From By Delegate Glen Glass:
The recent Special Session convened in the Maryland General Assembly dealt with two proposed bills in which four days of debate were spent. Senate Bill II was designed as the supposed answer to the recent Maryland Court of Appeals ruling in Tracy vs. Solesky regarding pit bull dogs and Senate Bill I was the controversial expansion of a sixth casino for Prince Georges County.
Senate Bill II addressed the Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous animals and distinguishes Pit Bulls and Pit Bull-mixed breeds from other kinds of dogs. Under the new ruling by the Appeals Court, merely showing that the owner of the dog or the landlord of the property knew the dog is at least part Pit Bull is sufficient to file a claim. It is no longer necessary to prove that the particular pit bull or pit bulls are dangerous. However, the Senate took what was a bad ruling and made it much worse by deciding that all dog owners would be liable for injuries to victims. This not only included injuries from a dog bite, but injuries incurred as a result of a dog’s impact. For example: if a dog’s activity caused you to fall down a flight of steps or off your bicycle, the pet owner is at fault. The Bill did include many exceptions in cases of trespassing but the language was so muddied and unclear it had the heads spinning of the members of the Judiciary Committee.
The House Judiciary Committee should be commended for their amazing work in reshaping Senate Bill II. Through a series of amendments, the Committee passed legislation with unanimous bipartisan support that was not breed specific, did not hold owners liable so long as their dogs were on a leash or their property, and service animals were protected. The Bill defined that an owner was liable for loose dogs only. Members of my caucus Republican Delegates Neil Parrott, Susan McComas, Michael Smigiel, John Cluster Jr., Michael Hough, Michael McDermott, and Democrats deserve applause for their tremendous effort in crafting this. The amended Senate Bill was passed through the House of Delegates 127-0 and I am proud to say that I supported this bill. Unfortunately the Senate was not so happy and did not take up the amended House version of Senate Bill II which is now leaving dog owners, animal shelters, and tenants in limbo.
As a dog owner and animal lover like many of my constituents, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruling has greatly concerned me and I am even more alarmed that the Senate did not adopt the amended version of their bill which would have put many at ease. Pit Bulls are not inherently dangerous but products of their owners and become violent when neglected or raised in an irresponsible manor like any other animal. There are countless studies that have indicated that other dog species more frequently attack humans and other animals compared to pit bulls. In my interactions with Pit Bulls, I found them to be normal, loving, and caring animals.
Senate Bill I was proposed to add an additional sixth casino to the National Harbor Location in Prince Georges County as well allow table games in Maryland. Many additional amendments were included to SBI and the House Ways and Means Committee ultimately passed the bill in a final vote of 13-7 sending it to the House of Delegates for debate.
The House engaged in fierce debate over SBI and endured many amendments that were mostly proposed by Republicans but unfortunately few were adopted. All American Legions and VFWs in Maryland (except for Montgomery County) are now allowed to have several slot machines in their establishments. Delegate Rudolph also put in an amendment that will allow the casino in Perryville to keep a larger share of revenue. Perryville is part of my district and I appreciate Delegate Rudolph’s concern. Republican Delegate Wayne Norman fought like a tiger against Democrat leadership and the sixth site. He proposed several amendments, one of which passed, that guaranteed at least one member of the gaming commission would have to be a minority. I supported him and applaud his effort.
The final vote in the House for gaming expansion was very close and barely passed by the required margin of 71-59 with the Nays receiving unprecedented support from Democrats including my colleague Delegate Mary-Dulany James. We should applaud the Democrats that stood on their principles and refused to buckle to the pressure from their Party and Governor.
When I discovered that the Pit Bull Legislation was going to be brought up, I felt that the right thing was to represent all of you so that you would be able to continue to have your rights not be infringed upon. I received factual information that the vote would be extremely close and my vote could help kill the entire Bill. Since I was there to protect your animal rights I felt it necessary to try and stop the gambling bill as well.
I am proud to say that I voted to strike down SBI in both the House Ways and Means Committee and on the floor of the House of Delegates. In the history of the United States, nostate has ever expanded gaming before first opening and stabilizing the legislated casinos and examining how they perform.My job is not to be in the hands of the corporations and I did not take any part in lowering taxes for corporations after the Democrats just raised them on Marylanders.
Sincerely,
Your Servant and Delegate Glen Glass
“Pit Bulls are not inherently dangerous”
No one says to a new beagle owner, “Now, if you treat him kindly and never train him to hunt, he won’t sniff, bark, or chase rabbits. He’ll just stand there, or walk quietly beside you. Now don’t abuse him or he may bark when he smells a bunny!
