LOCAL AND BREED PARENT LEVEL. MANY OF MY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MEMBERS WHO KEEP AND CHERISH SOME OF THE BREEDS THAT WOULD BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSAL AS IT CURRENTLY IS WRITTEN. WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR OPPOSITION TO BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION. ALONG WITH THE N.A.I.A. AND CALIFORNIA KENNEL CLUBS, NEARLY ALL OF THE RESPECTED NATIONAL ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS, FROM THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB TO THE AMERICAN VETERINARY AND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND THE AMERICAN DOG OWNERS ASSOCIATION AND THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF DOG CLUBS THAT REPRESENT OVER 400 CLUBS IN THE UNITED STATES ALSO OPPOSE BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION AND THE REASON THEY DO IS SIMPLE. BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION NOT ONLY DOESN'T WORK, IT ACTUALLY COMPLICATES EFFORTS TO SOLVE DANGEROUS DOG PROBLEMS. BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS ARE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO ENFORCE. THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC TEST THAT CAN DIFFERENTIATE BREED DOG-- DOG BREEDS AND MIXES, SO IDENTIFICATION IS PURELY SUBJECTIVE. BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE MAJORITY OF DOGS OF ANY BREED OR MIX ARE NOT DANGEROUS TO THE COMMUNITY. BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS ATTRACT CRIMINALS TO BREEDS THAT ARE PORTRAYED AS AGGRESSIVE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ACTUAL TEMPERAMENT OR HISTORICAL WORK. BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS FORCE PET OWNERS TO GIVE UP THEIR BELOVED FAMILY PET. BREEDS-SPECIFIC DOGS INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DOGS RELINQUISHED TO THE SHELTERS. BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS ALSO THEY DO NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AS IN THE MAJORITY OF INCIDENTS RESULT FROM VIOLATIONS OF OTHER ANIMAL CONTROL LAWS SUCH AS RUNNING LOOSE OR IMPROPER CONTROLS OR CONFINEMENT, OR FROM THE FAILURE OF PROPERLY SUPERVISED CHILDREN AND DOGS. BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS GIVE PEOPLE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY BY CATEGORIZING CERTAIN DOGS AS VICIOUS, THEREBY IMPLYING THAT DOGS OF OTHER BREEDS AND MIXES ARE SAFE. BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS ARE UNFAIR TO THE THOUSANDS OF RESPONSIBLE OWNERS OF TARGETED BREEDS AND MIXES AND TO THE DOGS THAT ARE TREASURED FAMILY PETS, VALUED SHOW DOGS AND PERFORMANCE DOGS, WORKING PARTNERS IN SEARCH AND RESCUE, THERAPY DOGS OR PARTICIPANTS IN OTHER ASPECTS OF CANINE HUMAN INTERACTION. THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT WANT LAWS THAT WILL HOLD IRRESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROBLEMS THEIR DOGS CAUSE. THIS IS TRUE WHETHER THE PROBLEM IS NUISANCE BARKING OR OFF-LEASH MENACING BUT ONLY LAWS THAT DRAW A MEANINGFUL DISTINCTION BETWEEN OWNERS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE AND ONES WHO ARE NOT WILL LEAD TO AN IMPROVEMENT WE ALL SEEK. ONLY AN ORDINANCE THAT PENALIZES THE LAW BREAKERS WITHOUT ASSAILING DOG LOVERS WHO RESPONSIBLY CARE FOR THEIR DOGS WILL SUCCEED. THEREFORE, WE ARE IN FAVOR OF LAWS THAT TARGET HIGH-RISK CONDUCT AND WITH ENFORCEMENT PENALTIES WOULD BE EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE FIGHT TO REDUCE DANGEROUS DOGS IN OUR COMMUNITY. MANY OF THE GROUPS I REPRESENT HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN HELPING COMMUNITIES SOLVE DANGEROUS DOG PROBLEMS. THEY'VE CONTRIBUTED TO SCORES OF BILLS AND ORDINANCES AND PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS. WE OFFER YOU OUR SUPPORT YOU IN HELPING YOU DRAFT DANGEROUS DOG LEGISLATIONS THAT WILL ACHIEVE THE GOALS YOU SEEK. WE WILL SUPPORT PASSAGE OF A BILL THAT ENABLE US ALL TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRULY DANGEROUS DOGS AND OWNERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE RIGHTS OF RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS TO KEEP AND PROPERLY CARE FOR THE BREED OF OUR CHOICE. AND I ALSO WANTED TO STATE, IF I COULD, PLEASE, OF THE 62 DOGS IN THE LAKE LOS ANGELES SWEEP, ONLY TWO WERE PIT BULLS AND THERE WERE NO ROTTWEILERS. I WANTED TO END, IF I COULD PLEASE ON A QUOTE. "YOU DO NOT EXAMINE LEGISLATION IN THE LIGHT OF BENEFIT THAT WILL CONVEY IF PROPERLY ADMINISTERED BUT IN THE LIGHT OF WRONGS IT WOULD DO AND THE HARM IT WOULD CAUSE IF IMPROPERLY ADMINISTERED." THANK YOU.
