City to Discourage Training Dogs to Fight

The Los Angeles City Council asked the Department of Animal Regulation this week to develop enforcement plans against people who train dogs to fight.

The request comes after an 80-pound pit bull attacked a 6-year-old Pacoima boy, fracturing his skull and tearing his cheek.

Since September, there have been three reported pit bull attacks in Los Angeles County, all against teenagers or young children. Pit bulls are also used by gangs as a form of intimidation, police said.

In February, gang members let loose a pit bull on a busload of students.

City Councilman Richard Alarcon showed photographs of the Pacoima boy’s injuries to other council members and said that the city needed to dedicate more resources to enforce the law against training and using dogs to fight, which is a felony in California.

“We’re going to focus much of our efforts toward educating the public about the dangers of training dogs to fight, especially pit bulls,” said Sharon Morris, director of the Department of Animal Regulation. The department will present its recommendations to the council in 60 days.