Spokane, Washington May Consider Breed-Specific Mandatory Spay/Neuter Ordinance for “Pit Bulls”


From The Seattle Times:

“When three dogs attacked Nancy Sonduck in her fenced North Spokane yard, all she had to defend herself and her two dogs was a plastic gardening bucket.

…Five people, including Sonduck, testified at Monday’s Spokane City Council meeting about problems they’ve faced with pit bulls. Council President Joe Shogan promised that the council would explore the issue.

Gail Mackie, executive director of SpokAnimal, said a breed-specific ordinance is discriminatory and likely not legal. ‘Speaking as far as potentially dangerous dog incidents are concerned, we have all breeds,’ Mackie said. ‘I did one today that was a Pomeranian.’

…Mackie said the protocols in place, such as microchipping dogs labeled as dangerous, already are nearly unenforceable when the owners are uncooperative. [Nancy Hill, director of the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service] said it would be difficult to enforce restrictions on a particular breed.

‘How would you determine it’s a pit bull?’ she said.

She said that many pit bulls are good with people and that it’s better to enforce existing dangerous dogs laws, which are based on an animal’s behavior.

‘There’s good and bad dogs in every breed,’ Hill said.”

Read this article in its entirety here.

Please contact the Spokane Mayor and City Council and politely inform them that breed-specific legislation, whether a ban or a mandatory spay/neuter provision, is unenforceable and ineffective.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*