MARTHA SALAZAR: GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS MARTHA SALAZAR. I'M A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ROTTWEILER CLUB, THE GOLDEN STATE ROTTWEILER CLUB AND I'VE OWNED, BRED AND SHOWN ROTTWEILERS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. IN AGREEMENT WITH FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS, THE RESPONSIBLE OWNER IS BEING PENALIZED HERE. TO ME, I AM NOT AWARE OF ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS, BUT IT SEEMS THAT IT'S VERY BLANKETED. RESPONSIBLE OWNERS, BREEDERS, WE HAVE CONTRACTS. WHEN WE SELL OUR PUPPIES, THEY GO TO HOMES AND THESE CONTRACTS STIPULATE THAT THEY MUST BE OBEDIENCE TRAINED PROBABLY BETWEEN FIVE AND SEVEN MONTHS OF AGE, AND SOCIALIZED. I'D LIKE TO HAVE A STATISTIC, ACTUALLY, OF THE BITES BY ROTTWEILERS OR PIT BULLS AND WHAT TYPE OF BREEDERS THEY'VE BEEN SOLD BY. AS I SAID, I FEEL WE'RE-- RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS ARE BEING PENALIZED. THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. MARSHA MAYEDA.
MARSHA MAYEDA: GOOD MORNING, MR. MAYOR AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. WE HEARD A LOT OF CONCERNS TODAY ON A NUMBER OF FEARS OF WHAT MIGHT BE COMING OUT WITH THIS ORDINANCE AND MY PURPOSE IS TO TELL YOU THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE TO BE RECOMMENDING BACK TO YOU IN TWO WEEKS. FIRST OF ALL, WE WOULD EXEMPT ANY LEGITIMATE DOG BREEDERS AND SHOW PEOPLE FROM THIS ORDINANCE. THEY WOULD BUY A BREEDER'S LICENSE TO DO THE BREEDING AND SO FORTH IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR ANIMALS INTACT. SO THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY THAT HAVE DEMONSTRATED AND FROM THEIR CONVERSATIONS HAVE TOLD US ARE RESPONSIBLE DOG BREEDERS, THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WITH THE HOBBY AND SPORT THAT THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGING IN. THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'LL BE RECOMMENDING IS TO REDUCE OVERPOPULATION OF CERTAIN DOG BREEDS IN OUR SHELTERS THAT ARE OVERWHELMING OUR STAFF AND OUR RESOURCES. THE TWO BREEDS THAT WE IDENTIFIED, THE PIT BULLS AND ROTTWEILERS, ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN OUR SHELTERS AND TAKE VALUABLE CAGE SPACE AWAY FROM OTHER ANIMALS THAT COULD BE HELD LONGER FOR ADOPTION. PIT BULLS AND ROTTWEILERS ARE HOUSED INDIVIDUALLY IN OUR SHELTERS. THEY DO NOT SHARE CAGES WITH OTHER DOG BREEDS BECAUSE THEY MAY FIGHT AND SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ANOTHER ANIMAL. SO, IN FACT, THEY TAKE UP THE SPACE OF TWO OTHER DOGS AND WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT JUST STRAINS OUR RESOURCES. THE LAWS THAT ARE IN PLACE FOR DANGEROUS DOGS ARE VERY SATISFACTORY TO US. WE DID A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE DANGEROUS DOG ORDINANCES IN 2000. WE HAVE VERY STRICT LAWS ON THE BOOKS. EVERY TIME WE'VE HAD A DANGEROUS DOG CASE, WE'VE BEEN HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL WITH THE PROSECUTION AND THE RESULTS. THE ANIMALS ARE ALWAYS SPAYED AND NEUTERED, THEY'RE MICROCHIPPED, THEY'RE RESTRICTED AS FAR AS HOW THEY CAN COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC. SOMETIMES THE OWNERS SURRENDER THE ANIMAL, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE THEM EUTHANIZED. OUR LAWS ARE WORKING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE BREEDS ARE JUST OVERREPRESENTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, INTO OUR SHELTERS, WHERE THEY'RE JUST OVERWHELMING RESOURCES. I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE ATTACKS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, VERY, VERY FEW OF THOSE ANIMALS HAD BEEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED AS WELL. SPAYING AND NEUTERING GREATLY REDUCES THE CHANCE OF AGGRESSION IN AN ANIMAL, SO THIS COULD HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON REDUCING PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEMS. THE ANIMALS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR SHELTER ARE PREDOMINANTLY MIXES OR POORLY-BRED EXAMPLES OF THE BREEDS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS THE MOST PROBLEMATIC, THE PIT BULL-TYPE DOGS. THERE'S THREE BREEDS THAT WE WOULD REFER TO THAT WE LOOSELY CALL PIT BULLS AND THE ROTTWEILERS, AND I WOULD WAGER THE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE HERE TODAY, THEIR DOGS HAVE NOT BEEN IN ONE OF MY SHELTERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF ANIMALS AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT IT. DOGS THAT GO TO DOG SHOWS GENERALLY HAVE GOOD TEMPERAMENTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY HAVE TO BE AROUND OTHER ANIMALS AND THEY HAVE TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. THE DOGS THAT WE'RE GETTING INTO OUR SHELTERS ARE BACKYARD BREEDER DOGS, THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SOME MONEY, THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO SPAY OR NEUTER BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO HAVE A DOG INTACT FOR-- TO BE TOUGH, TO BE MACHO, TO HAVE A GUARD DOG AND ALL THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT MIGHT GO ALONG WITH THAT OR THEY JUST MAY NOT WISH TO PAY FOR SURGERY. BUT THEIR FAILURE TO SPAY AND NEUTER THEIR ANIMAL IS HAVING DIRE CONSEQUENCES ON OUR SHELTER SYSTEM AND PUBLIC SAFETY. IN ORDER TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, YOUR BOARD DID APPROVE FIVE ADDITIONAL OFFICERS FOR MY DEPARTMENT TO GO OUT AND DO SWEEPS AND BE MORE PROACTIVE IN ENFORCING THE LAWS. WE'VE INCREASED OUR SWEEPS, WE'VE INCREASED OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION OUTREACH PROGRAMS AS FAR AS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HOW TO BE SAFE AROUND ANIMALS BUT IF THE ANIMALS ARE STILL BEING PRODUCED AND STILL OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO POSE A THREAT TO PEOPLE, EVEN IF THEY'VE BEEN EDUCATED ABOUT HOW TO AVOID IT. THERE'S STILL GOING TO BE THE TIMES WHEN THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER AND PEOPLE BECOME INJURED.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: THE SUGGESTION THAT WAS MADE RELATIVE TO A RESERVE COMPONENT, YOU HEARD?
MARSHA MAYEDA: I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU, SIR.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: WOULD YOU REVIEW THAT?
