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Dog Bill Takes Bite Out of Pit Bull Ruling
A proposed bill would establish that all breeds of dogs have potential to bite, according to Capital Gazette.
File photo: Our pit bull, Murphy - we are responsible owners and have him trained and socialized very well. He's our family dog, the entire family. Great with and around children and other dogs - couldn't ask for a better well tempered dog!
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Montgomey County State Sen. Brian Frosh is pushing a bill that would counteract an anti-pit bull court ruling, Capital Gazette reports. The House unanimously approved the bill, NBC4 reports. It heads to the Senate next.
Senate Bill 160, and its House companion, Bill 78, would contradict a Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that pit bulls are "inherently dangerous." Frosh's bill establishes that all dog breeds are capable of biting, not just pit bulls. Owners of dogs who are accused of biting may provide proof in court that their dog doesn't usually bite, however, according to the Capital Gazette.
The court ruling was spurred by Dominic Solesky, a 10-year-old Towson boy, who was attacked and critically injured by a pit bull in 2007. He underwent five hours of surgery and multiple blood transfusions to mend wounds to his leg, Capital News Service previously reported.
The Capital Gazette said that the boy's lawyer thinks this amendment to the law would make it harder for victims to win dog bite lawsuits.
State legislators weren't able to counteract the court decision last summer during a special session of the Maryland General Assembly, with lawmakers unable to agree on proposed amendments to the law.
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