Annapolis resident Stehle Harris is afraid she won't have a home.
As the owner of a bull terrier, Harris said the recent that pit bulls and pit bull crossbreeds are dangerous could lead to a slippery slope. The opinion also states that landlords can prohibit the dogs from their properties.
"I think pit bulls capacity to do damage is no greater than a chihuahua," she said. "I'm more apprehensive about smaller dogs."
Harris was one of a group of Marylanders protesting the court's opinion at Lawyer's Mall in Annapolis on Tuesday afternoon.
Erin Harty, of Baltimore, said Harris' fears aren't unfounded. As a volunteer at Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter, she said the center is already being overwhelmed with pit bulls as a result of the opinion.
"German shepherds have been targeted, dobermans have been targeted," Harty said. "Pit bulls are the breed du jour"
She added that singling out pit bulls is unwarranted.
"Any dog has the potential to be aggressive if treated unfairly," Harty said.
As a dog groomer for 25 years, White Marsh resident Angela Barnes said she has never been bitten by a pit bull. She owns two rescues of the breed.
"[Pit bulls] are being targeted because people used them in fights," Barnes said. "It all depends on how you treat them."
Kelli Parker, of Fredricksburg, VA, knows this first hand. Before she adopted her pit bull Krush, she said he came from an abusive environment, and was once tied to a outdoor bannister for two weeks. As a result, Parker said Krush was slightly food aggressive when she adopted him.
"With training, he was fine," she said. "He's just very loveable and cuddly."
Parker said the love she receives from Krush and her other pit bull Sasha inspired her to create her own advocacy organization for the breed called The Pretty Chic With The Pits.
"My dogs really did save my life," she said. "They've showed me compassion and unconditional love."
What a bunch of losers! Eliminate the breed immediately. If one gets loose and hurts some body after the breed was eliminated, the same physical punishment and injuries should be branded on the owner. Problem solved. Next issue
This link has repeated itself 5 times it seems..............................doggone...
1- my cousins family pet attacked their 5 year old. Bit him in the mouth and tore his cheek loose. Several stitches and rabies shots required. Dog euthanized.. 2 - My daughter's boyfriend had 3 pits. One day the largest attacked my daughter biting and tearing at her head. Ripped part of her hair and scalp off. Big ER bill and several stitches. 3- went to Quiet Waters dog park with our large breed puppy last week. Someone brought a pit. Our dog was just running around in circles and the pit out of now where just attacked our puppy. The pit owners said nothing and acted like it didn't even happen. Simply the facts . On another note it is very disappointing that so many comments on the patch are so racially charged - on both sides. It is sad to believe that my community is so divided and bigotted. I do hold out hope that the common feedback here is representative of only a small sector not all of Davidsonville and Edgewater.
This nation's population is mentally and emotionally digressing over the past few years - rapidly. As much as we like to deride other countries that are more socially repressed, the irony is that this country has been heading in that direction in recent history. The teapot/kettle argument from other countries population is gaining steam - and quickly.
By the way Prince Georges County pit bull ban cost over $500,000 to enforce what do you think a state wide ban would cost? http://stopbsl.org/bsloverview/expensive/ This details the cost. Pit bull saves a life ! http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7408004n For your reading pleasure. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/facts/statement_dangerous_dogs_breed_specific_legislation.html P.S .... I do not own a pit bull. But I believe in freedom. God Bless.
http://www.avma.org/public_health/dogbite/dogbite.pdf
"4) High performance and sports cars, like Porches, garner higher car insurance rates because drivers of such vehicles tend to drive at accelerated speeds, causing them to get into more accidents. The rates increase further if drivers are in their 20s." http://voices.yahoo.com/what-kinds-cars-will-increase-car-insurance-2946703.html
Morons. It's because of people like you that you can walk into any randam 7-11 and see a jar for donations to animals filled with 20 dollar bills sitting next to a jar for a paralized kid with drool running down his face filled with about 84 cents.
Go after the bad PEOPLE, of all races, not the animals.