A Plea for Help!

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. State-Wide Call-in for Dogs TODAY! Tens of thousands of dogs will die without your help! Hi Krista, On April 26, 2012, the Maryland Court of Appeals issued a decision which has serious and far-reaching consequences for everyone in Maryland who deals with dogs. In the case of Tracey v. Solesky. The court ruled that in a dog attack involving a pit bull or a pit bull cross, the owner or other persons (including a landlord) who have the right to control a pit bull’s presence on a premises, is liable for damages caused by the dog. Previous to this ruling a landlord could only be held liable if the landlord had a reason to believe that a dog was dangerous. This ruling effects dog owners, residential and commercial landlords, veterinarians, groomers, and pet stores. Landlord associations are already advising landlords that they can’t afford the liability of having tenants with pit bulls and pit bull mixes, and dog owners are being pressured to give up well-tempered family dogs. The ruling sets a very dangerous precedent under which other dog breeds can be designated as inherently dangerous. It discourages landlords from renting to families with pit bulls, pit bull mixes, or anything that anyone thinks looks like a pit bull. Some landlords will decide it is easier and safer to ban all dogs from their residential and commercial properties. Please call Governor Martin O’Malley on Tuesday, May 8 to urge him to support introduction of legislation during next week’s special session to provide a legislative remedy to the Court of Appeals ruling on pit bulls. Dangerous dog legislation should be based on a dog’s behavior, not the dog’s breed. We want to create an impression by overwhelming the phone lines at the Governor’s office on Tuesday but calls are needed any time this week. You can also e-mail the Governor. Be polite. The Governor and his staff did not create this problem, and we need their support to solve it. Governor Martin O’Malley 410 974-3901 1 800 811-8336 Maryland Relay: 1 800 735-2258 http://www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/ Sample script/letter: Dear Governor O'Malley: Please put a legislative remedy to the pit-bull ruling on the agenda for the special session starting next week. The consequenses of this ruling are so dire that pit-bulls, their owners and landlords cannot wait until 2013. We ask for your intervention now. Sincerely. ________________(your name and address) Thank you for all you do for the animals! Sincerely, Carolyn and the Board of Directors of MVFA: Valerie, Kim, Joe, Kathy, Lynn, Frank, Michelle, Darlene, Harriett and David PLEASE HELP. Want to make a difference but don't have the time? Just click here to help MVFA fight for better animal protection in Maryland. TELL A FRIEND Don't forget, our strength is in our numbers. Forward this email to your friends and ask them to join MVFA. NOT A MEMBER? SIGN UP NOW! We want to change the law in Maryland. All it's going to take is voters. When you add your name to our membership, you're giving us the firepower necessary to influence legislators to pass humane legislation in Maryland. It's such a simple act, won't you help? Sign up now. You are receiving this email because you asked Maryland Votes For Animals to keep you up to date on developments in humane legislation in Maryland. Unsubscribe kmagnifico@aol.com from this list. Our mailing address is: Maryland Votes For Animals PO Box 6423 Annapolis, MD 21401-6423 Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2012 - Maryland Votes For Animals, All rights reserved. Maryland Votes For Animals - Kimberly Jackson, Treasurer Forward this email to a friend Update your profile