Dog Owners

Erica Carter's move from Pasadena to Baltimore was difficult, she said, not because of the lack of housing options, but because many places would not allow her pit bull Bailey. Though Carter has settled into a rental near Patterson Park, she said the search was daunting. And she fears it will only get worse with her next move after last week's Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that pit bulls are inherently dangerous animals. The court's decision could have far-reaching implications for landlords and dog owners who rent.

The first time Frank Moraff entered his chocolate Labrador retriever Cali in aquatic competition at 8 months old, she stopped short at the edge of the 40-foot dock and stared as the toy he'd flung, and that she so desperately wanted, went sailing into the air without her. After considerable urging, "she finally slid off the dock and did a belly flop," he recalled, shaking his head and smiling. But in her second attempt that same day, she redeemed herself and jumped 17 feet. "I was thrilled," said the longtime Columbia resident, who is a member of Chesapeake DockDogs, a canine dock jumping club formed in 2003 that has 60 families as members.

I wonder why strict liability is limited to pit bulls ("Pit bull fans schedule a rally today in Annapolis," May 15)? Blame becomes an issue only after a person is injured. If a dog is as loving and benign as most owners claim, why fear strict liability? William S. Ramsey, Columbia

In response to William Ramsey's letter regarding pit bulls, I couldn't agree more ("Why not hold all dog owners accountable?" May 16). Pet owners should be liable for the risk presented to the rest of us when they select a breed to own. If pit bulls have been maligned in media reports of them attacking people, why worry about the liability? Do pit bull owners expect me to believe that the news media don't report dog attacks when they don't involve pit bulls? I tolerate my neighbors' dogs barking at all hours, and I understand that they can't clean up half of what their dogs do on my lawn.

When I first started going to Robert E. Lee Park ("Park back, with rules for dogs," Oct. 13) eight years ago, I would take a bucket to carry out the broken glass, used condoms, hypodermic needles, liquor bottles, plastic bags and cans. I carried out at least two pounds, sometimes up to 10 pounds every day. Lately I just take broken glass and cans out of the water itself. This horrible stuff wasn't brought in by dog people, who have been demonized all over Baltimore. Responsible dog owners use the park day in and day out, snow, rain and sunshine, dawn to nightfall; picnickers don't do that.

I'm fed up. This Saturday morning while running my dogs around Lake Elkhorn I came across three people standing on the trail talking, with a black dog at their side. At least one of them could clearly see me coming. I shortened up my already short leashes (4 feet long) and proceeded to run past them. As I did, the dog lurched at us and broadsided one of my dogs, forcing me off the trail. I turned and said, "Why don't you control your dog?" To which the owner said, "Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

The first time Frank Moraff entered his chocolate Labrador retriever Cali in aquatic competition at 8 months old, she stopped short at the edge of the 40-foot dock and stared as the toy he'd flung, and that she so desperately wanted, went sailing into the air without her. After considerable urging, "she finally slid off the dock and did a belly flop," he recalled, shaking his head and smiling. But in her second attempt that same day, she redeemed herself and jumped 17 feet. "I was thrilled," said the longtime Columbia resident, who is a member of Chesapeake DockDogs, a canine dock jumping club formed in 2003 that has 60 families as members.

A vicious dog should be euthanized.It doesn't matter that such animals are often the result of poor breeding and ignorant or willfully cruel treatment. When a dog without provocation attacks people or other pets, it should be killed. No neutering, no muzzling, no confinement. No second chances.That said, I believe it's wrong to condemn a breed of dog because a few of its members are dangerous, and I am saddened by the news that the British have done precisely that.Earlier this month, British Prime Minister John Major declared an immediate ban on the importation of American pit bull terriers and other breeds developed for fighting.

About 100 dog owners gathered Thursday night at Riverside Park Pavilion in Federal Hill to protest the $1,000 fines for owners who allow their animals outside without a leash. Animal control officers began issuing the costly citations this month. The amount is 10 times the previous fine for first-time offenders. City Councilman Edward L. Reisinger held an open forum where he and Councilman William H. Cole IV listened to dozens of dog owners, who called the new fines "excessive" while arguing for off-leash early-morning hours in city parks.

It might have been a bit early for Santa, but then dogs are terrible at keeping track of dates.Pet owners lined up yesterday at the Coventry School for Dogs and Their People in Columbia for a picture of their pooch with a jolly looking, red-suited and false-bearded St. Nick.Eager for their turn, many of the queued-up canines tried to scramble over flimsy wooden gates, earning reproach from their masters and a recruitment pitch from Ruth Chase, the dean of the obedience school.Some dogs were dressed for the occasion, sporting ribbons or red hats with fake fur linings.

