Bill Would Require Sterilizing Dangerous Dogs

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 From WBALTV.com

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The owners of dogs deemed dangerous by local authorities would be required to spay or neuter their animals within 30 days of receiving notice of the canine’s designation, under a bill proposed by a Maryland lawmaker.

Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, R-Talbot County, told members of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday that her proposal would reduce the number of dogs in shelters and alleviate the aggressiveness of the dog in question.

Local jurisdictions deem a dog dangerous when it has killed or inflicted severe injury on a person without provocation.

Dogs that repeatedly bite people, attack without provocation or kill or severely injure a domestic animal when not on their owner’s property can also be designated “dangerous.”

The bill has the support of the U.S. Humane Society.

“Over 70 percent of dogs involved in biting incidents are male dogs who have not been neutered. Looking back at fatal dog attacks on the whole, about 93 percent come from dogs who have not been sterilized. Within the state of Maryland, every single dog attack since 1965 has involved dogs who are not sterilized,” said Adam Goldfarb, director of the Pets At Risk Humane Society.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee asked for clarification regarding sterilization and were told the animals would be spayed or neutered. Another member wanted to know if there was an exemption for show dogs, but that person was told no — that a dangerous dog is a dangerous dog.

Committee members also learned that this type of regulation is usually handled by a local ordinance rather than a state statute.

“This is very costly to local jurisdictions that have to worry about sheltering or in some cases euthanizing these animals, so it would save local jurisdictions money, as well,” Haddaway-Riccio said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children ages 5 to 9 have the highest rate of dog bite injuries.


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Animal Lover
Animal Lover
14 years ago

What’s the proposal for a dangerous dog that was already castrated or hysterectomied? Studies have shown that animals castrated or hysterectomied before reaching adulthood are more likely to bite. IF they’re all punished before doing something, how would you then explain any dog bites after that???

Maybe your theory would help us females be safer. Take all boys at the age of 13, just when the hormones are starting to flow, and castrate them. We wouldn’t have any more rapists!!!!!!

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