Maryland pit bull ruling delayed

• Tweet

BALTIMORE, July 12 (UPI) -- The Maryland Attorney General's office said a ruling declaring pit bulls "inherently dangerous" must survive an appeal before becoming law.

Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Rowe released an opinion this week in response to a request from Montgomery County Delegate Heather Mizeur for advice on how to interpret the ruling. Rowe told Mizeur a motion for reconsideration of the ruling "delays the effect of the decision."

Mizeur said after the ruling was handed down, she began to receive calls from pit bull owners who were being evicted by their landlords.

The Baltimore Sun reported the original ruling, handed down in April, dictated pit bulls and mixed pit bull breeds were different from other dogs in that they were dangerous by nature. The decision increased the liability of pit bull owners, who were previously able to provide proof to landlords showing their dogs had a nonviolent nature. The requirement still stands for other dog breeds.

The ruling concluded the case of 10-year-old Dominic Solesky, who was mauled by a neighbor's pit bull in 2007. Solesky's family filed suit against the owner's landlord, Dorothy Tracey.