Communities make note of where sex offenders live in a given area, but officials with Orange County hope to put together a similar database focused not on sex offenders but on dogs that have been involved in violent incidents.
The Los Angeles Times explores Orange County’s proposal in a new article. A County Supervisor explained that persons out for walks should be able to identify those residences that could be home to a potentially dangerous dog. The thought is that doing so would allow for persons to adjust their routes accordingly, with safety being improved as a result.
In the portion of the area covered by OC Animal Care, there were 2,281 reported dog bites last year alone. The 264 investigations that these incidents prompted led to 66 dogs being put down.
The issue was set to be discussed yesterday by county supervisors, but a dispute over how to classify dangerous animals led to a slight delay. As it stands, a dog would need to be involved in two attacks prompting citations within a three year timeframe to receive a dangerous designation. To be considered vicious, the animal would need to have a dog-fighting background or be involved in a deeply injurious or deadly attack.
A representative of the Pet Rescue Center argues that the law could lead to the harassment of pet owners and the removal of a means to help the animal move past their troubled past.
The Orange County personal injury attorneys at PSBR Law represent victims of dog bites and animal attacks. If you or a loved one has been injured by an animal attack, contact us today.