I understand the decision. You know what you are getting when you adopt a pit bull.
You can't plead ignorance in this case.

If there's less adoptions of them, there will be less breeding of them. Dog sales are, like anything else, a demand based business. Reduce the demand, reduce the breeding, problem (eventually) solved.

It's the owners of any vicious dog, no matter what breed, that are at fault. I've known a few pit owners and dogs over the years. NONE of the dogs were ever vicious because the owners were responsible people! This is another example of legislation from the courts and big government! The good pit bulls waiting to be adopted will suffer the most.

ugh, breed specific legislation. so glad to see our ruling party is full of idiots.

This new rule makes pit bulls even more attractive to the very people that want a bad arse dog. Way to go!! They just marketed pit bulls to the very people we wouldn't want owning them! See, when a dog is called vicious, it increases public fear, and thugs want them even more. When will people actually learn about the real affects of BSL? What appears good on the surface, to someone that doesn't thoroughly understand BSL, actually causes more issues. The rule should apply to all breeds; not just a breed type that can be anything with short hair, a block head, and an athletic build. Dumb 'feel good' laws that have been proven ineffective and actually have a negative affect. No one sat down and explained this to the lawmakers?

I own a pit bull and I'm fully aware of her potential to other people, animals and my child and proper precautions (that i feel should be taken for any dog) are taken. Yes I am more careful with her then I would be a lab because yes if she bites, death or maiming will most likely occur. Alas there is the difference between a responsible owner and the owner that allows a dog capable of what they are capable to run around freely. Unfortunately for the breed, the irresponsible owners are running rampant while the rest are left with the aftermath. I will own another pit bull, but not with more children, mine was gotten before my child and I wasn't about to abandon her to a shelter.

I own a pit , which we rescued from a shelter, and she is the most lovable and devoted dog that you could have. I trust this pit with my 6 and 9 year old completely. Pit bulls are not born dangerous. They learn to be vicious when HUMANS beat them, fight them, starve them, and most of all neglect them. If you did the same treatment to any other bread they would act in the same manner, become vicious and weary of humans. Pits get a bad rap because of all the publicity. You only hear about those attacks and not the others that occur everyday. If I were to ever get another dog it would be a pit before I would own any other bread, especially a German Sheppard any day.

The family I live with adopted a pit bull, which I was scared to death of for the first week... (Pug obsessed lover here) and I really dislike large dogs. But after I awhile, I found out she was the most useless, derpy dog ever. All she does is run around the yard and play 24/7. Play play play play play play play. Rub my belly. Play playplayplayplay. I've grown to really like pit bulls because they're so pretty and nice.

I own a pit, and I'll definitely own more. I have two other dogs (which i love to death), but by far the pit is the best behaved and the best "protector" I could ask for. People can be ignorant towards the breed, my Beast will just keep proving them wrong.

BSL DOES NOT WORK! All you German shepherd, lab, chow, etc owners.....if your dog bites someone...no problem. ANY breed can do harm to someone. Wake up!
UGH! Stupidity is alive and well in Maryland!

NOT fair at all, sorry....PEOPLE are to blame....I've owned pit bulls, and have friends who have them, and they are one of the most loving breeds I've ever met. The problem is when they are not raised right and are owned by people who probably have no business being dog owners in the first place.
"According to testing by The National Canine Temperament Testing Association, the Golden Retriever, Poodle, Border Collie, English Setter, and numerous other breeds are considered more likely to become aggressive than the breeds commonly referred to as Pit Bulls. While the average score of the 231 breeds tested was a mere 82.4 percent, Pit Bulls scored a 86.5 percent (the higher the score the better)."
Ignorant move, Maryland.

Punish the deed, not the breed. The owners of any animal or child should be held responsible for their actions. Animals learn from their masters. I've had animals for 50 years, I know....

And raised six children....

The main predictors of dog attacks are:

1. Unfixed males (especially when there are females in heat).
2. Groups of unsecured dogs.
3. Dogs that are confined or tethered.

Add to that the fact that most people can't reliably identify a pit bull.
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

Hell, even the Baltimore Sun regularly misidentifies dogs as pit bulls and rarely prints a retraction when it's shown to be a mistake.

I know more people attacked by chihuahuas, cockers, shih zus, and other little dogs than pits, labs, and all the other big dogs. Owners are definitely to blame and the owners of the little dogs never receive any punishment...

That's such bullshit. Why don't they let someone who knows what they are talking about make a ruling. Work with dogs 40 hours a week and alot of the time with pit bulls who happen to be some of the sweetest dogs around. Been but by a boxer, German shepherd, and Boston terrier, all of which you see everyday with no problem.

Stupid ignorant people...jane clark and phil dirt, you have been given the honor of having your names added to that list.

STOP ABUSING ANIMALS AND THEY WILL STOP BITING AND MAULING. IF YOU ABUSE YOU ANIMAL AND THEN THEY GO TO SPCA OR ASPCA THEY COULD ONE DAY GO OFF BUT AGAIN PEOPLE DO NOT ABUSE YOUR ANIMALS RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH BEFORE BUYING AND DO MORE RESEARCH ONCE YOU GET YOUR ANIMAL. PEOPLE ALWAYS MISTAKE OUR DOGS FOR WOLVES BUT CLEARLY PEOPLE DO NOT DRIVE AROUND WITH WOLVES IN THEIR CAR BUT CLEARLY STUPID PEOPLE CAN WALK AROUND ALL DAY MAYBE THEY SHOULD JUST NOT BE ABLE TO ADOPT OR BUY ANIMALS

http://rayyathevet.com/2011/09/05/the-anti-pitbull-breedist-legislation/

This journal is written by a vet and provides interesting perspective on this issue.