I wonder why strict liability is limited to pit bulls ("Pit bull fans schedule a rally today in Annapolis," May 15)? Blame becomes an issue only after a person is injured. If a dog is as loving and benign as most owners claim, why fear strict liability? William S. Ramsey, Columbia

I want to pick up where Pamela Reid and Kristen Collins of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals left off in their recent letter to the editor ("Dangerous dogs are a problem; scapegoating pit bulls won't solve it," May 3). "The problem of dangerous dogs does require serious attention, but it won't be remedied by the 'quick fix' of breed specific laws," the authors point out. "Rather, we should seek the effective enforcement of breed neutral laws that hold dog owners accountable for the actions of their animals.

A group of animal activists is asking Gov. Martin O'Malley to quickly introduce legislation that would override a Maryland Court of Appeals decision deeming all pit bulls dangerous. Maryland Votes for Animals and similar organizations are urging residents to call the governor's office Tuesday to lobby him to act during the special General Assembly session scheduled to begin Monday. "We feel this is terribly important," said Carolyn Kilborn, chair and founder of Maryland Votes for Animals.

Erica Carter's move from Pasadena to Baltimore was difficult, she said, not because of the lack of housing options, but because many places would not allow her pit bull Bailey. Though Carter has settled into a rental near Patterson Park, she said the search was daunting. And she fears it will only get worse with her next move after last week's Maryland Court of Appeals ruling that pit bulls are inherently dangerous animals. The court's decision could have far-reaching implications for landlords and dog owners who rent.

I strongly disagree with Dan Rodricks ' column on pit bulls ("Pit bulls: Own at your risk," May 1). I am a dog lover and I know all dogs are not dangerous. Dog owners have to know how to train their dogs appropriately. The dog is a follower; it follows its owner and what he/she tells the dog what to do. Dogs are innocent, people are guilty! I'll be so glad and appreciate if Mr. Rodricks changes his mind. Kayla Waters, Lannon, Wis.

The Maryland SPCA is not only disappointed in the Maryland Court of Appeals recent ruling stating all "pit bulls" are inherently dangerous but also Dan Rodricks ' commentary ("Pit bulls: Own at your risk," April 30). It is tragic to hear of anyone harmed by an animal. We believe these situations can be avoided by responsible dog owners. To prevent dog bites and attacks, owners must appropriately supervise their dogs, provide them with training and socialization, and have them spayed/neutered.

Every day, dog owners in Baltimore defiantly break city leash laws by allowing their pooches to frolic freely on streets and in parks. But rather than continue to risk steep fines - up to $1,000 - members of Responsible Dog Owners Group (R-Dog) have been lobbying the city to create off-leash parks for their pets. City officials support the idea, providing the public approves and someone else bears the brunt of the cost. Tomorrow night, to gauge public opinion, the Department of Recreation and Parks will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the South Baltimore Recreation Center, 106 E. Cross St. "It's an ongoing problem in every neighborhood park," said Marvin F. Billups Jr., who heads the parks department.

MOST PET owners leash their dogs. They control them and make sure they don't pose a danger to other people. That's how it's supposed to work. It's called being responsible. But Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel seemed completely oblivious to that line of thinking, blind to the very notion that somehow pet owners are accountable for the behavior of their pets. When their ferocious dogs - which weren't leashed - mauled their San Francisco neighbor, Diane Whipple, to death last year, they expressed shock that anyone might blame them.

Dan Rodricks proclaims his annoyance with those of us who walk out of grocery stores with plastic bags ("Overpriced popcorn, O's early-season tease and other annoyances," April 26). I'd wager that the majority of us who offend Mr. Rodricks in this way are dog owners. I have three big ones, and they leave big messes on lawns. If you want me to pick up after them, I need plastic bags to do it. Sorry if it's ecologically unsound, but I'm not about to use a cloth bag and wash the bag. Fred Pasek, Frederick

Pit bulls are inherently dangerous animals, the state's highest court has ruled, a decision that could lead to stiff penalties for people found responsible in attacks — even if the dogs have never been violent before. A decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals, issued this week, distinguishes pit bulls and mixed breeds from other kinds of dogs. In the past, a victim intending to file a lawsuit after a dog attack had to prove that a dog's owner knew it had a history of being dangerous.