SANTA ROSA -- Sonoma County supervisors on Tuesday will consider new animal control regulations, including microchipping and sterilization of dangerous animals, spaying and neutering of loose pit bulls and limiting the number of hours a dog can be chained in one place.

One major change would allow animal control officers to seek court orders to declare animals "potentially dangerous" after one incident, rather than the two incidents under current law.

"It just doesn't make sense to allow a dog to kill or (cause) serious injury twice before they get declared potentially serious," said Bob Garcia, Sonoma County's supervising animal regulation officer.

Although the new animal control laws initially would apply only in unincorporated areas, they're likely to spread to Santa Rosa, Windsor and Cloverdale. That's because the Sonoma County Animal Control Department contracts with those cities and county officials want uniformity.

The proposed regulations already have been approved by a citizens advisory committee.