Massachusetts~ Dangerous Dog Law Proposed
Saturday, 16-Sep-00 15:21:20
City Council plans to curb vicious dogs with new law
by David R. Guarino
Wednesday, September 13, 2000
Dangerous dogs will face sterilization or implantation of tracking microchips under a tough new law set for approval by the City Council today in the wake of several violent pit bull attacks.
City councilors and the Menino administration agreed to the changes and hefty new fines but will back off a proposed all-out pit bull ban. Councilors will also push Mayor Thomas M. Menino to beef up animal control enforcement officers - adding one new officer in each of nine city districts.
``We don't want to come down on a specific breed or on responsible owners but to get it done fully we need to do more,'' said Councilor at large Stephen Murphy.
The ordinance will up minimum fines from $50 to $250. It will also allow animal control officers to order mandatory obedience classes, allow for sterilization designed to make a dog more passive and micro-chipping so owners cannot duck claims made against their dogs.
Microchips, used already in several big cities, would be implanted in dangerous dogs through a syringe-like device and cost the owner about $10, officials said. It would allow the city to better track dogs and prevent an owner from denying a dog was involved in a particular attack, officials said.
Steve Crosby, director of the animal control office, said microchips are accepted by humane societies - as is sterilization. As for the extra staff, Crosby says it isn't needed.
``I think we are doing a good job with the amount of personnel that we have right now,'' Crosby said.
David R. Guarino
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