So you say Pit Bulls usually bite with intent to kill...no other dog has done that, right? My mother & boyfriend own a Chow. It has been spoiled rotten all 13 years of her life, it has been around people all of her life...however she tries to bite every person (besides my mother & her boyfriend) that she comes in contact with. My sister can't even trust her kids over there because the dog can not be trusted. She HAS bitten one of my sisters kids & if no one was there to stop her, do you think she would have stop herself...DOUBT IT! So what does that say to me? That it is not just Pit Bulls that have this problem. I have seen a Doberman attack someone & they don't just leave little puncture wounds...same goes for Cocker Spaniels, or any other dog! I've been bit by a German Shepard & I can tell you this, she had my entire leg in her mouth & locked down on it, do you think she was just trying to give me a small punture wound? So I don't want to hear about the BS & how Pit Bulls have the intent to kill or that they can snap & they should all be put down. Do you think a woman that has been bruised & battered or raped & beaten should be put down also...or do you think she should find someone that can love her for a lifetime? Get real people...look at your history on Pit Bulls before you claim to know anything about them. And if you don't...then pipe down until you do.

Quoted from the American Human Association website...http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/dog-bites.html

Breed-specific legislation (BSL)

-In response to these statistics, many communities have enacted breed-specific legislation (BSL) that prohibits ownership of certain breeds, such as pit bulls, Rottweilers and others.
-Any breed of dog can bite, and research suggests BSL does little to protect the community from dog-bite incidents.
-In fact, BSL can often have unintended consequences -- such as black-market interest and indiscriminant breeding practices -- resulting in subsequent breed overpopulation that leads to increases in the number of homeless, stray and euthanized dogs.
-Enforcement of BSL has been shown to be very costly and extremely difficult to enforce. One county in Maryland spent more than $560,000 maintaining pit bulls (not including payroll, cross-agency costs and utilities), while fees generated only $35,000.5
-Responsible breeding and ownership, public education and enforcement of existing laws are the most effective ways of reducing dog bites.
-American Humane supports local legislation to protect communities from dangerous animals, but does not advocate laws that target specific breeds of dogs.

More from them...

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/breed-specific-legislation.html (more info on this page and references cited)

"While supporters of BSL argue that the only way to be safe from dog bites is to eradicate “dangerous breeds” from the community, there is little evidence that supports BSL as an effective means of reducing dog bites and dog attacks. On the contrary, studies have shown that it is not the breeds themselves that are dangerous, but unfavorable situations that are creating dangerous dogs. Often, the very research that some cite as “support” for BSL actually argues for alternative, more effective means."

And Pitbulls were not originally bred for fighting dogs. They were bred to be nannies in England to watch over small children. My pit follows my children everywhere with nothing but love in her eyes n heart n sleeps snuggled up with our 4 year old daughter everynight.

The only safe pet is a goldfish, or maybe a pet rock!

Laura M -- best to stick with Goldfish then! ;)

My family and I have owned many dogs over my lifetime. Everything from Beagles to Labs to Chihuahuas and YES even a Pitbull. Our current dog, Molly-a most lovable and friendly Pitbull is by far one of the best natured dogs I have ever seen. She is more like a giant lap dog. Her vet even went so far as to call her a "pitiful-bull" because she isn't aggressive in the least. On the other hand, my wonderful Lab that passed away a few years ago turned extremely vicious over the last few years of her life. If you didn't live in the house, she wouldn't tolerate you being in the house. For everyone's safety, she would go to the bedroom or the kennel when company came. We don't know why she changed, there was no significant trauma that precipitated it. Up until then, she was a very sweet dog and even a little shy.
It isn't the dog breed that is bad--it is how the dog is raised. If you raise a dog to react aggressively, then you are going to have an aggressive dog. Duh! It can happen in any breed.

The problem isnt it the pitbulls agression. All dogs can bite and other breeds have killed humans in the past. Its the pitbulls raw power that becomes an issue in the attack. The jaw stength and the natural need to twist and pull is wear this dog gets seperated from most other breeds. I have no problems with pitbulls at all, I just have a problem with stupid dog owners.

I can guarantee with 99.9% certainty that any time there's a report of a dog attack, you will see the sentence "The owner was cited for failing to license and vaccinate their dog." Almost guaranteed they're unfixed males too.

There's a pdf list linked to this article from the CDC. It pertains to human fatalities from dog attack. There are more pit bulls today by percent than there were then and by far; hands down responsible for more deaths than any other breed by more than double the amount - sorry no labs or the nasty Cocker Spaniels mentioned above managed to kill anyone..no surprise Rottweilers were 2nd. If you think your dog is so safe you shouldn't be concerned about the extra liability. Live with it; you want to house a pit bull expect big financial losses if it bites somebody.

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/dogbite-factsheet.html

There is a reason animal experts tell potential dog owners to research the breed they are considering. There are behaviors that are more characteristic of certain breeds. Sure, there are exceptions to every rule, but there is no way I'd let a Pit in my home, around my family.

Pit Bulls will kill horses and livestock! What other dog breed will do that? Dogs verities are like shark varieties. Yes all sharks can bite you, but would you rather be bitten by a lemon shark or a Great White? Pit Bulls are bad, oh and Rottweilers! I was bitten by a Rottweiler because the girl holding the leash weighed less then the dog and couldn't hold the beast. Get a Lab and be done with all this BS.

