If you live in Manteca and own a pit bull breed you either have to get it fixed, qualify as a legitimate breeder through a set of tight rules, or risk becoming a criminal and having the dog destroyed.

A Manteca municipal ordinance requires the mandatory spaying and neutering of pit bull breeds require a city issued permit.

A series of seven vicious dog attacks in Manteca during 2007 with most being pit bull breed prompted the City Council to adopt the pit bull rules.

Highlights of Manteca’s pit bull ordinance include:

• Pit bull refers to any dog that is a Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or any other dog displaying the physical traits of any one or more of the previously mentioned breeds or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing characteristics that conform to specific standards established by the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club for any o the listed breeds.

• The only reasons a person may have a pit bull that isn’t fixed include the pit bull being under eight weeks of age, if there is a degree of suffering serious bodily harm or death due a physical abnormality based on a veterinarian certification who must also say when the operation can take place, the pit bull has been in the city less than 30 days, the owner has obtained or submitted an application for a breeding permit, the pit bull is a show dog but must include proper registration papers, or if the status of the pit bull is under appeal.

• The first violation may result in the department impounding the pit bull and disposing of the pit bull in accordance with municipal ordinances or the owner may reclaim it by paying fees including the department’s cost of having a veterinarian spay or neuter the dog. The owner will be required to make a $100 deposit and then cover the balance of the actual bill before reclaiming ownership.

• The second violation is a misdemeanor publishable by imprisonment county jail for a period not to exceed six months or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both. The second violation may result in impounding and destroying the pit bull.

• Breeding permit application fees are $100 and come with a list of stringent rules that must be followed.