LIMITS URGED ON DOG BREEDING.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich supports a proposed state law that would let cities and counties require spaying or neutering certain breeds of dogs.

California state law forbids local governments from banning specific breeds on the grounds that they are inherently dangerous. Dozens of communities in other states have enacted bans against pit bulls, Rottweilers and some other breeds.

``This would allow breed-specific regulation, not banning. We're not talking about banning. We're talking about spaying and neutering,'' Antonovich spokesman Tony Bell said Monday. ``We believe this is a vital public-safety measure.''

Antonovich's district includes the Antelope Valley, where attacks by pit bulls have nearly quadrupled this year to 22 against people and animals, and Glendale, where a Rottweiler fatally mauled its owner's toddler granddaughter last week.

Supervisors are scheduled to vote today on sending letters in support of the bill to state lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Senate Bill 861, authored by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, would allow cities and counties to require spaying and neutering and otherwise restrict breeding of specific breeds or types.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and other critics call breed bans unenforceable and pointless, saying that the problem is with individual dogs of all types and with owners who like owning vicious dogs. Other critics note that the man whose Rottweiler killed his grandchild had had the animal neutered.

Dog owner clubs have also come out against Speier's legislation.

A problem with breed-specific laws, critics say, is that it is hard to define what dog is or is not a pit bull, which is a type of dog and not a breed.

In May, at Antonovich's urging, supervisors authorized hiring four new animal-control field officers to join the six now on duty in the Antelope Valley. The cost will be $211,000 a year for four field officers. A fifth now undergoing training will be assigned to the Lancaster shelter.

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.

In all, there have been 23 dog attacks reported this year in the Antelope Valley, of which 22 involved pit bulls or pit bull mixes. There were only six in all of 2004.

The worst came in March, 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 dog's owners have been charged with a felony, keeping a mischievous animal that causes injury.

Last 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.

In six other incidents, pit bulls or pit bull mixes caused minor injuries to people, and in eight cases they attacked other animals. Other incidents involved dogs menacing people.

Charles F. Bostwick, [phone]

chuck.bostwick(at)dailynews.com