DOG-BREED BILL RAISES HOWLS ASSEMBLY APPROVES MEASURE TO ALLOW RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN CANINES.

Byline: Steve Geissinger Sacramento Bureau

Despite a noisy protest by dog owners at the Capitol, the California State Assembly approved a bill Monday that foes said is a step toward letting cities and counties ban potentially dangerous breeds such as pit bulls.

Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, said she introduced the measure at the request of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom after Nicholas Faibish, 12, was killed by his family's pit bull.

Because of numerous tragic maulings across the state, populous counties such as Los Angeles have joined San Francisco in backing the measure. The League of California Cities also is in support.

The measure, SB 861, would allow local governments to impose breeding restrictions, along with mandatory spaying and neutering, on specific breeds. The bill does not allow any dog breed to be banned but does roll back current state law that prohibits local governments from passing laws that target a breed of dog.

``This bill will save lives, both human and canine, and require more responsibility from dog owners,'' said Speier, who owns a 12-year-old black Labrador retriever mix. ``Who can be opposed to that?''

But the bill has drawn opposition from at least 18 animal-rights groups, including the Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls and the West Los Angeles Responsible Dog Owners.

``It is now or never for California,'' Jan Cooper of Fight Breed-Specific Legislation said after the vote. ``If California goes, so goes the rest of the states in the nation.''

Another group, California Dog Owners, is collecting signatures on a petition that asks lawmakers to reject SB 861 and uphold state regulations that bar passage of rules affecting certain kinds of dogs.

``Keep California free from breed-specific dog ordinances,'' Cherie Graves urges in the petition. ``Protect our property rights in animals.''

Foes of the bill hope to influence senators, who will receive the measure next for consideration of amendments before it goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Aides to the governor said he has not taken a position on the measure.

The bill passed 46-18 in the Assembly - five votes more than the bare majority needed in the 80-member lower house.

In an attempt to counter opposition, Speier pointed out that supporters include the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Doris Day Animal League.

Steve Geissinger, [phone]

sgeissinger(at)angnewspapers.com