Politics & Government
Marylanders Rally for Pit Bulls in Annapolis
Dozens of people brought signs and pictures of their pit bulls to Lawyer's Square in an effort to let legislators know that they want to see an end to breed specific legislation.
People from across Maryland gathered in support of pit bulls at Lawyer's Mall in Annapolis on Thursday.
"The idea that our dogs should be held to a different standard because they have square heads and short hairs is poppycock," Kallie Russell said.
She and her husband own two pit bulls. They also own their own home, which means April's Maryland Court of Appeals decision that made landlords liable for the attacks by their tenants' dogs doesn't affect them.
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"It's a slippery slope. We could be renters in the future," Russell said. "It will end up affecting every single dog owner because no one is going to send someone out to try and figure out what kind of dog you have."
On this point there seems to be general consensus among legislators. At the Senate Judicial Services Committee meeting after the rally, all of the members were in agreement that the breed specific aspect of April's Tracey v. Solesky ruling needs to be overturned.
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The question of whether landlords should be liable for an attack by a tenant's dog remains up in the air as the Senate Bill 2 moves to the House Judiciary Committee for a hearing on Friday.
Tanja O'Dell said she hopes this law would overturn Prince George's County's blanket prohibition on owning pit bulls.
"I'm a pit bull owner. She was left in a closet to die in PG County," O'Dell said. "If Maryland rules against discriminating against dangerous breeds, I think it would overrule county law."
