Earlier this year, lawmakers in New Mexico passed a law that allowed felony charges against owners of "dangerous" dogs. The law targets owners of dogs deemed dangerous or potentially dangerous toward humans or other dogs. Bob Schwartz helped write the law and was instrumental in getting it passed. But something tells me that as a member of the privileged class, he won't be charged under his own law, after being attacked by his own dog.

Bob Schwartz, who also is Gov. Bill Richardson's crime adviser, was hospitalized at University of New Mexico Hospital on Sunday night with bites on both his arms, said Pahl Shipley, a spokesman for the governor.

The hospital declined to release Schwartz's condition, but Shipley said Schwartz is "going to be fine."

Schwartz has three dogs registered with the city: a boxer and two English bulldogs, said Denise Wilcox, who oversees Albuquerque's animal care centers.

Schwartz was instrumental in getting a law passed this year that would allow felony charges against owners of dogs deemed dangerous or potentially dangerous and that seriously injure or kill another animal or person.

The law was designed to make dog owners accountable, said Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, who worked with Schwartz to pass the bill.

"But I guess when it happens in your own family, that's another story," she said. "That's tragic."