Maryland Court Rules Pit Bull Dogs Are "Inherently Dangerous"

KWQC.com ^ | May 2, 2012 | David Nelson and MSNBC.com

[kanawa]

Yes, I know the definition.
You apply it inappropriately to a whole class of domesticated canines.

[Slings and Arrows]

Awwww!

[the OlLine Rebel]

‘pit bulls as a breed are “inherently dangerous,” and the owner of a pit bull or a cross-bred pit that attacks is strictly liable for damages’

There are so many problems with this!

1st, how many times do I have to say - “pit-bull terrier” is a TYPE, not a specific breed? There are many breeds under this umbrella.

2nd, how do you prove you have a “PBT” type? How do you prove the dog is a half-breed or less? I’m sure people really have documentation about their mutts/sarc. Is it all going to be based on the owner’s say-so?

[kanawa]

Thanks, makes your meaning clearer.

[Eaker]

id·i·ot/ˈidēət/
Noun:

1. A stupid person.
2. A mentally handicapped person.
3. A moron
4. A liberal

Synonyms:
fool - imbecile - blockhead - dunce - nitwit - dumbass - rarestia

[Slings and Arrows]

Chihuahuas are vicious but their size makes them “cute.

Case in point.

[Salamander]

I was cool with it either way....:D

[Ditter]

Absolutely! We live on a very busy city street near the middle of Houston and the traffic is awful, either a parking lot or a race track. It is my worst nightmare that my dogs will get out and get hit.

That poster took exception to me saying I had to control my dogs. The small dogs I was talking about that were biters, were small enough that I could quickly pick them up and hold their mouths shut to keep them from biting someone.

I have picked up quite a few dogs on the road myself and may have saved them from being killed. Sometimes you cannot coax them to come to you and I always feel bad when that happens.

[Ditter]

Hey, I recognize those dogs! :D

[Ditter]

DNA testing is for dogs too.

[the OlLine Rebel]

But it doesn’t work very well. That’s the word on the street - and I’m always suspicious of those things, anyway.

[SoldierDad]

Along with making general statements regarding all dogs, you also make assumptions based upon no evidence that was presented. I never said that I had bad experiences with any dogs.

YOU may have not met a dog YOU didn't like, but that is hardly evidence that there ARE NO bad dogs. As for me in the situation I commented on? The pit bull that attacked the 10 year old Black Lab (not my dog) was off leash in a neighborhood park with a leash law in force - the young woman who was there with the dog obviously didn't know how to control the dog, and should NOT have had it off leash. This pit bull engaged in a completely unprovoked attack against the Lab, taking her to the ground with it's mouth on the Lab's throat. There were minor puntures, but only because the Lab went completely docile while the Lab's owner stuck a stick down the pit bull's throat until it released her dog.

This was an incident I witnessed. There are untold numbers of incidents of unprovoked dog attacks against people and pets that I've read online and in the paper. You cannot tell me that these incidents are only due to the lack of knowledge about the dogs that attacked by those who have been injured or killed by them. That is simply BS.

[TexasTransplant]

The neighbor simply turned his back, before that it was all petting and tail wagging, licking the neighbor just normal puppy until the neighbor turned to walk away.

Neighbor hadn’t even realized anything was amiss, I was just lucky that my reflexes were fast that day.

No Alcohol, neighbor is “Dog Poor” (he loves his dogs), the dog did not bark, just short growl his hackles raised (jekyl / hyde).. immediately before he went for the back side of my neighbor (when he turned his back), after I grabbed his collar he didn’t have any other choices (he looked like he was sorry).. dog was gone that afternoon so no follow up is available.

TT

[the OlLine Rebel]

Agreed. Animals are not machines controlled only by who handles them. They are autonomous and are completely capable of acting on their own.

[Abathar]

"the owner of a pit bull or a cross-bred pit that attacks is strictly liable for damages, as is any landlord who rents to a pit bull owner. "

That last part is what really puts teeth into this ruling. As the owner of rental properties there is no way I would open myself up to this kind of liability from any tenant no matter how sweet their precious little cuddlebug is.

Going to be a whole lot of people really mad when their lease won't be renewed unless they get rid of their animal now, or at best have to provide a very high value umbrella policy to the landlords insurance that will cover any possible scenario involving the dog.

[Monkey Face]

I don’t believe I said there were no bad dogs. That is fanciful and foolish.

I’m sorry about your experience. I’ve worked with dogs most of my life, and I was bitten once when I was three. That didn’t stop me from loving dogs and having them around me.

[Monkey Face]

Shall I take that as a personal attack? Or should I than you for recognizing a champion?