This is not rocket science. Unfortunately the pit bull has been selectively bred toward attack behavior by breeders for the purpose of fighting. Aggression is not unlike any other trait in dogs. If you continue to breed the spotted variety of a breed with the spotted variety eventually the breed becomes spotted! The attack response is triggered by other dogs and toddler aged children who approximate the height of a dog. Parents: check the stats on dog attacks on children and be informed.
This ruling is the best thing for the pit bull. A decline in ownerships and breeding will allow for better enforcement of dog fighting laws. Hopefully in time the natural balance of tendancies will re-emerge in this dog.

It is absolutly fair for the court to designate pit bulls as inherently dangerous because they are. There is no denying that this breed has been historically bred to be aggressive. That fact coupled with the unique physiology of their jaws and the "steel trap"bite that they possess makes them dangerous. I don't know how people can't see this? Of course being well trained and having a caring owner certainly makes a huge difference, but even with the best owner this breed is more dangerous than many others because of the way it attacks and the physical make up of their jaws. All dogs are potentially dangerous, and I think owers of all breeds should have a greater liability in the case of dog attacks! That being said the pit bulls physiology and breed history make them the most dangerous.

There were 31 fatalities resulting from attacks by dogs in 2011. 22 of the deaths resulted from attacks by pit bull or pit bull type dogs (71 per cent). Pit bulls only account for 5 per cent of the dog population.

Whoever agrees on this, you are complete idiots and need to do research. This is pathetic. People are so ignorant.

Pit bulls are no worse than thrie owners. Any dog with teeth is capable of biting. We have a pit. She was raised with my grandson and is a wonderful, loving pet. The most she does to him is lick him to death. I would have another pit in a heartbeat. I have had other breeds that I would not trust with a child. Pits were raised to be nanny dogs and look after and protect children. It's the money grubber dog fighters that gave pits a bad name.

Most of you people probably have never had the pleasure of being near a pit...most of you are going on things youve seen or heard on the news. Well guess what, the media can twist anything to turn it into an "appealing" story, so idiots like you can sit there and take it all in and dwell on it because you have nothing better to do with yout sorry lives. I know many pitbull owners and theyre pits are the sweetest dogs in the world...in fact their pits are 50 times sweeter than my german shepard. Its really terrible that this breed gets such a bad name because of narrow minded individuals like yourselves.

Just look at the numbers in shelters - 95% are pit bull or pit bull mixes. It's ashamed that the irresponsible thugs that parade their pitbulls and let them roam our roads are the people that need to be charged with these offenses. How many more children need to be maimed and scarred by these animals.

I have been raised around dogs all my life,I have also been bitten twice by a family members dogs(a cocker spaniel and a poodle). Growing up we always had shepherds, with my family now we have labs. I have nothing against pitts,they are not my dog of choice.I totally agree owners make dogs mean and any breed can have the potential to be mean.most of the people that are against the ruling feel this way because they have pits and their dogs are great with their children and friends,but like with ANY dog, they may not be that loving and friendly with people they don't know.Everybody can argue this for the next 100 years, but in reality ALL owners should be held responsible for their pets actions.Everybody has their own opinion.I have always had big dogs and would not own a little dog.I trust a big dog more then I do a little dog.(chihuahuas,poodles,poms shitz zhu etc....). Once before Rotts and Dobies were under fire also, I have friends who have them and they are great to me because they knew me...but I have seen them act like they wanted to eat someone who they didn't know.
Maybe there is a way to regulate who owns pitts so as not to allow the dogs to be used for status, fighting , or attack dogs....sounds crazy, but anything is possible.

"My kids are around pit bulls every day. In the '70s they blamed Dobermans, in the '80s they blamed German Shepherds, in the '90s they blamed Rottweilers. Now they blame the Pit Bull."
- Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer)

Also, Basset Hounds have a worse temperament ..
http://atts.org/breed-statistics/statistics-page1/

"No evidence that pit bulls are more likely to bite"

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-pit-bulls-spca-letter-20120430,0,3703295.story

Honestly it amazes me that once again another breed has been targeted. I grew up with Dobermans during the time when they were labeled the most dangerous dog. Every breed in uneducated hands can be dangerous! Any dog can be trained to be aggressive, just look at Schutzland training. Breeds generally used for Schutzland... Dobermans, Giant Schnauzers, Rotties, Belgian Sheep dogs and Laekenois, and these breeds are generally used in police work. Why? Because the above breeds can be very aggressive when trained to do so and generally respond to their trainers only. If people actually took the time to research the vast amount of breeds and what they are capable of due to what they were originally bred for, many wouldn't own dogs. I personally own two rare breeds. The Xoloitzcuintli and the American Hairless Terrier. Neither which is suited for the average home. Xolo's are used to guard government buildings in Mexico and sadly also used by the Mexican drug Cartel. They are a breed that in the wrong hands could be dangerous. The only danger one would face with mine is if you threatened my son or myself. My American hairless terrier is a small dog that is feisty and built like a mini pit. Again he is only a threat if you threaten me.

