The Maryland court's ruling on pit bulls

Last week, Pit Bull Rescue Central was as shocked as many others in the pit bull community when we learned that the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a ruling (link to pdf) that changed the state’s common law in such a way that could have seriously detrimental impacts for pit bull owners.

“When an attack involves pit bulls, it is no longer necessary to prove that the particular pit bull or pit bulls are dangerous,” the ruling reads. It goes even further to state that if a landlord has a tenant who owns a pit bull and “has reason to know that the dog is a pit bull or cross-bred pit bull, that person is liable for the damages caused to a plaintiff who is attacked by the dog on or from the owner’s or lessor’s premises.”

This means that pit bulls living in Maryland no longer have the benefit of the doubt – while other dogs in the state have to be proven to be aggressive if they bite a person, pit bulls are automatically assumed to be aggressive just because they are pit bulls.

This creates an unfair two-tier system upon which dogs that bite will be judged – regardless of the nature of the bite. If the dog is a pit bull, the dog will automatically be assumed to be dangerous. If the dog is of any other breed, no matter how badly the dog has bitten someone, it will not be held to the same standard.  

Pit Bull Rescue Central believes this misguided ruling could have serious consequences for families across the state. By focusing attention on the way dogs look, instead of holding dogs of any breed accountable for their behavior, the Maryland Court is establishing a precedent of prejudice and ineffective policy that puts both people and animals at risk. PBRC hopes that Maryland legislators and landlords will work quickly toward a more humane resolution to the issue of liability. 

At the moment, it is unclear what recourse pit bull owners in Maryland have to fight this ruling, but we are assured by many pit bull advocates and legal experts that efforts are under way to research this situation and look for ways to challenge it.   

In the meantime, we urge all pit bull owners in Maryland not to panic. Whenever laws or rulings like this pass, some people rush to shelters to surrender their dogs because they think they have no other choice. But there is no reason to do so. Your dog relies on your for everything, and he or she is no more dangerous now than before this ruling was passed. This ruling does not ban pit bulls or force pit bull owners to take any special measures to keep their dogs.  

Here’s some additional information for Maryland pit bull owners:

FOR RENTERS: 

If you live in a rental home and you have a lease, and your lease permits you to have a pit bull, your landlord should honor that lease as long as you are otherwise not in violation of the lease terms. If your landlord does try to terminate your lease or tell you that you have to give up your dog, we recommend that you review Maryland landlord/tenant law at this link and consider consulting a lawyer before giving up your apartment or rental home. If you do need to find a new place to live, check out the resources at PBRC.net. 

FOR LANDLORDS: 

If you have a tenant who owns a pit bull that has not caused problems, this court ruling does not mean that the dog living in your rental property is suddenly any more dangerous than it was the day before the ruling was issued. Review the best practices of responsible ownership with your tenants and make sure your tenants understand to never leave their dogs unattended outdoors or to let them roam at large; it is recommended that you add a rider to the lease that requires your tenants’ dogs be spayed or neutered. We urge you to share the educational materials on our site with your tenants. 

FOR HOMEOWNERS:

If you are a homeowner, we urge you to research pit bull friendly insurance options. The ruling may not have an impact on your homeowners insurance, but in case it does, PBRC has a list of pit bull-friendly insurance companies on our website, which you can find at this link. 

FOR ALL MARYLAND RESIDENTS: 

Pit bull owners in Maryland should contact their state and local representatives to respectfully express their concern about this court ruling. If you aren’t sure who your local representative is, you can search on the Maryland General Assembly website to find your senators and house representatives. Remember that it's very important to be concise, polite and clear in your communications. If you need help drafting a letter to your representatives, Stop BSL has published useful letter-writing tips on its website, and you can visit our BSL page for talking points on why breed-specific laws are ineffective.