Your blanket statement that you know I’.ve never bred dogs is asinine. Shame on you for assuming a FReeper whom you’ve never posted to until this thread is ignorant.

[Monkey Face]

Were your dogs pedigreed? You can check thier lineages to make sure the dog s have been bred for temperament as well as looks, lines and stances.

[djf]

The Russians experimented (and are still going, AFAIK), with domesticating wild foxes.

Maybe for the fur business.

Took something like 7-10 generations to get an animal that was in fact quite domesticated.

The point I’m making is that you can try until you are blue in the face and say “Well, it’s all in the way they are treated/raised...” and that is BS.

It was the selective breeding that did it. My suspicion would be pits are not yet as genetically tame as Labs or Border Collies.

[Ditter]

I have had DNA testing done on dogs twice and I am very satisfied. My husband raises rodeo bulls for the PBR and the bulls are all DNA tested before they are registered.

[SoldierDad]

I’m sorry. To what dogs do you refer? I’ve not posted anything regarding my dogs on this thread. I have two Black Lab mix that are three years old, one male, one female. Both are from the same litter. Both are very loving, though the male tends to be a bit hyper (primarily when I come home at the end of my work week). Neither have been involved with any problems with other dogs or animals. Are you sure you’ve posted to the correct person?

[Monkey Face]

I probably posted to the wrong person. My bad.

Some days, my brain is dyslexic. No cure for it. So I take my lumps.

[kara37]

Shall I take that as a personal attack? Shame on you for assuming a FReeper whom you’ve never posted to until this thread is ignorant.
***************************************************

You think a personal attack is someone telling you you're wrong? Nope, a personal attack would be you telling me to bite you.

I really don't have to assume anything. Your statement speaks for itself.

It's almost laughable that someone would think that they can "love" the viciousness out of a dog, if that thinking wasn't so dangerous to you and everyone around you.

[Titan Magroyne]

Bwahahahahaha!

Such threads as these are sadly predictable. Thanks for startling a laugh outta me!

[rarestia]

Am I a stupid mentally handicapped liberal moron because I posted a definition to clarify intent or am I a stupid mentally handicapped liberal moron because you disagree with me?

If the latter, I refer you back to your own post.

[rarestia]

Is it inappropriate because of the broader definition or because you disagree with the assessment that they are ferocious and/or brutal? I do not intend to apply the label universally, as, if you read my very first post, I actually believe it is the owner’s responsibility to raise and discipline the dog properly.

The problem with pits is that they are a very alpha breed that requires an owner who is MORE alpha than the dog.

[Monkey Face]

You are so clueless. Why don’t you quit before you get in too deep? You know nothing about me, but that doesn’t stop you from making assusmptions and subjecting the entire thread to your particular brand of snobbery.

Go wash your mind out with soap.

[Eaker]

Am I a stupid mentally handicapped liberal moron because I posted a definition to clarify intent or am I a stupid mentally handicapped liberal moron because you disagree with me?

Oh no! Heavens no. Neither of those.

Its because you don't have a clue what you are posting about yet continue to post.

That really should be added to the definition.

[rarestia]

What on God’s good green Earth are you on about?

[Eaker]

I apologize. If you tell me specifically what you don’t understand I’ll endeavor to make it clearer.

Basically it appears that you know very little about dogs and absolutely nothing about pits.

I am not even convinced that you have ever actually seen a dog before.

[rarestia]

And I’m the closed-minded one?

Been around dogs since I was in the womb, friend. Owned, trained, fostered, volunteered at the local vet, won obedience and agility competitions. I’ve owned chihuahuas, retrievers, mastiffs, dobermans, collies, dachshunds, and a boxer.

Your commentary is not only insulting but completely unwarranted. I made a comment about my impressions of pit bulls. I’ve been attacked by two in my life, and, as I said, have the scars on my arms to prove it. The only satisfaction I’ll give you is that I admit I’ve never owned one. Family members own them, and they are generally loving, playful dogs, but I’ve seen Princess, my cousin’s pit, change demeanor in the blink of an eye.

I won’t demand an apology, as your arrogance is apparently deeply ingrained.

*spit*

[Eaker]

You hold quite the high opinion of your own opinions.

On other subjects this opinion of your own opinions might be valid.

When it comes to pits it isn’t. Not even close.

[rarestia]

Ah... single issue argument: pits.

Okay dude. I concede. You’re better than me.

Man can’t have an opinion around you apparently. If they don’t agree with Eaker, then they’re wrong. Gotcha!

You have a most excellent weekend with your pits, buddy.

[Eaker]

Ah... single issue argument: pits.

Um, you disparaged pits alone.

You have a most excellent weekend with your pits, buddy.