I would also like to point out that while yes the CDC's statistics are troubling they are also quite skewed. There are many cases that a Pit is credited with an attack when in fact it was one of the many breeds that look like a Pit. Fact is that Pits are terriers and terriers in general are not for the average pet owner. People just don't want to do their homework and want what is popular. Just ask the many people who rushed out to get the Kerry Blue terrier after it won Westminister. Many of which dumped their Kerry Blues real quick for the same reason people are attacking Pit Bulls for. There is a reason you don't see Airedales, Kerry Blues and Irish terriers in the average pet home, because the average pet owner has no clue how to deal with the terrier personality. Go to a dog show and see the large terriers show one time and you would be amazed. Take the time to talk to people's who have spent their lives training and living with dogs and ask them what breeds they fear. I bet you you would be surprised! Just as surprised as if you heard about the many mailings and killing of people and other dogs by breeds such as the Malamutes. Unfortunately they don't create the media sensation that Pits do.

Heck go to a rare breed show and see some of the breeds that I FEAR will eventually catch on with the trash that have helped perpetuate the Pit Bull rep. Breeds such as the Tosha and Filas... Because if they ever catch on with the scum bags who seem to favor the Pits, you may just start singing a whole new tune.

Unbelieveable, It just so happens, the pit breed is the flavor of the month. Remember the doberman, the german shepherd,rotwieller,chow. It's not the breed, it's the thug element which train these dogs to fight so they can earn a little dough to buy new rims for their cars. After viewing some of the ignorant posts, it's a sad statement on the intelligence of some of these people. Never under estimate the stupidity and ignorance of the general public. Sheeeez!

People who are against this law seem to not understand the law. The law will not affect responsible owner’s one iota. The law only makes it easier for people who have been attacked by a pit bull easier to get a judgment against the defendant to help pay the medical bills after their child’s face was ripped off.

How in the world is anyone against this? Kris and others keep saying how great their pits are… So why in the world do you care about this law????? It does not change your life, right???? Your dogs are safe??? How does it affect you??? Answers please????

By this logic then we should look at the number of violent crimes in the US and find out what race commits them and make it easier to get a judgement against that race.

I think the upsetting thing is how ignorant this decision is, Not only will anyone within the city limits who resides in an apartment have to give up their loyal pet, because any landlord with half of a brain will be forced to make a decision so as to limit their liability. This will mean the dog shelters will be overrun with pits. This is just an attempt to outlaw pitbull (or any mixed breed) ownership in the city outright their are many breeds of dog that if mistreated would be considered dangerous. LAME!

In recent years, the dogs responsible for the bulk of the homicides are pit bulls and Rottweilers:

"Studies indicate that pit bull-type dogs were involved in approximately a third of human DBRF (i.e., dog bite related fatalities) reported during the 12-year period from 1981 through1992, and Rottweilers were responsible for about half of human DBRF reported during the 4 years from 1993 through 1996....[T]he data indicate that Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67% of human DBRF in the United States between 1997 and 1998. It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60% of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities." (Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, Golab GC, Lockwood R. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. JAVMA 2000;217:836-840.) 

The Clifton study of attacks from 1982 through 2006 produced similar results. According to Clifton study, pit bulls, Rottweilers, Presa Canarios and their mixes were responsible for 65% of the canine homicides that occurred during a period of 24 years in the USA. (Clifton, Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada, September 1982 to November 13, 2006; click here to read it.)

Not talking about dog bites here, but attacks resulting in death or maiming. it would appear that certain breeds/breed crosses are responsible for a disproportionate number of these attacks.

PMM49, You can throw around all the statistics you want, I'm sure I can find other statistics to contradict yours. Bottom line is you can't pass breed specific legislation, it is narrow minded and ignorant.

The point is given the statistical evidence of the increased danger of injury in pit bull and pit bull cross attacks (I'd throw Rotties in the mix if I had the power); owners of these breeds need to have additional legal responsibility if something should occur. If you feel your dog is so safe; then why would you care what the court decides? It's clear the blame sometimes rests with the types of people drawn to pit bull type pets; they're less responsible overall or we wouldn't have 90% of the abandoned shelter dogs being pit bulls. Somewhere between the typically crappy owners, inherent behavioral tendency of the dog and it's ability to inflict great bodily injury we have a chronic problem. If the court sees fit to address the problem by forwarding the idea that owners who choose this breed have to assume additional responsibilities so be it. Frankly, I think homeowners policies ought to identify who owns these animals and make them pay additional premiums. We ought to address the issue by enforcing a series of disincentives towards ownership to reduce the numbers of these dogs. It's no coincidence almost every shelter in this country has more pit bulls than any other breed and by a enormous margin.

The problem is at the other end of the leash!

I own a pit bull and a higher level of responsibility definitely comes with the territory of owning one. I always keep my dog on a leash - not because I think he would ever attack another dog or human, but if another dog attacked him, it would suddenly turn into another "vicious pit bull attack" story. Pit bulls consistently score higher on the American Temperment Test than collies, cocker spaniels, chuhuahuas and other breeds that aren't discriminated against by the media and BSL. http://atts.org/breed-statistics/

Statistics? Even if they were carefully analysed (and I think they were NOT in this case), that's not the basis for fair laws people... the law is assuming something that may be FALSE for expediency. The judge says, that if the dog has any bull terrier in it, then it's assumed that he's a dangerous dog for legal purposes. There is a presumption of guilt for all owners of these dogs. My friend who has a sweet little puppy that loves cheese puffs is now in a position where his pet is assumed to be aggressive and dangerous by the law... that's not truth and justice, it's literally prejudice, and it's wrong to encode that into the legal system.

