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Proposed Pit Bull Legislation

CONTRA COSTA, Calif. (KCBS)_ More pit bull owners in the Bay Area would have to get their pets spayed or neutered under new legislation proposed this week.

Proponents say they're trying to avoid another incident like the one in Concord last month in which a two-year-old boy was mauled to death by three dogs.

Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia says there's no question that the death of little Jacob Bisbee really got the ball rolling on this idea.

"We've been working on issues of dog aggressiveness for a while unfortunately if this horrendous event helped provide the momentum for this particular spay or neuter proposal," stated Gioia.

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What he's proposing is a law that requires pit bull owners to have their dogs spayed or neutered similar to what San Francisco enacted back in 2005 after another young child was mauled to death by a pit bull.

Santa Clara County leaders are on board, as well Board of Supervisors' President Ken Yeager.

He says research has shown that dogs that are spayed or neutered tend to be calmer and less aggressive.   

Gioia says this will also help reduce the number of unwanted, unclaimed or neglected pit bulls in animal shelters.

"This will get referred to our public protection committee and we hope to have an ordinance to the Board in September for adoption," said Gioia.

Yeager is hoping for similar timing on the enacting of this law.

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