Chronicle Chronicles Dog Law Suggestions

The San Francison Chronicle reports:
Proposed dog regulations
The city is seeking to enact a series of administrative, legislative and educational initiatives to regulate dogs. Among the proposals:
-- Restrict "backyard'' breeding of dogs to those persons appropriately licensed, and develop monitoring and oversight to regulate and enforce those licenses.
-- Require owners of certain vicious and dangerous dogs to obtain liability insurance to cover payments to dog bite victims seeking monetary compensation.
-- Increase fines for people who do not register their dogs -- currently, only 10 percent of the estimated 120,000 dogs in San Francisco have their required license -- and boost penalties for dog owners whose pets are involved in attacks.
-- Require owners to spay or neuter their pit bulls and pit bull mixes, as a way to reduce aggressive behavior, and give the city the authority to spay and neuter those dogs upon impoundment or failure to license.
-- Mandate that breeds considered dangerous be implanted with microchips so they can be quickly identified.
-- Mandate that all dog bites be reported to the city's Animal Care & Control agency so problem dogs can be better tracked.
-- Begin a school-based educational program to teach children how to interact with dogs to reduce their chances of being bitten. In addition, start a public awareness campaign so people will report problem dogs. The city already has a hot line to lodge complaints: (415) 554-9422.
E-mail Rachel Gordon at rgordon@sfchronicle.com.