As for the wannabe statisticians, you are making false "facts" here. We may as well list the cars most likely to be used in a bank robbery, then increase the liability for apartment buildings that allow those cars and in court cases, assume that the drivers use them the steal. Let's put out a warning to all the Chevy owners (and people who have cars with Chevy parts), and let's avoid these thieves and stop them from stealing from us!!!

It's an uninformed and ultimately ineffective law, and it's not even a law! This is just one judge who's taken it upon himself to institute a sketchy new legal rule that we will all have to live with... cowardice, bad science, and prejudice strike again.

My best friend's son had a pit-bull. He had to move back with his family when his wife gave birth to a lovely baby girl. They all agreed to keep the dog, and train her ad care for her. She was one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met. Eventualy their daughter learned to walk holding herself up on the dog. I even brought my Siberian Husky over for a few play dates and they got along wonderfully

I have an amstaff (american staffordshire terrier) and by what people have said to me about my dog, it's obvious most people don't even know what a true pitbull is. If you classify the ruling as "pitbull like" dogs, who is going to pay for the DNA testing to determine which ones are truly pits.

ALL ER, UH, KINDA, SORTA, KINDA LIKE, MAYBE, PITBULL OWNERS UNITE!

any dog can be dangerous.it is no dogs nature unless you choose it to be dangerous.the most loving pits are those that have fought and been rescued.so they like humans know and understand the difference between love and hate

I'm so glad I could get this epic discussion started :)

I should get paid by this site.

For the many of you who think this law is so great and statistics about pit bull attack are spot on please look at the following links...
http://aspcabehavior.org/articles/193/The-Truth-About-Pit-Bulls.aspx
http://www.wellfur.com/2011/08/18/5-problems-with-breed-specific-legislation-bsl/
And here are some videos of Schutzland training (the same training police use). I bet if you saw these dogs on the street you would swear they are "pit bulls" Surprise they are not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQPX8f50E0s&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mIYFCvJ_cI&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMN10X8nqv8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

All of these dogs are used in guard work and foreign police work

It is amazing how no one ever hears positive stories about pits so I figures I would provide some.
http://www.ohmidog.com/2011/03/30/therapits-pit-bulls-as-therapy-dogs/
The dog featured here was one of the pits that came from Micheal Vick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmBqn9njo_0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular/pitbull-saves-strangers-love-a-bull-video.html
http://main.aol.com/2011/10/25/pit-bull-saves-woman-brain-aneurysm-_n_1032667.html?ref=mostpopular
http://www.wtae.com/Fire-Victim-Credits-Pet-Pit-Bull-For-Saving-Life/-/9681798/12281804/-/1trp29/-/index.html
Amazing that for the most part we never hear about these stories.

Now I'm confused? How many Kris' are there?? And I don't think you can just redact a comment like that. You also cannot triple stamp a double stamp.

The two posting various links were from me. I have no clue where the one about the Cat came from

Never really understood why anybody would want a scary looking ugly dog. Of all the breeds, mutts and the like out there needing homes something odd about a person that has to have this tough guy status dog. Grew up with dogs, have always had my own, now have two rescued dogs, my sister showed dogs and I can name nearly every breed by site. Not fooled by all these claims of gentle dogs...last time I took my dogs to Rebel Dog Park a lady showed up with two dogs - one pit, one mutt. Her pit had been in the enclosure no more than 30 seconds before it lit into somebody else's animal. It grabbed and shook - and that's the problem in a nutshell. They can do tremendous damage quickly because of the physical ability and fighting style. I won't take my dogs to the park when there's a pit bull lose and if one arrives, I leave. They can't be trusted...don't really care if it's nature or nurture; those dogs are not predictable.

The backlash to the Maryland Court of Appeals decision by pit bull advocates are from either people who didn't read the decision or those who did, but cannot understand the following language by the Court on page 22: "Our opinion in the present case does not ban pit bulls, but puts a greater responsibility for vicious dogs where pit bull advocates have long argued it should be - with the owners and others who have the power of control over such dogs. Our opinion imposes greater duties by reducing the standards necessary to hold owners and others liable for the attacks of their pit bulls." (See full ruling: http://bit.ly/IE9zOv). Unfortunately, too many in the "humane" business have failed to turn their attention on the real problem that allows the proliferation of ill-bred pit bulls, many of which end up being maulers: unrestrained pit bull breeders. High courts recognize that human victims of these injuious maulings must have a way to be compensated after a brutal attack. The dismal failure of "humane" and rescue groups -- both of which have had over 25 years to find a solution to the pit bull problem -- is now going to be exacerbated (more unwanted pit bulls winding up in shelters) due to this ruling. You have your own mismanagement of 25+ years to blame. Finally, due to "humane" groups failing to be honest about this breed's inherent dangerousness, high courts have made this declaration themselves.

Tony Solesky
Dominic's Dad

pictures of Dominic's injuries please don't call this mauling a dog bite

www.dangerousbydefault.net

Joe...im sorry that happened to you, however pitbulls were bread for animal aggression, not human aggression. Like I said you cant blame the dogs for what hhumans have done. Any dog can be aggresive...depends on how it is traind and raised, dingo.

Abe please post a copy of the breed neutral bill/law that you and your group are pushing for. I would like to read it.

Anyone who knows anything about dogs knows this ruling is fair and just.