I agree that pits are not more angry or mean than any other dog. Tragically, they do not have to be angry, mean or abused to begin following “good” pit bull instinct to start tugging; a bird dog isn’t angry or abused when following his instinct to point and sniff the breeze, hunting for birds. Instinct varies from dog to dog, and training may modify instinct, but instinct is invisible, inside, and it is impossible to know when it may surface to influence a pit’s behavior. Think that breed doesn’t matter? Got to a sheepdog trail, or a gun club and tell those in attendance that breed doesn’t matter!
The folks below all loved their family pit bulls to death, that is until they died from injuries caused by their bully dogs doing exactly what bully dogs were created to do: tug a lot and not stop. This week is the anniversary of the death of Darla Napora, whose raised-from-a-puppy-never-abused/never neglected pit was so influenced by his expert tugging instinct that she died. The surviving husband loved them both so much the pit’s ashes were buried with Darla’s body. Had this family instead chosen to rescue a Brittany spaniel or practically any other non-BULLY dog, Darla would not have been so severely injured. To date, no Brittany has killed an adult human.
Pits are different. Want proof? With countless dogs/combinations, which dog to essentially ALL US dog fighters always choose? Yup, the pit.
Pits do often respond well to authority figurers (vets, groomers, unusually kennel workers (not always). Many educational pit websites state that as pits are strong, tenacious terriers, they are not the dog for everyone and require strong assertive leader/owners. So a thinking person will wonder, what happens when that tenacious terrier is loose, abandoned, or home alone and no strong assertive leader/owner is there to guide that gamebred behavior? Sometimes, instinct makes pits go “pit bull”.
These folks all were killed by their/their family’s pit bulls: Carter Delaney, Carmen Ramos, Roberto Aguilera, Kelly Chapman, Brandon Coleman, Lorinze Reddings, Raymond Tomco, Darla Napora, Joseph Hines, Kelly chapman, Christine Staab, Ethel Horton, Chester Jordan, Jennie Erquiaga, Tonia Parks, Gerald Adelmund, Blanche Bodeur, Mabel McAllister, Pamela Rushing, Edward Mitchell, Linda Leal, Michael Winters, Mattie Daugherty, Justin Lane, John Reynolds, Johnny Wilson, Mary Diana Bernal, Tina Marie Canterbury (chilling 911 recording on youtube). Just had to add a new owner’s death: Clifford Wright May 2012
This list doesn’t include humans under 18 years of age, doesn’t include arm/leg amputations, horrendous disfigurement, doesn’t include neighbors found dead in their own back yards, doesn’t include neighbors on the sidewalk 5 houses down, this list doesn’t include other pets, dogs killed inside their own house, doesn’t include injured pets, that list would be endless.
Excellent post, Debbie. Too bad that the pit bull apologists will deny the facts and the science behind instincts. Grandma’s raised from a pup black lab does not suddenly kill little Suzy, and the cocker spaniel that the family down the street got for their kids several years ago will not get loose and maul the neighbor.
I would like to see comparable lists, by breed, of others killed by family pets. I have a strong feeling about what that would show.
All dogs can bite. Not all dogs will attack, unprovoked, and cause catastrophic injury, and we know what breed those dogs usually contain.
The CDC has been keeping lists of fatalities from dog bite by breed for some time. As you suggest and Debbie as well, most breeds of dogs (even other large dogs, dogs much larger than pits) have zero recorded fatal maulings associated with the breed. Of the fatalities two breeds are responsible for 70% of fatalities – bully breeds and rots, with bully breeds being more likely that rots to kill people. As I said other large dogs may bite but it appears do not go for the kill in the same way at pits/rots. Sure seems to me dogs that are bred to fight to win with a relentless nature are very, very dangerous.
Debbie, these dogs were used as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions NOT as you say specifically to tug (or fight). These negative traits are a direct result of human intercession/training if you will and man’s desire for “blood” sport because the breed IS extremely physically powerful. As to being a pit bull apologist there Mr. Dirt, I guess I’ll plead guilty as charged, I’ve rescued and have several rescued dogs now one of which is a pit mix and you couldn’t find a more timid and loving animal….and by the way I have in fact heard and read of other breeds that have attacked, mauled and killed in some instances so judge away, maintain your uninformed opinions and continue to speak blindly because the world needs more haters.
If you think Pit Bulls aren’t “inherently” dangerous, then you’ve obviously never looked up the word inherent or observed a cross-section of pitbulls. No kidding. These arguments border on insanity, far across the line from just ppain stupidity. “They are not the dog for everyone.” Nope. They’re not. Look at most of their owners. Need I say more?
