Marylanders Rally Against Pit Bull Court Opinion

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. It holds owners and landlords liable for attacks involving a dog believed to be a pit bull.

"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 Lawyers 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.

In Howard County, the Animal Control shelter said that is still adopting out and accepting pit bulls.

"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 has rescued two of the dogs.

"[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 firsthand. Before she adopted her pit bull Krush, she said he came from an abusive environment, and was once tied to a outdoor banister 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 lovable 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 TheThe Pretty Chic With The Pits.

"My dogs really did save my life," she said. "They've showed me compassion and unconditional love."

Maryland Senate President Mike Miller said that the General Assembly will not consider legislation to overturn the pit bull ruling in the special session this week, according to WUSA 9, but may consider it during a second session this summer.