It is one thing to be against this ruling, it is another entirely to be against it and not understand it or what the implications are or are not. First to DNA, how does anyone on here know the dog they are defending is a PIT BULL? You do it by appearance you do not have or know one person or likely have met one person that has papers for their dog and also a DNA test to prove it. It is very easy for a remotely qualified vet to tell you what the dog is. It is how all breeders have done it forever and will continue. It is ironically you know and defend your dog, so please stop it. It is not animal racism or profiling it is breed identification. Until then Obama and Tiger Woods will be black by identity.

Inherently is even easier to understand. With people also but in this example a K-9 they are the result of assembling k-9 material in such a way to produce an Identity. In this instance Pit Bull class. Just like european class people. As with a Golden Retriever who is K-9 material, it is assembled with material that is primarily retrieving class material and as such does not have a heredity that is dangerous. Pit Bulls are assembled with fighting material and since fighting is a dangerous activity they are inherently dangerous. All the law does is respond to Pit Bull owners who want to get the bad owners off the breed to stop ruining it’s reputation. To do that they said these dogs are inherently dangerous and therefore if you use an inherently dangerous material in a bad way you can now be completely liable.

IF accontability like that causes people to second guess themselves and givwe up their dogs. That is where the dogs should be in the shelter not with these owners. If you rent then your not ready for this type dog just like I can't have a horse because the county won't let me in my Towson row home.

Tony, first let me say that my heart goes out to you and Dominic. As a mother my self, if it had been my child the owner of the dog may not be walking this earth. My issue with this law is how breed specific it is. Any one who decided to have a pet should do their homework and no matter what the breed should be held liable for their dogs. What I see wrong with this law is suppose someone has a "Pit Bull" and someone breaks into their home and the dog attacks. Then the robber sues for the attack. Is the dog and owner going to be punished for that? There have been numerous cases where someone who has broken into a house and been shot by the owner turns around and sues the person who pulled the trigger.

The dog was doing its job of protecting the home. The law is way to vague and offers no variances for situations like that. As for the statement that no one really has papers on their Pit... That is simply not true. There is a parent kennel club known as the American Pit Bull association and both the United Kennel Club and American Rare Breed association both recognize and sponsor shows for these dogs. The American Kennel Club is looking into allowing the APB as foundation stock which is the first step into AKC recognition. Those who go through this process have worked hard to breed the best and most sound dogs possible. Spaying and neutering any dog that does not fit to what the standards of the breed are.

Unfortunately many people get this breed and have really had no experience with Terrier dogs in general. Any breed of Terrier is not for the average pet owner. They are stubborn and tenacious. I have been around dogs all my life. I have trained and shown many breeds of terriers. I don't own a pit nor have I ever. I grew up with Dobermans during a time when they were considered the big bad. My parents were threatened with losing their insurance policy because they owned Dobermans. It saddens me that I know truly amazing APB that are therapy dogs that will be punished at this for no fault of their own, because this is the first step to breed banning. As I have said before there are many breeds that in the wrong hands that are capable of a lot. Breeds that I personally would never in a million years considering owning because of their raw power. Breeds that may eventually take the place of "pits" .

People need to educate themselves before they ever consider getting a dog. I see way too many people with breeds that they really have no business owning in the first place, be it a APT, a Border Collie or Sheltie. Each and every dog was bred for a purpose and that purpose is instinct. Dogs are not a fashion statement and they are not a status of machoness. They are animals that need the right person to understand why they were originally put on this earth in the first place. Lastly I will say to everyone who says my dog is wonderful and I leave my kids alone with it. Dogs are not human... They do not think like us. At any point a dogs natural instinct can be triggered and it is a recipe for disaster REGARDLESS OF THE BREED. I cant tell you how many times I have heard my Sheltie started biting my child, ect and I need to get rid of it. Me being the person that I am will look at them and say and why do you think that it. The answer is simple... You got a dog that was cute and fluffy and didn't bother to think that oh this breed was bred to heard. Since it doesn't have a natural outlet for his instinct it uses your child. Education is the key. If you don't bother with it then you deserve to have the book thrown at you because you have a dog you didn't understand.

Kris, Many people get dogs because they think they are "cute" without understanding how to take care of them. When I grew up I lived on a farm.I had at least 5 dogs at a time. Never had any problems with them as I trained them to be obedient.Gave them lots of love.People have dogs in areas where they shouldn't be.
Some get dogs that need large areas to roam and put them in apartments. I did raise Great Danes and friends would want one of the puppies.If one came to get a puppy I made sure they had the space for them to run or it didn't happen. The male tipped the scales at 225 lbs so it was a possibility that his puppies could also get that big.I now have a minature Schnauzer and ( as a puppy ) was really aggressive...to my shoes.Just like anything else he was taught not to sneak behind my back and chew up everything.If an animal understands what is expected out of him he will respond accordingly.Of course some are a little more stubborn and want to get that "last" shoe. If an animal is taught to be aggressive and thinks it is his role in life, they will attack without any regard to the damage they might inflict. I live next to a friend who has a Pit Bull. He attacks me everything I see him.let me clarify that, he attacks me with kisses.I think his tail will fall of from the way he wags it. It's all in the way the animal is raised.

I think if raised to be aggressive yes they posed the biggest threat to society. You don't really hear too much about beagles attacking other dogs or kids etc. But if raised the right way I think you could have a good pet. For some reason these pets seem to be a favorite of inner cities. Maybe it is for protection purposes I don't know. So I think it is up to the owner to make sure they are raised properly.

