The Maryland Dog Federation has presented Baltimore Delegate Cheryl Glenn with an amendment to House Bill 1314. Should the amendment be accepted, the bill, which seeks to strengthen the state’s dangerous dog law, would also provide that:
"Nothing…shall…prevent a municipality from adopting or enforcing its own more stringent program for the control of dangerous dogs provided, however, that no such program shall ban, regulate or address dogs in a manner which is specific as to breed."
The Maryland Dog Federation reports that Delegate Glenn has agreed to submit the amendment for consideration. The amendment must be approved by the House Judiciary Committee for it to be officially included in the bill.
The American Kennel Club supports this effort. If amended, HB 1314 will prohibit further breed bans in Maryland. Prince George’s County has had a breed-specific ownership ban in place since 1996; as a result, many innocent family pets have been needlessly euthanized. If enacted, an amended House Bill 1314 would cure that problem. It is imperative that all concerned dog owners in Maryland contact Delegate Glenn and encourage her to submit the amendment to HB 1314.
The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs. The AKC believes that dog owners should be responsible for their dogs. We support laws that: establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as "dangerous" based on stated, measureable actions; impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. The American Kennel Club strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be "dangerous based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Concerned responsible dog owners in Maryland are strongly encouraged to do the following:
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Contact Delegate Cheryl Glenn. Tell her specifically that you "Support HB 1314 with Amendments."
PHONE: (301) 858-3257
FAX: (301) 858-3019
E-MAIL: Cheryl.glenn@house.state.md.us
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Attend the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing in support of Delegate Glenn submitting the amendment to HB 1314 on Thursday, March 18.
House Judiciary Committee
Thursday, March 18
1:00 PM
Room 100
House Office Building
6 Bladen St.
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991
For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org; or contact Adrianne Lefkowitz of the Maryland Dog Federation at marylanddogfederation@yahoo.com.
The Maryland Dog Federation has presented Baltimore Delegate Cheryl Glenn with an amendment to…