Section 31601 Of Article 1. Findings, Definitions, And General Provisions From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 14. >> Chapter 9. >> Article 1.
31601
. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Potentially dangerous and vicious dogs have become a serious
and widespread threat to the safety and welfare of citizens of this
state. In recent years, they have assaulted without provocation and
seriously injured numerous individuals, particularly children, and
have killed numerous dogs. Many of these attacks have occurred in
public places.
(b) The number and severity of these attacks are attributable to
the failure of owners to register, confine, and properly control
vicious and potentially dangerous dogs.
(c) The necessity for the regulation and control of vicious and
potentially dangerous dogs is a statewide problem, requiring
statewide regulation, and existing laws are inadequate to deal with
the threat to public health and safety posed by vicious and
potentially dangerous dogs.