Does your dog use a backpack to burn extra energy on a walk? How about use a treadmill or weight pull equipment for sport or conditioning? These items may soon make you a target in Baltimore. Not only that, but with new laws already in place that have recently removed judicial review from animal matter hearings, if you’re targeted, there’s very little you can to about it, too. (Read more about that, here.)
According to CBS Baltimore, City Council is trying to make these items, and others, such as break sticks- commonly used to break up dog fights, considered “dog fighting paraphernalia,” and posession of them a crime, punishable by $1,000, and up to 90 days in prison. (For the record, some of our local shelters use break sticks to safely break up dog fights as needed, without injury.)
Why is this a problem? As someone that addresses 100% behavior modification training these days, adequate exercise is often a challenge for owners of working breeds, terriers, and others. I recommend dog treadmills, and weight pull training and equipment to clients on a weekly basis, or more often! Read “Weight Pull Saved my Dog-Life” by Kristina Vakharia, a friend, client, and city resident, to learn the benefits of such training. Additionally, there are legitimate competitive sports that utilize this equipment, such as APA weight pull, among others, which have competitions locally.
As with many other things, making these things illegal for outlaws (who, by definition, aren’t going to care about the laws, anyway) really only effects the responsible owners out there. For those of us who choose to have high maintenance dogs, maintaining their needs may get that much harder! Start writing City Council now. Be sure they’re aware that this equipment is NOT just for dog fighting, and that you’re not interested in seeing this law come into effect.
Office of the City Council President, 100 N. Holliday Street, Suite 400, Baltimore, MD 21202
Coucil President: Bernard Young, CouncilPresident@baltimorecity.gov
District 1: James Kraft, James.Kraft@baltimorecity.gov
District 2: Brandon Scott, Brandon.Scott@baltimorecity.gov
District 3: Robert Curran, Robert.Curran@baltimorecity.gov
District 4: Bill Henry, Bill.Henry@baltimorecity.gov
District 5: Rochelle Spector, Rochelle.Spector@baltimorecity.gov
District 6: Sharon Middleton, Sharon.Middleton@baltimorecity.gov
District 7: Nick Mosby, Nick.Mosby@baltimorecity.gov
District 8: Helen Holton, Helen.Holton@baltimorecity.gov
District 9: William Welch, William.Welch@baltimorecity.gov
District 10: Edward Reisinger, Edward.Reisinger@baltimorecity.gov
District 11: Eric Costello, Eric.Costello@baltimorecity.gov
District 12: Carl Stokes, Carl.Stokes@baltimorecity.gov
District 13: Warren Branch, Warren.Branch@baltimorecity.gov
District 14: Mary Pat Clarke, MaryPat.Clarke@baltimorecity.gov