Orange County Supes Define What Is a Vicious Dog

The Orange County Board of Supervisors Tuesday tentatively approved an ordinance changing how vicious canines will be defined and dealt with, but nixed a proposal to create a website that would identify dangerous dogs.

The ordinance, which was unanimously approved on first reading, defines “provocation” in an incident involving a dog and allows Orange County Animal Care officials to designate vicious pets as level 1, 2 or 3.

A Level 1 dog is one that on two occasions during a 36-month period does anything that puts someone or another animal in a “defensive, protective or fleeing” position to avoid bodily injury. A dog could be categorized as Level 1 if it bites a person without provocation and leaves at most a minor injury.

A Level 1 dog could also graduate to a Level 2 canine if the bad behavior persists.

A Level 2 dog is one that makes an unprovoked attack on four separate occasions, forcing someone or another animal to avoid injury. The Level 2 designation could also apply to dogs that have caused a severe or substantial injury to a person or other animal.

Dogs used for fighting or trained to fight also will be given the Level 2 designation.

A Level 3 canine is one that kills someone or causes a severe injury such as maiming. Police or military dogs on the job are exempt.

The ordinance also allows for the release of some dogs back to their owners during an investigation, which is aimed at saving the county money in boarding and caring for the animals.

A Level 3 Dog could be euthanized, said Ryan Drabek, director of Orange County Animal Care.

However, the owners of a Level 3 dog would still have the right to ask for an administrative hearing, and, if the animal is still ordered to be euthanized, could appeal to an Orange County Superior Court judge, who would make the final ruling, Drabek said.

The supervisors will take a final vote on the ordinance at a future board meeting.

-- City News Service