Supervisors in San Bernardino County have voted to require all pit bulls to be spayed or neutered after a series of dog bite incidents in the area. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, San Bernardino County has seen four fatal pit bull attacks just in the last five years. This includes a 3-year-old Apple Valley boy who was mauled by a pit bull and a similar dog attack, which killed a 2-year-old boy.

Under this new ordinance, owners of pit bulls or pit bull mixes would be required to spay or neuter dogs over the age of four months. Failure to do so would result in a $100 fine for the first offense and more severe fines for future offenses. The law will go into effect after a final vote in July, which is basically a matter of procedure.

Pit Bulls Involved in Most Fatalities

County Animal Control officials say so far no dog bite death in San Bernardino County has been attributable to any other breed of dogs but pit bulls. Pit bulls and pit bull mixes account for 20 percent of dogs being housed in the county's animal shelter. But they are also the least likely breed to be adopted. Nearly 77 percent of pit bulls (1,300 dogs) are put down each year. Pit bull advocates have denounced this ordinance already saying that it is penalizing responsible dog owners and that irresponsible dog owners who abuse or neglect their pit bulls will ignore this new ordinance anyway.

Holding Dog Owners Accountable

There are irrefutable statistics, which prove time and again that pit bulls are dangerous dogs. However, breed bans are illegal in California. This is exactly why cities and counties in the state are trying to introduce ordinances that will force pit bull owners to be more responsible and accountable. This is not a bad thing. If you are going to own one of these dogs, you must be able to take responsibility for it. Pit bull owners should not only be required to spay and neuter their pets, but also be required to carry mandatory liability insurance. Dog bite victims undergo tremendous hardships not only physically and emotionally, but also financially because of the money they must pay for medical expenses, loss of wages, hospitalization, cosmetic surgery and other related expenses.

Victims would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Bernardino personal injury lawyer who will help hold negligent dog owners accountable. A knowledgeable lawyer will also be able to advise victims about how the dog owner's homeowners insurance may be able to compensate victims for their injuries and damages.

Are you in favor of a breed ban in California, particularly relating to pit bulls?

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

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