Multiple organizations – in Maryland and across the country – are on your side. If you would like to get in touch with local groups trying to gather resources to help fellow pit bull owners, contact B-More Dog (you can ask to join their Facebook group here) or Jasmine's House rescue, both located in Baltimore, or Maryland Votes for Animals. Join their mailing lists and ask what you can do to help. There's also a Facebook group called Stop Maryland Pit Bull Discrimination that has been established to keep Maryland residents informed about this court ruling. 

PBRC now accepting entries for our Happy Endings 2013 calendar!

Have you ever envisioned your rescued pit bull gracing the pages of a calendar? Does your pup have good looks, charm, a touching story, really cute costumes or an affinity for sports? If so, here is your chance to make your dreams a reality and share your rescued pit bull with the world!

We are opening submissions for PBRC's 2013 Happy Endings Calendar! An annual tradition since 2002, our Happy Endings Calendar is full of accurate breed information, heart-warming rescue stories, and 12 months of beautiful color photographs of our supporters’ rescued pit bulls! We are accepting pictures now through June 30, 2012.

All the information you need regarding photo specifications, submission, cost, and other details can be found here.

All the proceeds from the photo submissions, as well as the sale of the calendars, are used to further PBRC’s programming to help pit bulls in need. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to have your furry friend be a pin-up and to help others in need.

Fight to end BSL in Miami-Dade not over yet

When Florida’s legislative session got underway in January 2012, the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation (MCABSL) was prepared: It was going to make a push to get two bills, Senate Bill 1322 and House Bill 997, passed that would overturn a ban on pit bulls that has been in place in Miami-Dade County since 1989. Pit bulls aren’t just restricted in the county, they are banned and anyone found to own a dog thought to be a pit bull faces a $500 fine and must remove the dog from the county. Breed-specific legislation is banned under Florida state law, but Miami-Dade’s ban was in place before the state prohibited it, so it’s the only county in Florida that has a pit bull ban in place.

Early in Florida’s legislative session, it looked like the two bills to overturn the county’s BSL stood a chance of passage. But just as the session was drawing to a close, county commissioners struck a deal with state legislators: If the county would put its breed-specific laws on the ballot for a vote in August, the legislature would pull its bills. And it did. This means that the fight to overturn BSL is not over in Miami-Dade, it’s now up to county voters to overturn the laws themselves.

We talked to Dahlia Canes, founder and director of MCABSL, about the battle to end BSL in Miami-Dade County and the organization’s plan moving forward. You can read more about the organization at its website, www.mcabsl.wildapricot.org.

PBRC: What's the story behind the formation of MCABSL?

Dahlia Canes: MCABSL is a non-profit organization in the state of Florida. We are not a 501(c)3, as we are politically involved, but we do take contributions. It all started back in 2007, when I became involved with pit rescues. Shortly afterwards, folks started joining in, and MCABSL was born. There were so many people affected by this and nowhere to turn. MCABSL was and is their hope and dream to end BSL in Miami-Dade County. The response was overwhelming and still is.

PBRC: Before MCABSL, was there any concerted effort to try to repeal Miami's long-standing ban on pit bulls in the county?

DC: No one had ever attempted the lifting of the ban 'til we came along. We were the first to challenge a pit bull confiscation case in Dade and win!

PBRC: How big is MCABSL as an organization?

DC: We have all sorts of folks from all walks of life in our organization, all over the world. We even have a regional director in Kenya, Africa. The members are in the high thousands.

PBRC: Tell us a bit about your early legislative efforts – how did you go about getting your voice heard in the state capitol in Tallahassee? And what kind of response did you get?

DC: The first time we dealt with Tally was back in 2009, when they wanted to amend the Florida state statue prohibiting BSL in Florida. They wanted for every city/county to do whatever they wanted or saw fit. I was sent up there and stayed for a few days. By the time I left, their bill was dead. If this would have passed, there would've have been a slaughtering of bullies throughout Florida. It would've cost the taxpayers a pretty penny and an exodus of folks fleeing the state to save their dogs.

PBRC: What happened during this year’s session? It seemed like things were looking up, but then suddenly the bills to overturn Miami-Dade’s pit bull ban, SB 1322 and HB 997, died?