MARSHA MAYEDA: WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF HAVING, LIKE, A DEPUTY-- LIKE A RESERVE PROGRAM LIKE WE DO ON-CALL FIRE, DEPUTY RESERVES, VOLUNTEERS IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS, THAT THE ANIMAL CONTROL HAVE SOMETHING COMPARABLE SO YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT.
MARSHA MAYEDA: WE COULD LOOK AT THAT, SURE.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SUPERVISOR BURKE.
SUP. BURKE: IS THERE A PROCESS WHERE YOU CAN MAKE A SELECTION OF BREEDERS SO THAT THE BREEDERS WHO ARE LEGITIMATE WOULD HAVE LICENSING OR, AT PRESENT, IS THERE ANY KIND OF DISTINCTION BETWEEN BACKYARD BREEDERS THAT-- AND SOME BACKYARD BREEDERS ARE VERY RESPONSIBLE BUT SOME MECHANISM TO IDENTIFY THOSE BREEDERS WHO MAY NOT BE BREEDING A RESPONSIBLE WAY.
MARSHA MAYEDA: YES, SUPERVISOR. WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND IN THIS ORDINANCE IS A REVIEW PROCESS WHERE A PERSON COULD APPROACH US AND SAY, "I'M A HOBBY BREEDER, I'M A ENTHUSIAST OF THIS BREED, I COMPETE WITH THESE DOGS, HERE IS MY REGISTRATION PAPERS, HERE'S THE PROOF THAT IT HAS A GOOD TEMPERAMENT, HERE'S THE PROOF FROM THE VET THAT IT'S HEALTHY AND SUITABLE FOR BREEDING." THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THEY WOULD, JUST BY A BREEDING PERMIT, WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CAUSING PROBLEMS GENERALLY DON'T HAVE PAPERS ON THEIR DOGS, THEY DON'T SHOW THEIR DOGS, THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO GET A LOT OF MONEY IN A CHEAP WAY. THE RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS SPEND A LOT OF MONEY DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, GOING TO THE SHOWS, RAISING THEIR ANIMALS, PUTTING A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO THAT, SO WE WOULD NOT WANT TO INTERFERE WITH THEIR ACTIVITIES.
SUP. BURKE: MY CONCERN IS I KNOW THAT MANY GANG MEMBERS HAVE PIT BULLS AND THEY UTILIZE THEM. AS FAR AS I KNOW-- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE REGISTERED BUT THEY APPEAR TO BE PUREBRED PIT BULLS AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO BREED THEM IN THEIR BACKYARD IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE VERY HEAVILY REPRESENTED BY GANGS AND I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE'S SOME MECHANISM WHERE THAT CAN BE EXAMINED AND THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY JUST BREEDING DOGS AND, OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE WANT VICIOUS DOGS FOR SECURITY AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT, PEOPLE WHO ARE BREEDING VERY VICIOUS DOGS BECAUSE THEY WANT THEM FOR SECURITY OF THEIR HOMES OR THEIR BUSINESSES AND HOW YOU TREAT THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT. DO YOU SAY YOU CANNOT HAVE A VICIOUS DOG IN YOUR YARD FOR SECURITY? AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU TREAT THAT, HOW YOU APPROACH IT. I KNOW THAT, WHEN I READ ABOUT-- I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE BOY WHO WAS MAULED BY A-- AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT WAS A PIT BULL OR NOT BUT IT WAS A MATTER THAT THE DOG-- THERE WAS TWO DOGS AND HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE DOOR OR SOMETHING AND-- BECAUSE ONE OF THE DOGS WAS IN SEASON AND, AS A RESULT, THE MALE DOG WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE. SO THESE ARE THE KIND OF SITUATIONS I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT TO TRY TO MAKE SOME ASSURANCES THAT WE PROVIDE SAFETY. BUT, ULTIMATELY, I REALIZE IT IS THE OWNER AND-- BECAUSE EVEN MY LITTLE COCKER SPANIEL, I KNOW, GIVEN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES, I'VE HAD HIM 10 YEARS, HE'S NEVER BITTEN BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW. SO-- MAYBE HE HASN'T MET ZEV. [ LAUGHTER ] YOU JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT A DOG AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU KNOW, OF A CHILD'S PULLING HIS EARS, WHAT WOULD HE DO? SO I DO THINK YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT VERY CAREFULLY AND TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME PARAMETERS. I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THE PARAMETERS. I DON'T WANT TO CERTAINLY PREVENT PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGITIMATE BREEDERS FROM BREEDING THEIR DOGS. AT THE SAME TIME, SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST BREEDING THEM TO MAKE SOME MONEY OFF OF THEM AND THEY'RE PUTTING IN PLACES WHERE THEIR WHOLE IDEA IS FOR THEM TO BE VICIOUS, THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT.
