Pit bull shooting opens debate over dogs

Annapolis, MD -- The police shooting of two pit bulls engaged in a staged dogfight last week in Eastport has resulted in renewed discussion of rules governing the potentially dangerous animals.

Although the Annapolis Housing Authority bans big dogs and dangerous animals are closely regulated by the county, the city does not have separate regulations for pit bulls. Alderwoman Cynthia Carter, who has already tried once to tighten the rules, sees the animals as a threat.

"I'm against having them as pets. They aren't pets! They were bred to kill and destroy," said Mrs. Carter, whose former mother-in-law was injured by one of the animals. "They are dangerous animals. I've only known them to be destructive. If someone has a pit bull, it's for no good."

The incident Jan. 11 occurred at about 8:30 a.m. between the Harbor House and Eastport Terrace apartment complexes, both owned by the Housing Authority. When officers arrived, the dogs were biting each other and covered in blood. Three men, thought to be the dogs' owners, ran away.

Police tried to contain the dogs, but they charged. Both dogs were shot and destroyed.

"I was shocked when I heard about the fight," said Anita Jackson, Annapolis Housing Authority director of community safety.

The authority created a policy in 2000 that requires written approval for any pet. Animals whose adult weight will exceed 30 pounds are forbidden, and pit bulls, specifically, are illegal on public housing property.

"People are generally afraid of them," Ms. Jackson said.

Residents found to have a pet in violation of the policy are given seven days to remove the animal. County Animal Control officers can then take the animal.

Pit bulls are not a breed but rather a type of dog, which could include everything from the purebred American pit bull terrier to any mutt with features resembling the breed, according to Julie King of Dogwatch.Net.

Four years ago, Mrs. Carter, D-Ward 6, introduced legislation to impose stringent restrictions on pit bull owners elsewhere in the city. She withdrew the bill after others on the City Council called it unenforceable. But the county passed similar bill focusing on dangerous animals.

"The law is highly effective and efficient in keeping animals under control," said Tahira Thomas, county Animal Control administrator and author of the county law.

The law forces owners to control the behavior of their animals and was created after Animal Control got letters from people who were victimized or threatened by aggressive animals.

"If an animal is declared dangerous, it is automatically impounded," Ms. Thomas said. "This puts the community at ease because the immediate threat has been removed, and the animal is protected from retaliatory harm from members of the community."

The animal is released when restrictions placed on the owner by Animal Control have been implemented, ranging from spaying or neutering the animal to creating a kennel to obtaining an insurance policy.

Even when pit bulls do attack, it is only a small part of recorded dog bites in the county each year. They were responsible for only a small number of the 860 dog bites reported last year from all breeds combined, Ms. Thomas said. Only 5 percent of these required sanctions by Animal Control, and most of those were repeat biters.

"Pit bulls have the power and tenacity to cause considerable damage, but properly socialized and trained pit bulls are well behaved and not a problem," Ms. Thomas said.