DC: The bills were steamrolling through the legislature until the Miami-Dade commissioners went to Tally and made an agreement with the sponsor for HB997, Rep. Carlos Trujillo. It went all the way to the end and then it died. The deal [the commission made] puts the question of the removal of the ban in ballot form for the upcoming elections this August. So we now have the tremendous job of educating the residents of this county before then. Is it possible? Of course! Can we do it? Only with everyone’s help and support.

PBRC: Any words of wisdom or advice for others trying to repeal BSL in their cities or states?

DC: For those fighting BSL: Don't let it pass, stop it dead in its tracks! It's harder to repeal than to prevent it from being enacted as law. Stick with education and awareness, get the facts out. Remember, the best ambassadors for this [effort] are the dogs themselves.

Marlins Pitcher and Family Back Campaign to End Miami Breed Ban

A few weeks ago, we posted the story of how new Miami Marlins pitcher, Mark Buehrle, and his family couldn't move to his team's hometown because of Miami-Dade County's breed specific legislation.

Now, the Buehrle family has started a campaign on Change.org and released a PSA with Best Friends Animal Society in support of state legislation that would repeal Miami-Dade's pit bull ban. Below is a re-post of Jamie Buehrle's recent guest blog on Change.org.

Jamie Buehrle is married to All-Star pitcher Mark Buehrle. Mark recently signed with the Miami Marlins.

Mark and I have always been avid animal lovers. When Mark was playing for the White Sox, we hosted “Sox for Strays,” a public-service announcement campaign that featured adoptable animals once a month during the baseball season. Before our 18-month-old American Staffordshire terrier, Slater, came into our lives we already had three Viszlas: Diesel, Drake, and Duke.

When it became a reality for us that Mark was no longer going to be playing for the White Sox, so many things started going through our minds. Instead of worrying about what team he would be playing for, what schools our kids would go to, and how to transition our lives to a new city, our biggest concern was ensuring our new city would allow Slater. Doesn’t that seem ridiculous?

Slater is a member of our family. We had always agreed to make sure that wherever Mark ended up playing, Slater would be welcome. So, when Mark had the opportunity to sign with the Miami Marlins we were harshly confronted with Miami-Dade County’s 20-year-old pit bull terrier ban and immediately knew we would have to live a county over, in Broward.

Mark and I are fortunate to have the resources to accommodate Slater. But, it breaks our hearts that so many families are faced with losing their family pet simply because a local government has deemed their dog “dangerous” based on nothing more than appearance.

We can't imagine ever having to give Slater up simply because a city says we can't have him. Not only would we be distraught at that prospect, but our kids would be devastated. So, when Best Friends Animal Society reached out and told us about their legislative effort to repeal Miami’s breed-discriminatory legislation, Mark and I were happy to help however we could, especially after our first-hand ordeal.

House Bill 997 and its companion, Senate Bill 1322, will repeal Miami’s pit bull terrier ban and finally relieve law-abiding families from making unfair decisions about their family dog.

Mark and I encourage Miami-Dade residents and everyone who agrees that it is time to remove this law to ask Florida state legislators to support these bills by signing my petition.

Our family is excited to be in South Florida. After this legislation is passed, we hope more families with good canine citizens will be able to move to Miami-Dade without worry or hesitation.

Dress Up Your Pet on January 14th!

January 14th has been designated "Dress Your Pet Up Day". From dressing our pit bulls in coats and boots to protect them from poor weather conditions, to holiday costumes, our dogs do not get much say in their wardrobe!

More and more companies are selling clothing for dogs, even dogs with a more athletic build such as pit bulls. No longer are sweaters, dresses and costumes only for toy breeds. Some of us even spend more on our dog's wardrobe than our own!

Because pit bulls have short hair, sometimes the clothing is truly functional. Winter walks become bearable with a warm coat and boots to protect paws.

Dressing up pets can also help shelters and rescues. A cute sweater can help make a shelter dog appear more approachable. By adding a cute slogan on the side, such as "Adopt Me", the dog can be promoted without any words. It also opens up the doors for conversation, allowing education to the public in a friendly, casual manner.