Pit bulls and kids, not everyone should have them them. Seriously,some PB’s are friendly while some are nasty and agressive. Some Kids turn out to be fine adults, some turn out to be killers. What do the bad ones have in common: those who raise them are usually jerks, irresponsible and have no clue what they got themselves into. While I am not a fan of PB’s, I don’t believe banning a breed is the answer. Hold owners far more accountable!
Pit bulls are a product of their owner’s upbringing. I personally play with two pit bulls every day and they are very lovable animals. Almost all pit bulls want to be lap dogs. Dogs that are abused or taught to be violent can happen with any breed, its just pit bulls are physically designed to combat larger dogs than themselves. Pit Bulls ARE NOT INHERENTLY DANGEROUS, but IGNORANT PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE THE BS ABOUT THEM CAN BE! I personally prefer a dog that will hurt an intruder if they trespass on my property, I don’t want a dog thats going to wake me up so I can see my killer coming, I want a dog that is going to prevent the killer from making it to my bedside.
So you’re saying that breeds don’t have distinguishing traits, including behaviors? Seriously?
The problem with pit bulls is that it seems occasionally what an owner believes to be a loving dog perceives children and other innocents to be “intruders” just as you say…something in thier genes that clearly once in a while gets the wrong queues, synaps goes haywire and tragedies occur. These bully breed attacks are not isolated or unusual – remember 2 years ago when a pair of pits attacked someones horses and actually killed a horse – a horse! If somebody wants to suggest to anyone that two poodles or a pair of Bernaise Mountain dogs would attack and kill a horse they’d be laughed out of the place – to suggest such an incident might happen is disingenuous at best.
LOL. That would be Bernese Mountain dogs. Bernaise is a sauce.
That’s fair but it’s not the point.
Of course it isn’t the point. But it was very, very funny. Thanks for giving us all a little respite.
They other funny thing is the legislature getting themselves all in a knot over this dog thing when it could have waited until January. Even then they couldn’t agree. So what was accomplished?
The gambling industry got a further tax break from Maryland and O’Malley, Miller and Busch got their casino.
Don’t ever, ever whine to me about Republicans and their friends in corporate America. Not ever.
Actually I’m very partial to both, but don’t have room for one of them and it ain’t the stuff on the eggs either!
Herr Money Tree,
“..something in their genes..” Ah, its been years since anyone invoked that thought about breeds. What you say about these dogs, could also apply to humans. However, no one on this page is a racist and no one wants to go there at all. Just asking you to reconsider when you attack a breed. It isn’t the correct solution. Those who raise animals must be responsible for controlling them. New laws to punish irresponsible animal owners must enacted.
Trying to invoke race into a discussion about dogs is assinine. If you don’t think dogs have personality traits common and more pronounced by breed or type then you’re an idiot, but then again you’ve already established that haven’t you.
You twit! That’s sarcasm. He does have a point. Why are you being sardonic? Irresponsible owners who’s Pit Bulls cause injury should be charged criminally. We are required to have insurance on homes and cars. Why not mandate insurance (as a tax) on dogs in the event they injure someone?
I agree with any action to restrict ownership of these animals be it laws or increased costs thereby disincenting ownership. My point was and is there are absolutely more predictable personality traits by breed – yes, there may be exceptions for individuals, but there’s a reason pointers hunt rather than greyhounds, sheepdogs round up sheep as opposed to dachshunds, and pit bulls fight as opposed to labradors.
Interesting. I just finished taking our puppy to puppy class. Do you know what the most aggressive dog was to people and the other dogs? A chocolate lab. There was a pit bull puppy in there, and it was perfectly well-behaved. This is just an anecdote. I find your narrow mindedness a bit frightening. There are a lot of vets and animal behaviorists who would strongly disagree with you.
I find your avoidance of the damage caused by certain dogs a bit frightening, Chuck. The issue is not aggression, it is the viciousness and degree of injury caused by specific breeds when they do attack. There are a lot of wounded and dead victims who would strongly disagree with you (if they could talk).
My thing with this is Pitbulls are not the only dogs with aggressive traits yet everyone treats them like they are the worst breed. German Shepards, Dobermans, Dailmations etc(Sorry for spelling). All dogs bite.
True there are other dogs that bite but evidence proves pit-bulls (including mixes) and rottweilers are responsible for 70% of fatalities and nearly the same percent of what are described as maulings. A cut from a chihuahua bite doesn’t count since you could if you had to kick the thing into the neighbors yard.