MARSHA MAYEDA: RIGHT, AND THE ORDINANCE THAT WE'LL BE PROPOSING, WILL ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. I'LL HAVE A MOTION.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE...
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SUPERVISOR MOLINA AFTER...
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DRAFT IS GOING TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THOSE SENSITIVITIES THAT YOU HAVE JUST ARTICULATED IN RESPONSE TO MISS BURKE'S QUESTIONS?
MARSHA MAYEDA: YES.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: YOU MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE AND PLAY IT BY THE RULES AND THOSE WHO DON'T?
MARSHA MAYEDA: ABSOLUTELY.
SUP. YAROSLAVSKY: THANK YOU.
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: SUPERVISOR.
SUP. MOLINA: I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. FORTNER IF THIS IS LEGALLY POSSIBLE.
RAYMOND G. FORTNER, JR.: MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YES, THE STATE LAW WAS RECENTLY AMENDED TO AUTHORIZE COUNTIES TO ENACT LOCAL REGULATIONS REGARDING SPAYING AND NEUTERING AND REGULATING BREEDING OF BREED-SPECIFIC DOGS, RECENT CHANGE TO STATE LAW AUTHORIZED THIS.
SUP. MOLINA: SO WE-- WE COULD ENACT THIS KIND OF AN ORDINANCE WITHOUT HAVING ANY INTERFERENCE AT ALL WITH ANY KIND OF-- BECAUSE DIDN'T SAN FRANCISCO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS?
MARSHA MAYEDA: I COULDN'T HEAR YOUR QUESTION.
SUP. MOLINA: SURE. DIDN'T SAN FRANCISCO HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE THEY TRIED TO DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR AND WERE NOT ALLOWED TO?
MARSHA MAYEDA: NO. THEY WERE ALLOWED TO. THEIR ORDINANCE IS IN EFFECT NOW.
SUP. MOLINA: IT IS.
MARSHA MAYEDA: MM HM. WHAT HAPPENED IS THE LITTLE BOY THAT SUPERVISOR BURKE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS KILLED IN SAN FRANCISCO BY THE FAMILY'S TWO PIT BULLS, UNNEUTERED. THE FEMALE WAS IN HEAT. AND SAN FRANCISCO LED THE EFFORT TO MODIFY THE SECTION OF THE FOOD AND AG CODE THAT RESTRICTED LOCAL JURISDICTIONS FROM HAVING BREED-SPECIFIC LEGISLATION FOR THE CONTROL OF DANGEROUS DOGS. THROUGH THE PROCESS, THAT GOT MODIFIED TO A SPAY/NEUTER BILL AND THAT'S-- AND SAN FRANCISCO HAS ADOPTED A SPAY/NEUTER ORDINANCE FOR PIT BULLS IN THEIR CITY.
SUP. MOLINA: SO IT WAS A STATE LEGISLATION THAT ENABLED THEM TO CARRY IT OUT?
SUP. MOLINA: AND SO WE'RE OPERATING UNDER THAT SAME STATUTE?
SUP. ANTONOVICH, MAYOR: (OFF-MIKE). OKAY, THEN. MOTION BY-- SO MOVED, SECONDED BY BURKE. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ITEM 26 WAS HELD BY THE PUBLIC, BUT WITHDREW THEIR HOLD, SO MOTION BY MOLINA, SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM 26. WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.