Whether you own a dog or are promoting adoption of a pit bull looking for a home, showcase some cute canine couture on a pit bull on January 14th!

Activities to entertain your pet bulls

ACTIVITIES FOR MORE THAN ONE DOG

Pit Bulls are like potato chips, most people can't have just one! As a general rule, they can be athletic and vivacious dogs, especially at a young age. Having more than one dog in a home means busy owners need to look for new ways to exercise and entertain pets, while also saving time. PBRC came up with a list of fun activities that can include multiple dogs. Some tips to help make play time enjoyable:

• Usually it is best to have one handler per dog and if your dog is possessive of toys or treats, some of these activities may not be appropriate. To help avoid altercations it may be best to save high value rewards for one on one time. Always be aware of triggers that can cause an altercation and avoid them.

• Pay attention to your dog's body language and what it is saying. While many dogs have a rough play style and can be vocal, it is up to us humans to be sure all the dogs are still having fun and playing. Over stimulation can lead to over the top play, which can lead to altercations between dogs.

• If at any point your dog seems not to be having a fun or is over stimulated, a time out may be needed or perhaps playtime needs to end.

• It is a good idea to have a dog already well versed in basic cues such as: sit, down, stay, walking nicely on leash and recall before adding another dog to the mix.

• NEVER leave multiple dogs unattended.

• When introducing new dogs, PBRC offers advice for the "first date": http://www.pbrc.net/dogintros.html

1. Recall races: While dogs are in a sit or down stay, move as far away as possible, call dogs to come to you in a happy, excited voice. The dog who gets there first, wins! Multiple handlers can be in multiple locations and can take turns calling different dogs.
2. Out for a Walk: Taking a walk can strengthen bonds and exercise your dogs. Dogs who learn to work around distractions have better self control. For tips on loose leash walking, check out our link http://www.pbrc.net/training_looseleash.html
3. Play Dates- Supervised play dates in a secure fenced area are great ways to let your dogs release energy! Typically Pit Bulls may have a "rough and tumble" sort of play style. Dog social dogs with similar play styles, paired with responsible owners makes for a happy, tired set of dogs.
4. Muffin Pan Game- Each dog has its own muffin pan. Randomly put treats in a muffin pan. Place tennis balls over top of all twelve spaces. Let your dog play a nose work game and see who can find all of the hidden treats first.
5. Obedience Classes- Some classes are available for multiple dogs. (Usually one handler per dog). It is a great way to show off your ambassadors and teach your pups some new things!
6. Hide and Seek: Dogs are in a sit or down stay while the human hides. The dog is then cued to "Find him!" and is released from stay to track down his missing person!

These are just some examples of activities to share with multiple dogs. Get creative and see what you can come up with!

Miami Pit Bull Ban Forces Mark Buehrle's Family to Settle Elsewhere

Chicago White Sox fans were upset when star pitcher Mark Buehrle was traded to the Miami Marlins. But even before his 2012 debut in a Marlins uniform, Buehrle is proving himself a supportive superstar in the pit bull community.
Buehrle and his wife are advocates for animal rights and were active when they lived in Chicago in promoting shelter adoptions. But Buehrle is also the owner of Slater, an American Staffordshire terrier, which Miami-Dade County has banned along with all other dogs classified as pit bull since 1989. Rather than giving up Slater, an all-too-common result when breed bans hit close to home, Buehrle worked tirelessly to find housing where he could keep his dog and his contract, even if it means traveling a little further to get to work. Even more significant, in an article with the Miami-Dade Herald, Buehrle noted that he would not have signed with the Marlins if he wouldn’t have been able to find housing that allowed him to keep Slater. A state representative is currently advocating to overturn the county’s breed ban. Hopefully Buehrle’s fame and public stance against such bans will help to push the cause. To read the Yahoo/Sports article about Buehrle and Slater, go to http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/miami-pitbull-ban-forces-mark-buehrle-family-settle-182451604.html