Tens of thousands of dogs will die without your help!
On April 26, 2012, the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a decision which has serious and far-reaching consequences for everyone in Maryland who deals with dogs. In the case of Tracey v. Solesky. The court ruled that in a dog attack involving a pit bull or a pit bull cross, the owner or other persons (including a landlord) who have the right to control a pit bull’s presence on a premises, is liable for damages caused by the dog. Previous to this ruling a landlord could only be held liable if the landlord had a reason to believe that a dog was dangerous.
This ruling effects dog owners, residential and commercial landlords, veterinarians, groomers, and pet stores. Landlord associations are already advising landlords that they can’t afford the liability of having tenants with pit bulls and pit bull mixes, and dog owners are being pressured to give up well-tempered family dogs. The ruling sets a very dangerous precedent under which other dog breeds can be designated as inherently dangerous. It discourages landlords from renting to families with pit bulls, pit bull mixes, or anything that anyone thinks looks like a pit bull. Some landlords will decide it is easier and safer to ban all dogs from their residential and commercial properties.
Please call Governor Martin O’Malley on Tuesday, May 8 to urge him to support introduction of legislation during next week’s special session to provide a legislative remedy to the Court of Appeals ruling on pit bulls. Dangerous dog legislation should be based on a dog’s behavior, not the dog’s breed. We want to create an impression by overwhelming the phone lines at the Governor’s office on Tuesday but calls are needed any time this week. You can also e-mail the Governor. Be polite. The Governor and his staff did not create this problem, and we need their support to solve it.
Governor Martin O’Malley
410 974-39011 800 811-8336
Maryland Relay: 1 800 735-2258
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/
Sample script/letter:
Dear Governor O'Malley:Please put a legislative remedy to the pit-bull ruling on the agenda for the special session starting next week. The consequenses of this ruling are so dire that pit-bulls, their owners and landlords cannot wait until 2013. We ask for your intervention now.Sincerely.
________________(your name and address)
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
White House procurement specialists are on the job.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest thing about this ruling is it effects the Bully Breeds now and in the future if you own a Shepherd or Rottie or Dobie or Dane or Mastiff. Heck even a Labrador or Golden Retriever your breed WILL be targeted next. Whatever happens here in Md is going to set a precedent for the rest of the country. Bottom line all dogs can bite. Soon the powered that be will say we can have None. ALL dog owners are expected to be responsible for their animals. Landlords should not be held accountable for their tenants animals. Tenants should all be required to get renters insurance to cover all of their things including their pets.
ReplyDeleteSorry, as I am an animal lover but I can see why this is up to be passed. Tooo many irresponsible dog owners!!! People are victimized by owners using these poor animals for fighting & agression. It's not the dog, rather the irresponsible owners. Something has to be done to protect innocent people--All lg breeds owners should be held responsible for what damage their animal inflicts.
ReplyDeleteIm'm an animal lover too---but I definately see the need for changes in our laws to protect the peopld.
if they want the dog then they should be allowed to have it, but like everything else in life they must pay for it, say maybe a 50 million dollar bond? cause I know if my kid got bit by one of them I would prolly kill the dog kick the owners ass and sue them into bankruptcy. unfortunately most of the owners of these types of breeds have nothing to lose!
ReplyDeleteAnd your actions would make you a Target for a law suit as well.
DeletePoint is that the state finds that pit bulls have been bred to kill for years and now its a common assumption they are killers.wrong! If this was the case then the dalmation, rat terrior ,yorkie,and even the Mexican ankle biters should fall into the same classification.a dog is as good as its owners teach him to be.period.a dog is like a child .they learn what they're taught.grow to be the person/ dog that they've learned to be.dogs should not be responsible as a breed for the inadequacies of their human counterparts.
ReplyDelete"most of the owners of these types of breeds have nothing to lose!"
ReplyDeleteReally? Generalize much? I assure you, I would have a LOT to lose if my pit bull (and in the past, my Rottie) were to attack someone.
But my dogs would not attack unless they needed to defend themselves. My terrier, on the other hand...might be the one to start something.
