The Prince George's County Health, Education and Human Services Committee passed CB-10 in September. The ordinance will be heard before the full City Council on October 25 at 10 am in the County Administration Building.
To show continued support for this important measure, concerned dog owners are encouraged to attend an organizational meeting held by the Maryland Dog Federation on October 12 at the Riverdale Park Town Hall at 5008 Queensbury Road, Riverdale Park, MD at 7pm.
Prince George's County, MD Considers Repeal of Breed-Specific Ordinance
[September 8th, 2005 ]
On Tuesday, September 13th the Prince George's County Health, Education and Human Services Committee will hear CB-10-2005, a proposal which will repeal the county's ban on “pit bull” terriers. The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. in Room 2027 of the County Administration Building at 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive. Fanciers and concerned dog owners are encouraged to attend the hearing if possible and to contact the members of the Health, Education and Human Services Committee and the County Council to express support for this important proposal.
Prince George's County first enacted a ban on “pit bulls” in 1996 after a string of dog attacks in the area. County officials define “pit bulls” as American Stafforshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers and any dog with the same characteristics as these breeds. According to the Maryland Dog Federation, Prince George's County has euthanized an average of 800 dogs per year while this ban has been in effect.
In 2002 the county formed a Vicious Animal Task Force made up of municipal and citizen representatives to evaluate the county's current dangerous dog law and the ban on “pit bull” terriers. The task force recommended that the county strengthen their dangerous dog law to include a “potentially dangerous” category, institute a community education program and repeal the ban on “pit bulls.”
The proposal being considered at next week's meeting makes significant revisions to the existing dangerous dog law, the most important being the repeal of all breed-specific provisions. The ordinance also:
- Adds a “potentially dangerous dog” definition which includes dogs who without provocation attack a person or domestic animal or are found running at large two or more times in one year.
- Creates a process by which dogs can be declared potentially dangerous and that includes a fair appeals procedure.
- Clarifies the manner in which a potentially dangerous dog may be kept.
- Establishes stiff penalties for owners who allow their potentially dangerous dogs to cause a serious injury.
AKC and concerned dog owners have long opposed Prince George's County's breed-specific dangerous dog ordinance. CB-10 provides an important opportunity to replace that statute with a reasonable, enforceable law that will keep the community safe without unfairly punishing responsible owners.
What You Can Do:
Contact members of the Prince George's County Council and ask them to vote in favor of CB-10-2005. The proposal is sponsored by Councilmember Hendershot, so please thank him for authoring this important ordinance.
- Honorable Tony Knotts
Phone (301) 952-3860
Fax (301) 952-4821
Email: tknotts@co.pg.md.us
- Honorable Tom Dernoga
Phone (301) 952-3887
Fax (301) 952-3238
Email: tdernoga@co.pg.md.us
- Honorable Tom Hendershot (CB-10-2005 Sponsor)
Phone (301) 952-3060
Fax (301) 952-3238
Email: thendershot@co.pg.md.us
- Honorable Doug Peters
Phone (301) 952-3094
Fax (301) 952-4910
Email: dpeters@co.pg.md.us
- Honorable Camille Exum
Phone (301) 952-3690
Fax (301) 952-3238
Email: cexum@co.pg.md.us
- Honorable Marilynn Bland
Phone (301) 952-3820
Fax (301) 952-5275
No email available.
- Honorable Will Campos
Phone (301) 952-4436
Fax: (301) 952-5554
Email: wcampos@co.pg.md.us
- Honorable David Harrington
Phone: (301) 952-3426
Fax: (301) 952-4351
Email: dharrington@co.pg.md.us
- Honorable Samuel Dean
Phone: (301) 952-3426
Fax: (301) 952-4351
Email: sdean@co.pg.md.us
Watch AKC's Web site for further updates.
For more information, contact:
AKC's Canine Legislation department
919-816-3720
doglaw@akc.org
Maryland Dog Federation
http://www.marylanddogfederation.com/
The Prince George’s County Health, Education and Human Services Committee passed CB-10 in September….