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Administrator
City of Laurel asking county executive to revisit pit bull ban
Mayor sends letter saying it's time to lift restriction
by Timmy Gelles and Jeffrey K. Lyles | Staff Writers
Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe said he has noticed an increase in pit bull terriers within the city, but the animals were leashed, well-behaved and completely under the owner's control, prompting him to ask that the county ban restricting them be lifted.
A discussion at the July 13 City Council meeting regarding pit bulls in the city prompted Moe to send a letter to Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) July 14 asking the county to revisit the existing county-wide ban.
"We ought to look to work with the county. We need to revise the law and take a look at it," Moe said at the meeting.
The Staffordshire bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier and the American pit bull terrier breed of dogs born in Prince George's County after Feb. 3, 1997, are illegal in the county. The late County Councilman Isaac Gourdine pushed for the law after a young girl in his district was mauled, but survived an attack by a pack of pit bulls. Residents who have had their pit bull before that date can apply for a dog license and pit bull registration form through the county.
Those found with pit bulls born after that date can receive a maximum sentence of six months in prison and up to $1,000 in fines.
Prince George's County Police spokesman Henry Tippett said he estimates that there has been a decrease in calls concerning pit bulls since the ban took effect. Laurel's animal control officer, a member of the city police department, enforces the law within the 22,000-resident municipality.
The County Council rejected requests by task forces consisting of community members, animal groups and county officers to rescind the ban in 1999 and 2006.
"There are still concerns about some people who utilized such dogs to assist in gang and drug related activities," County Council Vice Chairman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist.1) of Laurel said in an e-mail. "A lot of animal lovers want the ban repealed and some residents oppose lifting it. I doubt that the issue will go away any time soon."
Adrianne Lefkowitz, president of the Maryland Dog Federation, a Greenbelt-based organization that favors the ban's removal, said her group plans to offer assistance to Laurel.
"The law is still ineffective. It is still doing all of the negatives and none of the positives. The breed ban is an overlay law and not really needed," Lefkowitz said. "It's not really working. It hasn't done much to reduce the numbers. It's been repealed in many places such as Miami and it's being challenged in Denver."
City Councilman Frederick Smalls (Ward 2) said that until the ban is rescinded, residents must be mindful of the restriction.
"I am a dog lover but the law is the law," Smalls said. "I ride around city and see so many people walking their pit bulls with seemingly no regard."
City of Laurel asking county executive to revisit pit bull ban
Mayor sends letter saying it's time to lift restriction
by Timmy Gelles and Jeffrey K. Lyles | Staff Writers
Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe said he has noticed an increase in pit bull terriers within the city, but the animals were leashed, well-behaved and completely under the owner's control, prompting him to ask that the county ban restricting them be lifted.
A discussion at the July 13 City Council meeting regarding pit bulls in the city prompted Moe to send a letter to Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) July 14 asking the county to revisit the existing county-wide ban.
"We ought to look to work with the county. We need to revise the law and take a look at it," Moe said at the meeting.
The Staffordshire bull terrier, the American Staffordshire terrier and the American pit bull terrier breed of dogs born in Prince George's County after Feb. 3, 1997, are illegal in the county. The late County Councilman Isaac Gourdine pushed for the law after a young girl in his district was mauled, but survived an attack by a pack of pit bulls. Residents who have had their pit bull before that date can apply for a dog license and pit bull registration form through the county.
Those found with pit bulls born after that date can receive a maximum sentence of six months in prison and up to $1,000 in fines.
Prince George's County Police spokesman Henry Tippett said he estimates that there has been a decrease in calls concerning pit bulls since the ban took effect. Laurel's animal control officer, a member of the city police department, enforces the law within the 22,000-resident municipality.
The County Council rejected requests by task forces consisting of community members, animal groups and county officers to rescind the ban in 1999 and 2006.
"There are still concerns about some people who utilized such dogs to assist in gang and drug related activities," County Council Vice Chairman Thomas E. Dernoga (D-Dist.1) of Laurel said in an e-mail. "A lot of animal lovers want the ban repealed and some residents oppose lifting it. I doubt that the issue will go away any time soon."
Adrianne Lefkowitz, president of the Maryland Dog Federation, a Greenbelt-based organization that favors the ban's removal, said her group plans to offer assistance to Laurel.
"The law is still ineffective. It is still doing all of the negatives and none of the positives. The breed ban is an overlay law and not really needed," Lefkowitz said. "It's not really working. It hasn't done much to reduce the numbers. It's been repealed in many places such as Miami and it's being challenged in Denver."
City Councilman Frederick Smalls (Ward 2) said that until the ban is rescinded, residents must be mindful of the restriction.
"I am a dog lover but the law is the law," Smalls said. "I ride around city and see so many people walking their pit bulls with seemingly no regard."
City of Laurel asking county executive to revisit pit bull ban