"All lg breeds owners should be held responsible for what damage their animal inflicts."
ReplyDeleteI think all dog owners no matter the size of the dog should be held responsible which they currently are if it can be proved the dog had a history of aggression.
I too am a dog lover but not so naive as to ever think any dog isn't capable of biting or hurting someone. No one can ever say unequivocally that their dog would NEVER hurt anyone so I am of the belief that a plaintiff should never have to prove the dog's had a history of agression if they are hurt.
Sorry HSUS who I am a big supporter of, but I'm not calling anyone on this.
"Anonymous said...
ReplyDelete"most of the owners of these types of breeds have nothing to lose!"
Really? Generalize much? I assure you, I would have a LOT to lose if my pit bull (and in the past, my Rottie) were to attack someone.
But my dogs would not attack unless they needed to defend themselves. My terrier, on the other hand...might be the one to start something.
May 8, 2012 1:12 PM"
Go into any inner city in this country and you will see that yes MOST of these dog owners have nothing to lose.
And these are the people that make pit bulls look bad.you just proved the point.look at the people in the ghetto areas.most are irresponsible with their dogs,your right.and they should be charged to the fullest.but you can not judge all pit bulls or their owners.
DeleteAnon 1:21, I agree with you. Just go over to the Church Street area & see all the pit bulls being led around by known drug dealers. Tell me these dogs have not been trained to be vicious!!!
ReplyDeleteGo to Delaware's Craigslist lost and found. Kent Co spca lists found dogs. 2/3 of them for the last week seem to be pit or pit mixes. Shows there is a hugh problem with these dogs being owned by responsible persons. It's a shame.
ReplyDeleteAnd bad owners are not the fault of the dogs. In these drug and gang areas these dogs are treated horribly. They should be seized and their owners should be charged with neglect cruelty and dog fighting. This is not the fault of the breed but of humans. There are a tremendous number of responsible caring pit bull owners and discriminating against one breed of dog is the same as discriminating against one race of people. Oh that's right you folks do that too.
ReplyDeleteI saw some numbers recently. Pit bull type and pit mixes are owned by approx 9% of the population in this country, yet they make up approx 23% of the dogs in shelters. Those numbers do show that for whatever reason these dogs end up becomming unwanted more than any other breed.
ReplyDelete3:40 this is because so many are seized from bad circumstances and because bad owners keep breeding. Responsible pet owners of any breed have their pets spayed/neutered. The sad fact of the bully breeds is that humans do much more damage to them than they do to us.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance. Complete ignorance.
ReplyDeletePitbulls are mean because of their owner. German Shepherds are mean because of their owner. Rotweillers are mean because of their owner. Cockerspaniels are mean because of their owner. Clueless people run this country and our(we) young generation cannot wait until we dont have to deal with these social setbacks anymore.
Just how conservatives are selfish, and religious nut jobs because their parents sheltered them as children and wouldnt let them think for themselves(forcing them to go to church).
Something needs to be done. One has to look at the problem for what it is. Irresponsible owners----There are many in this town, walking these dogs on the streets now ---daring you to come close to them. It's terrible what's beening done to these dogs, fighting them, breeding for agression, training them to be agressive ---However, these people can't be made to be responsible owners----so another way has to be found to protect innocent people from being attacked.
ReplyDeleteI am an animal lover----have 3! However, it's a known fact---my retriever will do more harm from a bite than my yorkie. There is a major difference!
Isn't this PROFILING in the worst sense of the word?? Why can't we call the trouble makers trouble makers when they are "people" but we can generalize that any/all Pitt or Pitt mix is more dangerous than any other pet? Gerbils bite! Same with rabbits and horses. Perhaps less likely to get loose and do this but nonetheless dangerous.
ReplyDeleteIf we can criminalize ALL Pitts based on popular opinion then where do we stop? Could we minimize the risk of violent assaults by placing special legislation on people of color? Seems to me that per capita they are more dangerous to everyone than other "breeds". Where does it stop?