This is not about aggressive behavior or untrained dogs, they choose words carefully at the highest court level. Those against the law must fight it in its context not yours if you want it overturned.
Bites normally are litigated by proving the owner is irresponsible and that lead to the aforementioned bad behavior. This is about understanding that a k-9 in material like steel is material. It is saying that if you shape that steel material into a gun it will be inherently dangerous. That that gun exposed to the norms of everyday life with its good, its bad, and its inexplicable elements will cause the most damage all else equal. This means if we left every dog owner as they are, good, bad and ugly and we gave them all Pit Bulls the death rate would increase per bite incident as it would go down if they all had poodles for a year. This is the same as the death rate would go up if we drove motorcycles for a year.
If a Pit Bull mauls someone it still has to be litigated it just is that you don’t have to prove that a dangerous material was involved to make your case. You still I/we still have to go back to court in our Towson case I have won no award or settlement yet. Read the opinion and understand you can’t change a word to mean what you want.

Find out how the court's decision could impact dog parks in Baltimore County: Pit Bull Decision May Affect County Dog Parks - http://patch.com/B-MYs

The backlash is the sad part where people have mismanged the breeders by letting them breed unrestrained creating living beings for profit. They wind upin the shelters where empathy debilates logic. It cause those closest to it to be Like I love Lucy working in the candy conveyerbelt. The shelter people need to focus on the supplier not the end user. Read the last chapter of my book PET PROJECT www.dangerousbydefault.net I love dogs I am not the enemy either is the opinion.

As I was in 2007 then, I am still as perplexed now by how a dog mauling victims compensation rights issue has anything to do with a referendum on dog owners rights. Accountability is a fundamental to any public safety plan. Training, Equipment and compensation. Anytime one component is proper in this case "compensation component" and it affects one or both of the other two, the burden is on that component. Swimming pools are dangerous therefore they must be fenced. This component is to declare a gun dangerous or a particular dog breed inherently dangerous ( inherent -which is what the word breed means BTW). This reveals the horrible mismanagement of Animal Control agencies around the nation and ours in Baltimore County is no exception. This window blind is dangerous and now I won’t be able to have blinds on the window arguement, is as obserade of a response, as the responses have been to this ruling. You Don’t need to read the whole ruling, Read page 22 footnote 21 and then you will know why the park is fenced and you have to have a leash and maybe just maybe for certain some breeds are more dangerous then others. Take down the fence and remove the leash-law because having to use one makes me look like I have a untrained dog. That difference is my son was mauled not bitten. See photos for yourself www.dangerousbydefault.net

While you are at it go to the free e-book and read the last chapter. I offered a solution that works in other venues. last chapter PET PROJECT
www.dangerousbydefault.net

Tony, Many instances of people being mauled can be put on the owners. If the dogs are properly taken care of and always on a leash there would be no injuries.All owners of dogs have the responsibility of protecting the public.No person should be in the position of having to protect themselves from an unrestrained animal regardless of the breed.This should be a wakeup call to all dog owners that they can personally be obligated for any injuries from their pets.Pit Bulls can be wonderful pets but ONLY should be owned by responsible owners.Only walked when the people have the ability to restrain them.The law was put in effect because some of the dogs are used as a status symbol for protection and taught to challenge any person near them. Unfortunately it could be a child . The training starts with the owner.

Interesting watch the physicality of this dog. It's not just the fact that it seems to be intent on getting this "thing" which can be true of terriers as well, but the size and strength of this grip to go minutes suspended by a rope thrashing back and forth much like an alligator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B0UsqWaSSE&feature=related

Karl, My point is that the dogs should not be walked by someone who can't control them. This happens all too often or the dogs are not properly contained.The dog has the abilty to do tremendous harm and their owners can't take it lightly. I walked Great Danes who weighed up to 225Lbs and have the ability to really pull you if they want to. They were trained not to.The dogs who do the damage were kept by people who shouldn't of had them in the first place.Unfortunately ,these very people put the public in danger. Besides getting hefty fines they should get jail time.After that not being able to own a dog.

This is so stupid. Years ago my family lived next door to a woman that owned a boxer.......his name was Lance. This dog attacted his family members with the blessing of his owner......several times I witnessed family memers being attached by this dog.......the womans husband would hide in the basement stairwell, because the woman was mad at him and had the dog attach him.........on one occasion I saw the daugher try to leave the yard and the dog attached her to the point of tearing off her coat in the dead of winter..........it all comes down to how the animal is raised and treated....pretty much like humans...........this is total BS if you ask me.....WAY too many people claiming it's the animals fault when it's nothing more than greedy people trying to make a buck on a poor animails misery..........YES.....owners need to be held accounatable for the actions of their pets.......but ALL amimals must be invluded...........as well as ALL breeds......all can be trained to kill...not just pit bulls.......I find it appaling that they are targeting this breed because of some REALLY bad people taking advantanage.........especially....when several people have reported their pets missing from their yards only to find their pets have been, starved and forced into this behavior......TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE from all concerned!

BLACK PEOPLE BEWARNED!!!

First it's BSL then RSL (race specific legiation). They saw the shelters are full of pits so they must be a problem with the breed. Well look around the jails, mostly black. A problem with the race? NO a problem with the laws and how they r enforced. Watch that this doesnt turn into Nazi Germany, and we start rounding up blacks for the gas chamber because some black individual killed someone. Or some Chinese guy kills someone. Write your congressmen and ask for a repeal of these ridiculous laws before whole races are rounded up and put on a train to Auschwitz to be put to death because one member of a race commits a crime. Be warned and support the Baltimore no kill shelters.

