There has been a great deal of discussion lately about breed discrimination. In Maryland, where I live, there is deep discrimination against pit bulls and mixes that look like pit bulls. Last year, the Court of Appeals (that is our highest state court), passed a ruling that said that all Pit Bull dogs are ‘inherently dangerous.’ On top of that they said that Landlords would be held responsible if anyone who they rent to has a Pit Bull dog and it bites someone. This is out and out breed discrimination.
The ruling stemmed from a dog bite inflicted on a child by a dog who lived his life on a chain and was not adequately socialized. How sad for all involved. A 10 year old child and his family were traumatized, which is terrible. But the family did not just sue the owner, they also sued the Landlord (a 92 year old woman who happened to die before the case was finished). The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the boy’s family and against the Landlord, saying that the Landlord was responsible because she should have known that there was a pit bull on her property, and that all pit bulls are inherently dangerous. I am sorry but all dogs, especially if they are tied up have the potential to bite.
You may wonder what all this means, so let me try to explain. Let’s say I had three dogs: Louise (hound/lab), Sofie (sheltie/corgie), and Sweet Pea (a Pit Bull). If someone broke in to my house and Louise attached them, the person that broke in would be at fault for being on my property. But, if Sweet Pea bit them, I would be at fault for owning a Pit Bull. Not only would I be at fault but if I was a renter, my Landlord could be sued because I have a Pit Bull.
Shelters are filling up with any dog that even looks like a Pit and they are having a really hard time getting them adopted out. Insurance companies are refusing to insure people with Pit Bull dogs. Last week, Maryland Sen. Brian Frosh (D-Montgomery County) pushed a bill that would counteract the anti-pit bull court ruling, the Capital Gazette reports. The House unanimously approved the bill so it heads to the Senate next.
I do hope that breed discrimination in Maryland does not become the law of the land. What would you do if all of a sudden your dog was deemed ‘inherently dangerous,’ and your Landlord said the dog had to go?
Sometimes people ask me if Louise is a Pit Bull – I don’t know what I would do if someone tried to take her away (I think I might bite them (I believe humans are inherently dangerous)).
Just another DogDaz morning at the zoo ❤
DogDaz Zoo 
mollieandalfie
February 26, 2013 at 05:26
I think it is terrible about the stigma the Pit Ball gets, it’s not the dogs it the owners. We are not allowed them in the UK, I think they are lovely dogs xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 07:51
Really? They are banned in the UK? That is a shame. They are a wonderful loving breed. Yes, it is the humans that are the problem.
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Genevieve Petrillo
February 26, 2013 at 06:16
I work at the Veteran’s Home with a pit bull named Dottie. She is the gentlest, sweetest dog I ever met. Mom always tells me I should try to be more like Dottie!
Love and licks and sometimes I’m inherently naughty,
Cupcake
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 07:52
How sweet Cupcake. Dottie sounds like a nice friend.
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themisadventuresofmisaki
February 26, 2013 at 06:38
Agree with Mollie, its all about the owner sadly.
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 07:52
Like I said, humans are inherently dangerous. Not yours of course, Misaki.
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themisadventuresofmisaki
February 26, 2013 at 07:54
sometimes I wonder BOL
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Animalcouriers
February 26, 2013 at 07:20
Love this post. Inherently dangerous? Think man’kind’ is the only inherently dangerous species on earth.
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 07:53
So true. There are several dog fighting rings here in Maryland and we see a lot of bait dogs left on the side of the road. People are terrible.
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Sandy
February 26, 2013 at 07:47
My rottweilers have the same bad reputation. In reality they are just big babies who want to love and to be loved. It is all about how they are treated.
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 07:54
Yes Sandy. Your Rottweilers are so cute.
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Vicki Flaherty
February 26, 2013 at 08:42
Thank you, Lorian, for sharing this post. The solution to the problem is love…so often it’s love.
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 09:57
So true Vicki. ❤
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Margarita
February 26, 2013 at 10:32
We would have to move. If our Mickey isn’t welcome, neither are the rest of us! xoxoM
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 10:51
That is my feeling too. But what if your whole state was against your breed of dog. Oh my.
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Margarita
February 26, 2013 at 11:05
We’d still have to find someplace to live. That would take care of the immediate problem. Then we actively participate in helping people understand that the problem is not the breed, but rather the treatment these animals have been subjected to, regardless of the breed. The treatment stems from people, so people are the problem. It’s that simple, but not that easy! xoxoM
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mythreemoggies
February 26, 2013 at 11:41
We are not allowed them in the UK. We have nasty people who did not bring a few up right and the dog breed got in a lot of trouble one too many times and now classed as dangerous 😦
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 12:59
How sad. That is what I mean about breed discrimination.
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Ann Paws
February 26, 2013 at 17:48
Those dogs are perfect for the kissing booth. It is so sad to hear about this. Sometimes, when dogs come into shelters that are apparently pit bulls, nice people will name them as lab mixes, boxer mixes, etc. I’ve even met a veterinarian who changed the breed of the dog in her records for owners for reasons like this. One reason I don’t live somewhere else right now is because of my dog. She’s a pit bull. While I’d like to move, I don’t think it would be easy with her.
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 18:47
I like those vets!
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catfromhell
February 26, 2013 at 20:45
We have been there! When we moved to another city, we has a dog that was a heeler x. She was well behaved, well mannered, loved kids, did not bark and we had references from previous landlords. One large rental management company had Heelers on their DO NOT RENT list and that put half the condos available in the city out of our reach. Dogs are like kids, its nature vs nurture and nurture will win out every time.
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dogdaz
February 26, 2013 at 21:09
So sad. Heelers are cool dogs. Didn’t know that they would be on anyone’s list.
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Jessica
February 27, 2013 at 19:51
Your last comment is very poignant: given that it is OUR actions that impact the behavior of our dogs, I DO feel that humans can be inherently dangerous! And sometimes (in regards to breed discrimination) very stupid!
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dogdaz
February 27, 2013 at 20:16
I think we are the most dangerous species going. We kill more of everything then any other animal
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Wanderlust Pups
March 5, 2013 at 15:09
Breed discrimination is a human problem. It’s not the dogs faults. We are responsible. The only dangers a well socialized or rehabilitated pit pose is kissing too much… and maybe smooshing you with a pit bull hug. One of my favorite pit bulls roughhouses with my 6 1/2 lb mini doxie puppy. I’m a worrisome mommy sometimes and I never worry about it when they play together. Seriously though, pit bull hugs are dangerous. I’ve been knocked over and squished a few times by excited doggies.
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dogdaz
March 5, 2013 at 15:18
So true. I have to watch when Sofie and Louise gang up on me and bring the Mommy down. 🙂
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