Maryland Votes for Animals

Please MAKE ONE MORE CALL for Maryland’s dogs!

Many of you are aware that four different bills were introduced as a legislative remedy to the Tracy v. Solesky pit-bull ruling for the Special Session that ended this week.   Make no mistake that your lawmakers---including the house and senate leaders---heard you loud and clear!  Special thanks to the legislators who sponsored these bills: Delegates Cardin, Bromwell, McMillan, Mizeur, Smigel and Senator Pipkin.

While we were not successful in getting legislation on the agenda for the 1^st special session we definitely got the attention of both Speaker Busch and Senate President Mike Miller.  They’ve both voiced interest in putting legislation on the agenda for the possible 2^nd Special Session that could occur in July!

However, the news is less positive from Governor O’Malley.  A spokesperson from his office said on Tuesday, May 15^th that legislation would not be on the agenda for the 2^nd session.

That’s why we’re asking that you now direct your calls back to Governor O’Malley’s office at 410-974-3901.

Please be polite and say something like this (if applicable):

“I’m calling to ask the Governor to put legislation that will supersede the pit-bull ruling on the agenda for the 2^nd Special Session.  I’m a tenant in a rental property and I’m at risk of either losing my apartment or giving up my beloved dog.  Please put this on the agenda for the 2^nd Special Session because I can’t wait until 2013 – I need help now.”

PLEASE CALL NOW and until the Governor announces he'll put this on the agenda for the 2nd Special Session.  If it’s after hours, please leave a voicemail message and send an email to the Governor at http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/.  Tell your friends to call.  We ARE being heard but the closer we get, the harder we need to push. Tell the Governor how much you want this heard during the 2nd Special Session.  Time is critical – your calls are needed today and until the Governor announces that he'll put this on the agenda for the 2nd Special Session!

And, THANK YOU for all you do for the animals!

Sincerely,

Carolyn and the Board of MVFA: Valerie, Kim, Lynn, Joe, Kathy, Michelle, Frank, Darlene, David and Harriett

Thanks to everyone who showed up today on behalf of Maryland’s dogs at Lawyer’s Mall at the foot of the Capitol, including the terrific organizers of the event, Dara Crystal and Kat Homan-Soul.   It was an impressive crowd.  One of the legislators said it was a bigger turnout than for the anti-tax r

Many of our legislators are responding positively to your calls and emails asking for their help with a legislative remedy to the Tracey v. Solesky ruling that says pit-bulls and pit-bull mixes are inherently dangerous.  THANK YOU, you are being heard!  Even if you don’t have a pit-bull your help is needed.  Today it’s pit-bulls but tomorrow it could be Boxers, German Shepherds, etc.  That’s why it’s so important that we all stand together on this issue whether we have a pit-bull or not.

You’ll be pleased to know that some of our legislators are encouraging us to keep up the pressure!  Therefore we’re asking you to contact the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President as soon as possible and ask that they include this issue in next week’s Special Session.  Nothing but public pressure will get this topic included in the Special Session agenda.

Contact information:

Governor Martin O’Malley

Call his office at 410-974-3336 or email him at http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail. 

Speaker of the House, Michael Busch

Call his office at 410-841-3800 or e-mail him at michael.busch@house.state.md.us

President of the Senate, Mike Miller

Call his office at 410-841-3700 or e-mail him at thomas.v.mike.miller@senate.state.md.us

Peaceful Rally to Overturn Pit-bull Ruling:

A rally is being organized by other animal advocates at the State House on Tuesday afternoon, May 15, 2012.  They’re asking that the Maryland General Assembly take action to supersede the pit-bull ruling during the Special Session.  While MVFA is not organizing this rally, some of us will be there and we encourage you to join us.  If you come, please keep in mind that this must be a peaceful rally with NO DOGS ALLOWED. 

You can find all the details at: http://www.facebook.com/events/303516773063291/303733233041645/.

May 7, 2012

The Honorable Martin O’Malley
Office of the Governor
100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

Dear Governor O’Malley:

We are writing to respectfully request your consideration of the recent ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals in Tracey v. Solesky which modifies the Maryland common law of liability as it relates to “pit bull”, “pit bull mix” and “cross-bred pit bull mix” dogs.  A change of this magnitude to Maryland common law is the responsibility and duty of the legislature, not the courts.  It is our hope that, as you call a special session of the General Assembly, you will ask the legislature to thoughtfully examine this complex issue and enact rational and reasonable legislation to address this ruling based on facts about dogs, dog bites and dog behavior. 

Carolyn Kilborn and other panelists weighed in on the Court of Appeals decision on pit bulls on the Marc Steiner Show on WEAA, 88.9 FM, on May 8, from 5 to 6 pm.  You can listen to a podcast of the panel discussion with this link:

http://www.steinershow.org/radio/the-marc-steiner-show/may-8-2012-segment-1

On April 26, 2012, the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a decision which has serious and far-reaching consequences for everyone in Maryland who deals with dogs.  In the case of Tracey v. Solesky.  The court ruled that in a dog attack involving a pit bull or a pit bull cross, the owner or other persons (including a landlord) who have the right to control a pit bull’s presence on a premises, is liable for damages caused by the dog.  Previous to this ruling a landlord could only be held liable if the landlord had a reason to believe that a dog was dangerous.