BSL work session hearing today

Just got back home after a long day at the Baltimore County Courthouse! Today was the day legislators were meeting to discuss Bill 70-07, Regulation of Pit Bulls and Dangerous and Menacing Animals. It was also the day the legislature heard public testimony on the bill.

I got to the county courthouse at 1:45 and it was already packed with people who showed up to oppose Bill 70-07. All the local TV news guys showed up, as did reporters from some of the print media.

The councilmen commented that this was a much larger than usual crowd for a council hearing, and as it turned out, there were 35 or 36 people signed up to speak--only 3 signed up to speak in favor of the bill. The rest were people who were opposed to it. The majority of the people who spoke were eloquent, clear, and convincing, and it was nice to have such a great group of people speaking out on our behalf!

We had representatives from the ASPCA, HSUS, Maryland Dog Federation, the Baltimore County Kennel Club, PBRC, and several local dog trainers . . . the last news report I caught online captured the fact that there was overwhelming opposition to the bill.

The sad part is that the parents of a child injured by a pit bull and the owner of a beagle killed by a neighbor's pit bull all spoke as well, and though they all were in favor of the bill, they all felt that the breed was not bad but that ownership of the breed has gone so far down the tubes that something needed to be done. It was hard to listen to the old man talk about his beagle being killed, and to listen to the parents talk about the injuries sustained by their child. They seemed very calm and rational, given that they could have let emotions rule their testimony. But it is certainly to their credit that they did not. But my heart went out to them--there is a special place in hell for the people out there who let their dogs run amok in the community and ruin the lives of others. At least I hope there is.

So we still have a vote on this bill coming on Oct. 15 at 7 PM so we will be holding our rally. But today's response to the legislation has given me some optimism!

On to the next hurdle!

BSL rally permit

B-More Bulldogs applied as a group for a "gathering permit" to hold a rally on Oct. 15 in front of the Baltimore County Courthouse in Towson . . . we're hoping to organize an group of responsible, well-behaved pit bull owners who can let legislators know that we don't support BSL or public officials who do.

I hope we get approved for our permit. I hate waiting!

It Could Be Bad News for Pit Bulls in Bmore County

The Baltimore County Legislature is considering breed-specific legislation for all of Baltimore County.

Read about it here:

http://www.baltimorecountycouncil.org/b07007.pdf



Here's a little excerpt:

WHEREAS, pit bulls, as a breed of dog, have characteristics that have been selectively bred into or are otherwise commonly found, and these characteristics may be intensified by improper treatment or training; these generally-exhibited traits include, but are not limited to, (i) powerful instincts for dominance; (ii) a strong prey drive; (iii) a stubbornness that results in sustained, unyielding aggressiveness once an attack begins; (iv) powerful jaws capable of crushing bones and hanging on to victims even while the animal withstands infliction of injury or pain; and (v) a combination of stamina, agility and strength; and
WHEREAS, the combination and evolution of these characteristics in pit bulls and the exhibition of these characteristics in encounters injurious to humans and other mammals have served to evidence the breed=s dangerousness; and
WHEREAS, other cities, counties and states have found that pit bulls are so dangerous to humans and other animals that restrictions on them are warranted; and WHEREAS, in response to recent attacks by pit bulls and other dangerous animals, many of which were unlicensed animals, the Council deems it necessary to supplement the 1997 legislation by providing additional regulations for pit bulls and dangerous and menacing animals in order to protect the public health and safety

If the bill is passed, you'll basically have to treat your pit bull dog like a wild animal--you'll have to build a cage in your yard, keep your dog muzzled at all times, and post signs alerting people that you have a dangerous dog. Even if your dog is stabler and safer than the crazy-ass German shepherd who lives next door.

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY, PEOPLE!

Councilman Vince Gardina is sponsoring the bill, and you can call, mail, or fax his office at:

400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
(410) 887-3384
(410) 887-5791 (fax)

Let him know that pit bulls are inherently no more dangerous than any other breed of dog, and that muncipalities all over the United States would be better served by stronger enforcement of laws already on the books. If licensing laws and dangerous dogs laws already on the books were taken seriously, we'd have less of a problem with dangerous dogs--of any breed--on our streets.