Post by RealPitBull on Jun 23, 2009 14:21:09 GMT -5
June 17, 2009
A Message from Governor O'Malley
Dear Friends,
Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts concerning dogfighting in the State of Maryland. In our home, we have three dogs -- Lady, Rex and Winnie -- that we consider part of our family and I appreciate hearing from you about this important topic.
Dogfighting is a violent problem in our state and across the nation. Often rooted in organized crime, dogfighting is a vicious blood sport that not only victimizes the dogs in question but is too often accompanied by other violent crimes that are linked with this criminal behavior.
Maryland has a comprehensive law designed to combat dogfighting, enabling the State´s law enforcement officials to pursue investigations and prosecutions in multiple ways depending on the facts and circumstances involved. Not only does Maryland not allow a dog to be used in a dogfight, the law in this State goes further, and prohibits any person from even allowing a dog to be used in a dogfight, through a third party for example, and also forbids any individual from arranging or conducting such a fight.
Maryland also prohibits any person from possessing, owning, selling, transporting, or training a dog with the intent to use the dog in a dogfight, and further prohibits any person from knowingly allowing premises under his or her control to be used to conduct a dogfight. Any of these violations are classified as a felony in this State, and carry a potential penalty of up to three years in jail, and a $5,000 fine.
Additionally, I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the recent burning of a pit bull in Baltimore City. The Baltimore City Police Department is working hard to investigate this violent and cruel act and bring the individuals responsible to justice. While it is unclear at the moment whether this case is related to dogfighting and whether these individuals can be prosecuted under Maryland's dogfighting law, I have asked the Attorney General´s Office to look into the sufficiency of Maryland's animal cruelty laws to determine if these laws need to be updated to prevent this kind of heinous crime from happening again in Maryland.
Martin O'Malley
Governor
A Message from Governor O'Malley
Dear Friends,
Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts concerning dogfighting in the State of Maryland. In our home, we have three dogs -- Lady, Rex and Winnie -- that we consider part of our family and I appreciate hearing from you about this important topic.
Dogfighting is a violent problem in our state and across the nation. Often rooted in organized crime, dogfighting is a vicious blood sport that not only victimizes the dogs in question but is too often accompanied by other violent crimes that are linked with this criminal behavior.
Maryland has a comprehensive law designed to combat dogfighting, enabling the State´s law enforcement officials to pursue investigations and prosecutions in multiple ways depending on the facts and circumstances involved. Not only does Maryland not allow a dog to be used in a dogfight, the law in this State goes further, and prohibits any person from even allowing a dog to be used in a dogfight, through a third party for example, and also forbids any individual from arranging or conducting such a fight.
Maryland also prohibits any person from possessing, owning, selling, transporting, or training a dog with the intent to use the dog in a dogfight, and further prohibits any person from knowingly allowing premises under his or her control to be used to conduct a dogfight. Any of these violations are classified as a felony in this State, and carry a potential penalty of up to three years in jail, and a $5,000 fine.
Additionally, I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the recent burning of a pit bull in Baltimore City. The Baltimore City Police Department is working hard to investigate this violent and cruel act and bring the individuals responsible to justice. While it is unclear at the moment whether this case is related to dogfighting and whether these individuals can be prosecuted under Maryland's dogfighting law, I have asked the Attorney General´s Office to look into the sufficiency of Maryland's animal cruelty laws to determine if these laws need to be updated to prevent this kind of heinous crime from happening again in Maryland.
Martin O'Malley
Governor
I look forward to learning much here