ASSAULTS BY DOGS ON RISE OFFICERS NEEDED TO ENFORCE LAWS, PREVENT ANIMAL ATTACKS.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

LANCASTER - The Antelope Valley needs more animal-control officers to combat a surge in vicious dog attacks, Los Angeles County's top animal-control official says.

Fifteen dangerous or vicious animal incidents have been reported since January, compared with only five in all of 2004, according to a memo released by the county. Those attacks include a mauling that almost cost a Quartz Hill woman her arm.

``Actual field enforcement of animal control laws is the key to intervention before attacks happen,'' Animal Care and Control Director Marcia Mayeda said in the memo to county supervisors. ``By having a stronger presence in the community, proactive enforcement of animal control laws will allow us to better prevent and more quickly respond to these dangerous situations.''

This year's upswing has come before the summer months, which is traditionally the time when such incidents occur, she added. County officials said they don't know the reason for the increase, which prompted Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich last month to ask for steps to halt it.

``The supervisor is very concerned about the increase in dog attacks and the public safety of all the residents,'' Antonovich aide Millie Jones said Monday.

Mayeda said there was money available to immediately hire four field officers to increase patrols in the Antelope Valley, as well as add one more aide to the Lancaster shelter. The area has six field officers now, officials said.

Money to keep the new positions will also be requested in the upcoming 2005-06 county budget, Mayeda said.

Animal-control officials are also working on devising a public-education program aimed at promoting compliance with animal-control laws and increased reporting of roaming or dangerous animals, she said.

``We're developing a comprehensive plan to address this in the Antelope Valley,'' Antonovich spokesman Tony Bell said. ``It's about enforcement, and it's also about public education.''

People need to know they will be held accountable for being irresponsible pet owners, Bell added.

Hiring four field officers will cost $211,000 a year, plus $34,000 for the shelter aide, Mayeda said. Palmdale city administrators have already proposed increasing the 2005-06 city budget to pay for one animal-control officer assigned exclusively to patrol within the Palmdale city limits.

The worst of the local dog attacks came March 21, when a 47-year-old woman was knocked down and mauled by a neighbor's pit bull-retriever mix. Sheriff's deputies shot the dog to death as it bit her arm.

The couple who owned the dog have been charged with a felony, keeping a mischievous animal that causes injury.

In February, sheriff's deputies shot to death one pit bull and captured another after the dogs chased youngsters walking to school in a Palmdale neighborhood, officials said. None of the youngsters was hurt.

Other incidents involved roaming dogs attacking dogs being walked on leashes by their owners, officials said.