Maryland Forms Pit Bull Task Force
The Senate and House majority leaders put the task force in writing on Wednesday.
The leaders of Maryland’s General Assembly have created a task force to study the recent court ruling on pit bulls, according to The Washington Post.
The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled at the end of April that pit bulls were "inherently dangerous" and in the event of an attack, it was not necessary to prove that a pit bull had a history of violence; if the owner/landlord knew the dog was a pit bull or pit mix, that person is automatically liable for damages.
"Right now, Maryland is the only state that has made this declaration with regard to pit bulls," Delegate Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore City), chair of the newly-created pit bull task force, said on WBAL Radio Thursday.
Citizens have rallied in opposition to the ruling, which they say unfairly targets one type of dog and limits housing options for those who own them.
Lawmakers introduced multiple bills to overturn the court's decision during the special session in May. The bills were not considered, as the session was solely to address the state's budget.
The House and Senate majority leaders wrote a letter to the governor this week announcing the creation of a 10-member, bipartisan task force.
Members of the task force are Senate Judicial Proceedings Chairman Brian Frosh; Senators Lisa Gladden, Joseph Getty, Jamie Raskin and Norman Stone; and Delegates Curtis Anderson, Eric Bromwell, Ben Kramer, Heather Mizeur and Michael Smigiel, reported The Baltimore Sun.
“Now, there's talk about a July session and if there is in fact one, this task force has to meet a couple of times and come up with its recommendation before July 9," said Anderson on WBAL Radio.
If not, he said there would be ample time before January to "come up with a comprehensive look at what the Court of Appeals was saying and what we need to do."
Another task force member has urged the state not to delay. "Waiting till August will be too late," Delegate Smigiel wrote on his blog. "Thousands of dogs will be let loose or euthanized in the interim."
Dolores Comploier
4:16 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I owned a female pit bull for 16 1/2 years. She was the best dog I have ever owned and was so gentle and loving to me and everyone she met. To put this label on all pit bulls is so unfair. I had a miniture pincher that would have bitten you in a minute. The law needs to be overturned in fairness to the pit bull. It is not the pit, it is the owner!!!!
Andrea
7:52 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
I own 3 Pit mixes and this is absurd. They by far are the kindest, sweetest dogs I have owned over the years, and wouldnt have 3 if there were capable of harm to others! This is bias, when other breeds have the same capabilities if not worse, yet the target remains on a particular breed. Stop looking for a lable, and leave the breed alone! When you target a name or "behavior" on something it seems to "own" that lable. Find something else to worry about like our rediculous gas prices!
Lynn Hopkins
8:23 am on Friday, June 1, 2012
If our legislators need more than common sense as a reason to reverse this unfair ruling they just need to look to other municipalities that passed breed specific legislation, BSL, and revoked it because it is expensive and impossible to enforce. Right now it costs 9 million every year for Marylland, 9 million. That's a lot. They could put it towards low cost spay neuter! I have a dog that is less than 10% American Staffordshire terrier but was told he's so beautiful I could show him as one! He's a mush puppy and I hope to get another just like him. Everyone please go to www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com for accurate facts about dog bites and BSL. Gov O'Malley is the road block. Call and email him. Please, dogs are being killed every day because of this ruling.