Well now…..Glen Glass says near the end of his post that “My job is not to be in the hands of the corporations”…..but Glen….your party’s presidential nominee (Willard RomLey)is quoted as saying that “corporations ARE people”! How do you square that one buddy???? B.T.W. Willard’s foreign policy experience is limited to OURSOURCING AMERICAN JOBS OVERSEAS! Come on November…..:)
As Ross Perot said, that giant sucking sound you will hear is jobs leaving the US. Clinton signed NAFTA in to law on December 8, 1993. He knew that if he vetoed it there were not enough votes to override his veto but decided to sign it anyway.
I know that Clinton claimed to be the first black President but I never knew that he was Republican as well.
If you’re going to use my handle (or a cheap knockoff), please say something intelligent.
Listen “Richard”, I’ve been using my version of your “handle” good buddy, since you were probably “pooping” yellow. Oh….and as far as saying “something intelligent”….I did (but you obviously didn’t understand).
Wow… Now cheap insults, name calling, and lack of maturity as well. Thanks for proving my point young man.
Why not be in the pocket of corporations? You’re already in the hand of the special interest group that supports handing out dangerous dogs to the multitudes.
to say that all pits are dangerous is absurd. i own a puggle (pug/beagle mix), who weighs about 15 pounds. he regularly plays with 2 full grown pits, and they have never been aggressive towards him. not even the first time they met. dogs, just like kids, are a direct product of the “adults” charged with taking care of them. bad parents produce bad kids, bad pet owners produce bad pet. are there exceptions? of course. but they are just that: exceptions. the amended house version was a solid bill that should have passed. but neither of those bills were emergency enough to warrant a special session.
jtownejeff, you will find exceptions in any breed, but see post #1. Different breeds have been developed for different traits or jobs. Some toy breeds just for companionship, greyhounds to hunt by sight, retrievers to bring back game. You don’t find pits on a lure coursing field or pugs used as hunting dogs. Pits were developed to bring down large game, have a strong bite, high pain threshold and be tenacious. If people would stop insisting on owning or buying purebred dogs that have traits that don’t make them suitable family pets and breeders would breed to a perfect pet standard (size, temperament, trainability etc)the shelters supported by our tax dollars would be emptier. I have owned dogs all my life and have met many sweet pits, but I would never own one.
Somehow, I’d rather be bitten by a dachsund than a pitbull.
I’d rather stick my face up to a beagle than a pitbull.
I’d rather wrestle with a lab than a pitbull.
Anyone disagree?
NOW you’re making some sense Common Cents!
@common cents – if that’s how you feel, that’s fine. All you need to do exercise your namesake and practice some common sense and don’t own a pit bull. Duh.
And that live and let live philosophy would be fine if a) all pit bull owners practiced anything resembling responsible dog ownership, b) we had some assurance these dogs would never roam and were always contained, c) tax dollars weren’t being spent to subsidize the 70-80% pit bulls in the shelters, d) they were being neutered at the same rate as most other canines…I could go on. Not all, but certainly many (enough that it seems to make a huge difference), pit bull owners don’t seem to take dog ownership seriously. I have to think that the wrong people are attracted to these dogs; sad for the dog but between bad owners and sketchy dogs we have a very bad combination. I myself don’t care so much how these dogs become vicious; if it’s the owners or the dog – it matters little when we’re talking about public safety. I don’t want to see pit bulls at the dog park; last time I was there a particularly nasty pit was brought in and it took the thing less than 60 seconds to lite into someone elses dog.
I was shocked by this story today from nbcnews.com (shocked like Captain Renault in Casablanca):
Chicago man mauled to death by his own pit bull
An autopsy has found that a Chicago man was mauled to death earlier this week by his pet pit bull.
Chicago police said the autopsy shows that 44-year-old Charles Hagerman was attacked and killed by at least one of his two pit bulls. Hagerman’s wife, Charlotte Williams, found him unresponsive with one of the pit bulls on top of him in their apartment around 8:15 p.m. Wednesday.
The family had owned the three-and-a-half-year-old pit bull, Scrappy, since he was a puppy, Charlotte Williams’s son, Daryl Williams, told the Chicago Sun-Times. They took in a second pit bull, Scrappy’s son, Rocco, a year and a half ago.
Daryl said the dogs were familiar and friendly with all three members of the household, which is what made the attack so puzzling. He said the incident has traumatized his mother, leaving her inconsolable and unable to sleep.
“Nobody knows,” Daryl said of how and why the pit bull attacked. “The dogs slept at the foot of their bed. He played with my nieces and nephews. We can’t figure this out.”
Okay, lets play: Police shot and killed a German shepherd Tuesday night after three people were bitten by the dog.
Detectives said the dog attacked three people–including one in a wheelchair–before officers opened fire.
Jose Meija tried to swat the 75 pound dog away with his hat before the dog do into his leg, piercing through his pants.
