County pit bull-neutering measure approved

An ordinance approved by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will require all pit bulls over the age of four months to be spayed or neutered and require dogs housed in a  kennel for breeding to be licensed.

The ordinance applies only to unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County and would not affect dogs living in Barstow city limits.

First District Supervisor Brad Mitlzelfelt said in a written statement that four people in San Bernardino County have been killed by pit bulls in the past five years, and that seven people have been attacked by pit bulls already this year.

In December 2007 a Yermo woman was mauled to death by pit bulls. The owners of the dogs are awaiting trial and are scheduled to appear in court in July.   

The city of Barstow hired a consultant in February to work with the Humane Society in drafting a vicious dog ordinance. No ordinance has yet been adopted.

Elena Rodriguez, manager for the Barstow Humane Society, said that although she doesn’t favor or disfavor any dog breed, she wishes the city would adopt a similar ordinance.

“We have a lot of pit bulls here, I would say that we have over ten at any given time,” said Rodriguez. “They’re hard to adopt out because it’s difficult to get home insurance sometimes if you have a pit bull, a lot of insurance companies won’t allow them.”

Rodriguez said that a dog’s behavior ultimately comes down to its owner and the way it is raised.

Although state law prohibits any breed of dog from being deemed potentially dangerous or vicious, local agencies are allowed to enact breed-specific programs for spaying and neutering to control overpopulation.

The ordinance will appear on the County’s consent calendar for a second reading on July 13 and go into effect on August 13.

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(760) 256-4126 or adome@desertdispatch.com