House Closer to Passing Dog Bite Law

Without a word of dissent, the House of Delegates gave preliminary approval today to a bill that would spare pit bulls from a Court of Appeals ruling that holds their owners and their landlords automatically responsible for dog bites.  WYPR’s Karen Hosler reports.

Karen Hosler: Today’s speedy action suggests full House approval may come as soon as tomorrow. Senate action is also expected shortly on the measure, which would apply to all dog breeds and give owners and landlords the right to defend themselves.

Delegate Luiz Simmons: It really is a good compromise in that it increases the protections for victims of dog bites by allowing them to get to a jury or make their case without having to prove that the owner had prior knowledge about the dog’s propensity to be aggressive.

Hosler: That was Delegate Luiz Simmons, a Montgomery County Democrat.  He said the emergency measure is intended to stop landlords from evicting pit bull owners.

Simmons: This really was a tragedy for a lot of people.

Hosler: And will continue to be for a while at least. I’m Karen Hosler, reporting in Annapolis, for 88.1 WYPR