I will have a great weekend with all seven dogs and at the beach with my grandson too. Hope you do the same.

[rarestia]

The article was about pits! Did you email the Maryland courts who disagree with you as well?

Do you just troll FR articles on pits to disparage those who have an adverse opinion on the subject?

Lord almighty, do something more productive with your time.

[Eaker]

I have been watching people disparage pits without any real knowledge on the subject since 1999 and it has gotten to be a sore spot.

Especially back before they were zotted the ones who posted recipes of meatballs and antifreeze to kill other peoples pets.

Note fella, my time is mine and I will do with it what I please and it is not one bit of your business. You keep posting ignorant crap about pits and I’ll keep pointing out your ignorance.

[kara37]

You are so clueless. Why don’t you quit before you get in too deep? You know nothing about me, but that doesn’t stop you from making assusmptions and subjecting the entire thread to your particular brand of snobbery. Go wash your mind out with soap. *************************************************

I will quit, because I am really bored with this now.

Plus, I feel like I do need to wash my mind out with soap after having communicated with you.

Why don't you go find some vicious dogs and "love" the danger out of them.

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

One of the reasons I remain on my condo association board is to keep the president (who are afraid a Pit Bull might move into the neighborhood) from banning all dogs over 20 pounds.

[Monkey Face]

You are so clever. And I’m so intimidated by your obvious intelligence and ability to present yourself as a real human being. *BLECH*

Get a life. And while you’re at it, try to rein in your obvious prejudices about people you don’t know.

SHAME ON YOU for your bigotry!

[Monkey Face]

Jeez, Eaker! I wish I had said that! Some folks don’t realize how ignorant they sound when they are trying to prove how smart they are. It is to laugh!

Thanks for the refreshing take on what I have been trying to get across. *HUG*

‘Face

[Eaker]

Back atcha Face!

[Monkey Face]

*HUG*

[rarestia]

What specifically did I say that was ignorant? If you have something to say about something I said, say it.

[katiedidit1]

I agree. IMO it is the gang bangers that have given the dogs a bad rap. IF you can’t be a ressponsible owner..don’t get a pit bull, Rottweiler or any other breed of dog that you can’t control.
I have a lhasapoo...he is gentle and sweet but he is a great security alarm and weather dog.
Why is it the Dog Whisperer, Shorty and 2nd Chances Rescue can handle the pitts?

[Darren McCarty]

This puts Pits in Maryland in the same boat as pet lions or other wild animals. I wonder if this is going to spread across the country.

I wonder how much of this has to do with the ghetto. The last time I was in one visiting family that's still there, I couldn't believe how many pit bulls I've seen. Some were wandering, too. I understand why a lot of the folks there own one, but how many raise them property.

[Darren McCarty]

Or a Boxer

Boxers are killers. If I sit down, they climb up on me, slime me, and lick me to death. 85lb lapdogs.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I keep seeing aggressive labs in the dog parks...yellow, choc, black...all of them. Could be the same as bad hips...overbreeding has led to stupid aggressive labs.

Part of the problem is the stupid owners, no matter what the breed. The same thinking the chihuahua owners have...”oh he’s just playing” while thinking their little tiny dog is harmless.

Seeing lots of rescue/search dogs being labs makes some owners think they don’t have to teach their dogs how to behave in public...so they run apesh== over people and other dogs and try to bite them (the other dogs at least

[KneelBeforeZod]

who remembers “Tabitha Soren” who changed every remotely related thread into some animal euthanasia thread. And after a while—any UNrelated thread...

[KneelBeforeZod]

I’ve seen Princess, my cousin’s pit, change demeanor in the blink of an eye. I saw my pekingese change demeanor in the blink of an eye. Then he bit someone right under the eye. But it was some idiot who was pulling his tail. I call it a push.

[SRBConservative]

Saw the video on Fox News showing the dogs going after the person... then saw the owner pummel and beat the dogs. That's how the owner manages and controls it's dogs?? It's absolutely no wonder that a dog treated like that reacts negatively to humans. Doesn't matter if it was a lab or a pit bull.

My "inherently dangerous" American Pit Bull Terrier: I am a responsible dog owner whose dog is a member of the family, a sweet, quiet and well-behaved dog who also happens to serve as a therapy dog to my mother with Alzheimer's. But because every piece of despicable human trash who abuses these dogs and sets them up for failure, and every poorly reported 'pit bull attack' story (and every NON-pit bull attack that is NOT reported), an entire breed is getting screwed. Never mind the other million pit bulls out there serving as loving family pets, therapy dogs, search & rescue dogs, etc.

It's un-American for the government or anyone else to tell me what kind of dog I can or cannot responsibly own.