John Dough You better stop right now with comparing animals and humans. If you watch the hearing on the web in the highest court in Maryland Jan 9 2012 they do not repeat do not allow and in fact as me despise the comparision. I dont like and they most certainly dont like people elevating their pets to human stature. In my book I talk about this as the single biggest problem. They arre dogs and not children period. Thank God the court saw this if nothing else

You don’t elevate your point or your dog by comparing it to humans and racial profiling in the eyes of the court. What you do,
Is show them where the train left the track. It is called anthropomorphosis. You don’t breed humans, leash them, sell them, own or master them and you don’t have a biting and mauling problem with humans, These are traits and behaviors decidedly inhuman and yes it is the biggest part of what is wrong with what people think is the correct way to treat an animal. Just do what you do with kids right. The road to good intentions is as big a part of the problem as cruelty to animals. Anything that needs that to be suitable is not human. Dogs are mans best friend and when you treat them for what they are you have the best of both worlds

It's all about how Pitbulls are raised, I have met some very nice ones so it really depends!

All dogs are what they are by heredity, that is what breed means. Forget vicious they are fighting dogs and as such have a shape size and mental make up created to be best used for fighting to the death. A gun is inherently dangerous. You cannot train away a dogs heredity if you have a beagle he will wnat to hunt you can control weather or not you let him out to hunt but you can't remove his hunt. Pit Bulls where never breed even to be family pets anyone that tells you different does not know why you have only really seen them for the last 35 years. That happened because some caring people in animal rescue for years would recover dogs from all kinds of situations including house fires and Police raids. When criminals started using these fighting dogs for gaurd work many were and still are captured in raids. So where did they take them where they always have to the rescue and animal shelter? And what did these loving non expert people assume. They assumed it was or had been breed or has any history as a pet. They do not Nanny dog is a myth they are banned in England. they where never ever breed to be pets. I will go to any rescue and openly debate anyone or on TV and radio to tell you this is happening because those of you who support Pit Bulls are deadly wrong and many of you are just so damn safe that just like a gun in a safe your pit will never harm. Females are 70% less likely to be vicious among all dog breeds. Females as with most all dogs are to carry the Genes.

She dedicated her life to dogs and animal rescue. No bad owner here. She is the best example of everything that those that promote dangerous dogs advocate for and her dogs did exactly what they where bred to do. Reality (-) Preception (=) Fate
No matter what her heart was in the right place and she was a good human being trying to do what she thought was right. I feel so sorry for her poor parents and loved ones. If you are reading this you still have a chance to do something about this. http://www.newsday.com/news/woman-who-rescued-animals-is-killed-in-dog-attack-1.3910890

I own a pitbull, she is a very gentle, intelligent, life loving family pet, she would never bite any family member for 2 reasons, she has been loved and the family doesn't do anything that might provoke her, you can teach any breed to be aggressive, however like any other dog she will protect her territory, that's just in their nature whenever someone comes over that I'm afraid she might bite, I simply remove the threat, I put her in the kennel, age shouldn't and wouldn't play a factor in her biting someone, if you come in my house uninvited you deserve what you got coming from her, bottom line is to be responsible, love your pet and keep her and the loved ones around you outta harms way by treating them right and educating the other people and family members, all dogs have different temperments, learn yours and treat it appropriately.
Phil

Phil, that is the difference between inhernetly dangerous and responsible ownership
one does not imply that the other can't be done safely and responsibly. It simply means that because of the inherent make up of the dog you must do the things that you do or suely left to its own devices it will pose a substantial danger. That said not all dogs are inherently dangerous and not all can be made agressive. In fact their are many more breeds of dogs that will become more timid with aggressive training that is also by heredity.

I was at a cookout over my friend's house this past weekend, she has a pit. Sweetest dog ever, she's never had any issues with the dog until this weekend. Her pit and her other dog got into a fight over a drip pan and the pit immediately lunged for the other dogs throat. Had the other dog by the neck and kept trying to swing her around by it. The other dog just kept trying to get away, wasn't really attacking her pit, just defending. It was violent and frightening to watch, not to mention it took several men to break them apart.

They can be the nicest dogs, but they have killing instincts whether some people want to admit it or not. It just takes the right circumstances to bring it out.

Jane,

You're an idiot.

Sincerely,

A long time pit owner

Brian, repost the question you are talking about from Chris. I actually took it the Chris suported my view and was giving and wxample of why it is a good ruling. In addition my answer was just replace the word Blame with responsiblity. I thought that was a complete anwser. As far as money you have no way of knowing what my sons ionjuries cost us. So you have know way of responding to anything other then what you imagine is my motivation. As far as Public safety no one has paid any money I know of as a result of the ruling and I did give a complete layout of a placement policy which I have submitted to state local and county officals as far back as 4 and 1/2 years ago. The money in my suit is all about compelling people toward safety as you cannot show any proactive example of the disscussion on this level until I brought and one suit. Again what are you doing about it? Brook animal agression is not a favorable trait to someone who love their pets and far more pets are injured and killed each year then humans. Also it is ridiculous to assume that regalar Pit Bulls are human agressive but rather that when they are triggered to bite as with APBT they will bite to kill man women or beast. As far as any and all comments yes I put them out there and of course your sense of what I mean reflects as much on you as what I say reflects on me. So again what are you doing to get things fixed?

Thank you ever so for you blog article.Thanks Again. Awesome.
http://www.expenseondemand.com/