Should Pit Bulls Be Banned in Odenton? Readers Respond

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ODENTON, MD–A recent attack by a pit bull of its owner in Anne Arundel County has again ignited a debate in Maryland about whether the breed is inherently dangerous.

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On April 4, a dog was euthanized by police after it attacked a Churchton woman and would not let go. The incident prompted comment from Tony Solesky, a Towson man whose son was mauled by a pit bull in 2007.

After Solesky’s child was attacked, a Maryland court ruled pit bulls are “inherently dangerous.” The ruling held dog owners and landlords liable for any attacks by pit bulls, prompting landlords statewide to ban the dogs from rental housing.

A 2014 Maryland law supported by the Humane Society overturned the breed-specific ruling, reports The Huffington Post.

We asked Patch Readers in Odenton if pit bulls deserved the title of “Most Dangerous Dog in America” and the ban that sometimes comes along with it.

Here’s what they had to say:

• "No. There are no dangerous dogs... just dangerous dog owners. I drive around Odenton and see countless dogs outside, tethered to a leash all day long, most likely out of neglect. Don't get a dog if you aren't going to train and care of it!"
• "I don't agree with the above statement at all. I suffered a severe dog bite to my mouth and lip when I was seven which required going to a plastic surgeon and getting over 100 stitches. The owner of this dog AND the dog played some responsibility."
• "Why is the pit bull the most common dog found in shelters? Why do people give them up?"
• "As a dog owner in Odenton I'm constantly reminded of how few responsible dog owners we actually have around here. The vast majority of dog owners in my neighborhood never walk their dogs, don't socialize them with other dogs or people, leave them out in yards for hours on end, sometimes without water or proper fencing. Having pets is a heavy responsibility and I'm saddened by how many people take on that responsibility without being prepared to live up to it. As for breeds, no, there should not be restrictions. There should be strict laws and serious consequences for people who treat their pets poorly."
• "No! Some of the best most friendly dogs I know are pit bulls"
• "Absolutely not! That is no different than racism. All pit bulls are not bad. They Are very loving loyal family dogs. If you put as much focus on other breeds you will find similar problems."
• "Yes, but only if you ban the true terror of the dog world... Chihuahuas!"
• "When I had just moved here to Maryland I remember hearing on WTOP radio about an infant that was killed by a dachshund."
• "No! I think there should be a ban of dangerous people in our town, keep the pit bulls. It's not the animals it's the horrible people."
• "NO"

The ASPCA released a statement stating that they “oppose any state or local law to regulate or ban dogs based on breed.”

They explain that the data collection methods that go into forming these statistics are often unreliable. Specifically, breed-identification can be difficult, especially with mixed-breed dogs, which can lead to an inaccurate calculation of a breed’s bite rate.

The National Canine Research Council says that responsible pet ownership is the key to aggression prevention, and that it’s the duty of the owner to not allow “a pet to become a threat or a nuisance.”

While the question of “bad breeds” is still up in the air, for every bad pit bull story, there’s a good one to match.

Do you have an opinion on pitties? Share it with us in the comments below or on our Odenton Patch Facebook page.

Make sure to check out our national Patch Pets Facebook page for the latest news from the animal kingdom.

>>Photo by Getty Images via Flickr