2…
DENVER (AP/CBS4) — A dog in training to detect bombs at the Denver airport has been removed from the program after it killed a Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix in its neighborhood.
Denver Police Department canine handler Bradley Rhodes reported he was getting a leash Sunday when his dog ran from his yard in Arvada and attacked and killed the other dog.
AND HE WAS ONE OF THE “GOOD” GUYS!?!?
3…This is as tragic as it gets – a two day old baby killed by the family’s seemingly friendly Husky –
According to one media report, a friend of the Alberta, Canada couple says the dog was probably trying to comfort the crying boy when it delivered one fatal bite to the child’s head.
Rob and Rhonda Fradette, and they seem to have done everything they were supposed to do when they brought their new baby home from the hospital last week, and they’re experienced dog owners.
shall I go on?
Your ignorance is only exceeded by you prejudice and myopathy………..
The K-9 attacked and killed ANOTHER DOG, not a human being. Police Dogs are chosen due to their high prey drive. Small dogs look and act like prey. When was the last time you heard a story about a police dog mauling an innocent bystander. This story is completely irrelevant from what this post is about. Try harder next time.
did you even BOTHER to read the complete post
My myopathy? I was unaware that I was suffering from a muscular disease. I’d better call my doctor immdiately!
Dirt out.
The amended bill should have passed, without question. I still wonder why those that voted against it did, and would like to hear their reasons.
I volunteer (15 hrs a week)with a small rescue and have been active in animal advocacy and rescue organizations most of my adult life. I have been a dog bite victim many times, as rescue dogs have typically been through the mill immediately prior to coming to a safe and secure organization for rehoming. It has never been a pit that bit me. Usually it has been small high strung dogs with fear biting issues.
If one of my dogs bites someone it is my responsibility. I have erred in some way, either by not training properly, not supervising properly, or using poor judgement about where I have taken my dog. For those who would choose pits for all the wrong reasons, encourage them to be vicious, and do not properly socialize or control them, let’s see them pay, and pay dearly.
I own the nicest tiger you will ever meet. I raised him from a cub, and trained him better then anyone has ever trained a tiger. He would never hurt anyone…..
One of the points of this bill, Roy, is that if you choose to have a tiger than you are well aware of the risks and capabilities of the tiger. You are then responsible for using wisdom in the way you train, control and supervise your tiger. If you do not, then you, and only you, should pay the price. Hopefully, if you are held to that standard, it will discourage others from adopting tigers for all the wrong reasons.
Or the landlord because as is the case in other other situation where a landlord is aware of drug dealing or criminal activity, etc., of thier tenants to be aware of a danger and not do anything about it means you have some culpability. I’m hoping this new law discourages the continuing profligation of pit bulls in general as it becomes more and more difficult to own them.
Or the landlord because as is the case in any other situation where a landlord is aware of drug dealing or criminal activity, etc., of thier tenants to be aware of a danger and not do anything about it means you have some culpability. I’m hoping this new law discourages the continuing profligation of pit bulls in general as it becomes more and more difficult to own them.
Having raised sheep for many years, I know that you can breed for many traits, including temperment. The different dog breeds have been bred for temperment and abilities, like the border collies for herding sheep or pointers for bird hunting. Pit bulls have been bred for agressiveness and fighting abilities; you can raise them as gently and kindly as you want, but there’s always a chance that something will trigger their inbred aggressive instincts. Just looking at the breeds which are causing the deaths and injuries seems like proof enough to me.
Plus, some things just seem to draw a disproportionate share of irresponsible morons, like pit bull ownership or motorcycle riding. A lot of decent, reasonable people own pit bulls and ride motorcycles, but a whole lot of degenerates are drawn to them just by their nasty reputations.
I’ve had many dogs in my lifetime. Dogs are animals. All can be unpredictable. I’ve had lap dogs, Labs, Shepards & Pit bulls. The Pits were just as loving as any of my other dogs. I do not think anyone has the right to tell me what kind of dog I can own. As I Pit owner, I do feel only a certian type of person should own a Pit. I also feel that the owner should be required to go through training with the dog and have certian restrictions, ex. safety features that prevent running away. I’ve always been a responsible dog owner, but I can say from first hand knowledge, when a Pit goes off it’s extremely hard to control so precautions need to be in place AT ALL TIMES! I love my dogs & they are very loving to me, but without a firm grasp they could be harmful to other animals, small children etc, and I never raised them to be mean. They require constant monitoring. If you’re willing to do this than they are very rewarding pets.
I think we should take 25 Pit bulls and lock them in the room with the general assembly, and see how that changes votes.
Clearly, unfair to the pit bulls.