Maryland Court Declares Pit Bulls Are 'Inherently Dangerous'

Mother Nature Network:

Things just got tougher for pit bulls in need of a home in Maryland now that the Maryland Court of Appeals has deemed the breed to be "inherently dangerous." The new ruling paves the way for legal action for anyone attacked by a pit bull or pit bull mix in the state. Not only will the owner of an attacking pit bull be strictly liable for damages, but even a landlord who rents to a pit bull owner will be culpable.

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Comments

[owensgroup]

05:48 PM on 05/09/2012

As an animal lover, I am torn, but as a lawyer, I have to agree with the decision. It doesn't ban the breed (and I don't support banning the breed), however I do support increased accountability and responsibility for owners.

[Evil Twin Rove]

11:10 AM on 05/09/2012

http://www.examiner.com/article/heroic-pit-bull-injured-after-saving-owner-from-oncoming-train-near-boston

Evidence showing how ridiculous breed bans such as this are. The court should be ashamed of themselves.

[clazzigirl]

10:50 AM on 05/08/2012

Here is a list of dogs that have bites stronger than pits:

German Shepherd bite - 240 lbs
Wild Dogs bite force - 317 lbs
Rottweiler bite force - 328 lbs

A pit has approximately 235 pounds of force. I own a rottie who is well above-average in size, and I think the damage he is capable of is much more than recorded above.

However, dogs are not stupid, and know how to bite with varying degrees of force--my rottie bit a friend who walked into my yard in the dark without announcing himself, but not with enough force to break anything other than skin, basically a warning bite.

It is all definitely about how the dog is raised, and I personally believe that little dogs tend to be more feisty and aggressive.

[Inkosi]

04:52 PM on 05/08/2012

clazzigirl - fanned and faved by another devoted rottie owner.

[luvmymuttz]

01:52 AM on 05/24/2012

hmm... this is interesting to find the psi of dog bits. as a pit mix owner thank you

[hypyrwyf]

04:39 PM on 05/07/2012

The unfortunate thing is that pit bull puppies do not act mean. They're all cute and playful and loving. Some stay that way for life, others turn vicious, but it may not happen for years.

[clazzigirl]

10:51 AM on 05/08/2012

The dog doesn't become aggressive just because--it is almost always the owner's fault.

[Hugatreetoday]

07:49 AM on 05/07/2012

Okay when will the same ruling be passed down for homosapiens? Talk about inherently dangerous.

[User61]

06:01 PM on 05/06/2012

I'd say it's the guy who owns a pit bull because it makes him look like more of a bad-a** who is inherently dangerous.

[ldaven031369]

03:50 PM on 05/06/2012

This issue touches at the heart of "nature over nurture" theories, and yes people it is in their DNA.....some of them have a stronger prey drive than others, so some of them are more likely to attack...all dogs have certain characteristics in their DNA...families love to get australian shepherds, but are later mortified when their lovely dog is nipping at the heels of their toddler, they assume trying to attack...no stupid, it is a herding dog, bred to herd, and its DNA instincts are kicking in - the dog thinks it is protecting your toddler by keeping it "within the flock". Just like a pit bull, or chow, or presa canario that have been bred to hunt and kill. ALL dogs still carry with them the genetic characteristics of their ancestors...just like people do...seriously have you ever seen a more cave man like display than a group of men in front of the big screen on game day...air pumping, chest bumping...just like the dogs they share their lives with, its basic gene pool 101

[Inkosi]

10:34 AM on 05/07/2012

Just like humans, some dogs are aggressive - others are not. People like Michael Vick intentionally bred aggressive dogs to fight and kill. Yet those dogs were rescued and have become pets, some are now therapy dogs! How do you explain that? Targeting the breed is wrong! Put the punishment where it belongs - squarely on the owners. Maybe you could euthanize them instead of the dog! It would probably have a more lasting impact.

[Evil Twin Rove]

01:16 PM on 05/07/2012

that's funny.. b/c I have a pit bull and he has never once been aggresive towards any animal or human... so your whole theory goes out the window

[Steven Augustine]

03:40 PM on 05/06/2012

The issue is whether an animal has the natural equipment to kill or maim humans, I think. It's slightly stupid to go by the owner's intuition as to whether the animal will ever exercise the ability to do damage, no? Anyone who needs to own a dog that is *able* to kill has a screw loose. Show of hands...?

[Inkosi]

10:40 AM on 05/07/2012

There are many with a screw loose! Take your FEMA Search and Resuce dogs - they are all Working dogs - big, strong dogs with teeth. Yet they are trained to serve, not kill. The Military Working dogs - are trained to serve and if necessry protect on command. These dogs are not for everyone - in fact, some people should never be allowed to have any pet. I have been in Rottweiler Rescue for 20 years! I have gone into shelters and have never been bitten. It is not the dog - it is the human who is the problem.

[HowthCastle]

11:15 AM on 05/06/2012

Sheer superstition!

