Minimal support for crackdown on some dog breeds

She wanted to know: Who might support the banning of specific breeds of dogs in San Antonio? Texas currently prohibits such laws.

“If there's a will, there's a way to get it done,” Trish DeBerry-Mejia later told the audience.

Among the four candidates at the forum, the businesswoman expressed the strongest interest in banning certain breeds. Julián Castro said he would consider an ordinance against pit bulls in light of recent attacks.

Councilwomen Diane Cibrian and Sheila McNeil both said they would not support any breed-specific law, the latter with a line that provoked a few chuckles.

“I've seen some pretty mean Chihuahuas out there,” McNeil said.

Members of more than 20 animal groups showed up Monday evening at the headquarters of the Humane Society, SPCA of Bexar County to hear from Castro, Cibrian, DeBerry-Mejia and McNeil. The five other candidates were not invited.

The groups submitted questions that probed the candidates' mindsets on a variety of topics, including the city's goal of ending the killing of healthy, adoptable animals by 2012.

“I'll be honest with you, folks,” DeBerry-Mejia said, “I do not think we're going to get there.”

She stressed the importance of neighborhood spay and neuter programs.