Gardena Likely to OK Killing of Vicious Dogs

Gardena is expected to adopt an ordinance allowing the destruction of “dangerous” pets that have attacked people or other animals.

The city joins Torrance and Los Angeles city and county officials in adopting laws in reaction to widely publicized reports of aggressive, and at times fatal, attacks by pit bulldogs.

The proposed Gardena ordinance, introduced by Councilman Mas Fukai on first reading Tuesday and unanimously supported by the other council members, is expected to get final approval Sept. 8. It would take effect 30 days later.

All five residents who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting supported the proposed ordinance.

“It’s a marvelous piece of work,” said Richard Woods, a Gardena chiropractor who also operates a dog kennel in the city.

The proposed ordinance lists 11 factors that a city manager’s representative would have to consider at a hearing before deciding that an animal should be destroyed, including:

A history of bites or other attacks.

The nature and extent of injuries inflicted.

The location of the attack.

The presence of any provocation for the attack.

The possibility of retraining the animal to change its temperament.

The owner of an animal that is destroyed would not be permitted to own the same type of animal in the city for three years.

If the animal is deemed not dangerous but the attack was judged to be a result of the owner’s improper or negligent training or handling, the license could be revoked or reissued with conditions, according to City Atty. Michael J. Karger, who wrote the ordinance.

If the license is revoked, the owner would have to get rid of the animal and could not own the same breed for three years.

The city contracts with the Southern California Humane Society for animal control, including licensing. There are about 4,400 licensed dogs in the city, according to the humane society.

111 Bites Reported

The Los Angeles County Health Department reported 111 dog bites in Gardena in the last year, but City Manager Kenneth Landau said about half were minor incidents. Landau said he is not aware of any recent serious attack.

Fukai said the proposed ordinance is aimed at sending a message to dog owners and reassuring the public.

“The intent of this ordinance is to protect the people,” Fukai said at the meeting. “Here in Gardena we are saying that we care. We are putting owners on notice that they better start watching their pets.”

Mayor Donald Dear and the three other council members also voiced their support for the proposed ordinance.

Torrance last month adopted a similar ordinance. It permits, after a hearing, the destruction of any animal that has a history of attacking people or animals without reasonable provocation, whether or not the attacks include biting.

Los Angeles city and county have also passed ordinances allowing authorities to impound a dog permanently after the first bite.