[gaexpat]

09:31 AM on 05/06/2012

Half of the comments here are pure ignorance. I had a purebred American Terrier pit I found wandering around lost in a thunderstorm. Until that day, I was as ignorant as some of you. This dog turned out to be one of the sweetest, docile creatures I've ever owned. They are not killers waiting to turn on you. They don't have uncommonly strong "locking" jaws. They are no more dangerous than any other breed, and I would own another in a heartbeat.

Pits are the victims of ignoramuses like those who have posted here, and the reputation given them by the real animals who breed and raise them to fight. I'd trust my pit bull more than I'd trust some people I know.

[Robin Bush]

01:21 AM on 05/06/2012

Its the OWNERS>>>>> My lord are people really this stupid? I am afraid for the future of my child with all these stupid iodiots. I have a Pit bull and he is a sweet dog. My sheltie is more of a killer then my Pit, My sheltie would chew your arm off, eat it, then puke it up.... And then give a big burp...... It is the way these dogs are raised and chained to fences and not loved, that is why they become mean and scary....... I would trust my pit with anyone or any animal, he is that safe.... I think we need to jail people who are training animals to kill...

[Inkosi]

10:44 AM on 05/07/2012

Robin Bush - fanned and faved. I so agree. A slap on the wrist does nothing. Ban the Pitt Bull and they will go to the Presa or Cane Corso or some other breed.

[Sara Lira]

12:09 AM on 05/06/2012

Good news. I'm hoping that this will discourage careless pet owners from buying pitbulls.

[Evil Twin Rove]

01:17 PM on 05/07/2012

Sara - let's kill them all right? you, as well as this court's ruling is a joke...

[Bonnie Larkin]

06:39 AM on 05/05/2012

My friend Earl a pitt/ridgeback cross is one of the sweetest dogs that I have ever been blessed to live with. My pomerainian Panda is always doing things to him that you would think would cost him his life if the stories on pitts were true
It is not the dog - it is the people that ' own ' these creatures. Everytime a pitt has to be put down so should the person that abused that dog and caused the damages done.
There is no way I would ever allow anyone to come and take my Earl from me - no way -

[Inkosi]

10:47 AM on 05/07/2012

Bonnie Larkin - fanned and faved. The dog loses his life because of a sick human - perhaps the human should be put down too instead of just a slap on the wrist and a fine.

[jsonlau]

04:37 AM on 05/05/2012

A baby was recently torn to pieces by a golden retriever-Labrador mix. My Jack Russell terrier is much more vicious than my pit bull.

[Madybel30]

10:45 AM on 05/05/2012

Isn't that something my Labrador is more unpredictable than my pit.....I think people need to understand pits are not born with a gene to kill, their owners train them this way. That is why when they are not trainable to fight and be aggressive their owners torture them to death. The ones who do fight do it out of loyalty to their trainers and also to defend themselves. They are the most loyal to what owners want them to be!

[Inkosi]

10:50 AM on 05/07/2012

Madybel30 - fanned and faved. And their loyalty, love of people and strenght that makes them ideal for fighting. Put Bulls are people friendly - which is why their owners can get away with what they do to these dogs. The video some years ago of a chinese man skinning a german shepherd while the dog is still alive - the dog is licking him and making appeasement sounds even when he is suffering enormous pain.

[hawaiianstile]

01:54 AM on 05/05/2012

more moronic breed discrimination. pitties are no more dangerous than any other dog. the only factor between a dangerous dog and a safe dog is the owner. a dalmatian in the hands of a bad owner is infinitely more dangerous than a small pack of pit bulls in the hands of a good owner. here in Hawai'i put bulls are hands down the most popular dog around. they are every where, i have had a number of them my self. they are fine dogs.

[elmcqueen3]

04:04 AM on 05/05/2012

Its in the DNA.....You can have good pit bulls and you can have bad ones....The temprament is inbred....Be sure your's is a gentle inbred pit bull or you could be looking for trouble some day....Law suits now day can break you for life!

[cserij]

04:06 AM on 05/05/2012

Hmmmmmm, I guess it's just a coincidence that I've seen 3 bad attacks at the dog park - ALL involved the pit as the instigator, and one which led to the death of the other dog. Not anymore dangerous? Give me a break, it's in their blood, they were bread to fight. Now are there pits that have never hurt anyone? Yes, my friend has two and have never hurt a human, but they still fight hard w/each other, and both have war wounds. There is a reason a lot of apartment buildings don't allow pits - stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason.

[rnlessley]

06:07 AM on 05/05/2012

Hmmmmmm...... I think you need to do some more research before you speak. Have you (cserij or elmcqueen3) ever owned a Pit before, lol.... I think not. It's not in their D.N.A. nor is it in their blood. If that was the case then anything in the terrior family would be or could be a killer. Lets get real people, it's all on how they are raised. Sounds like to many people have taken one to many drinks out of the ignorant well. I have raised four Pit's and all four are the most gentle dog's ever. I guess ignorance is bliss for some.