Maryland Pit Bull Measure Headed for Negotiations

The Maryland House of Delegates passed a measure to change the impact of a court ruling that designated pit bulls as an “inherently dangerous” breed.

The House voted 133-0 Monday to change a Senate bill to reflect how the House wants to address the issue.

The difference in this legislative dog fight is over the burden of proof an owner would need to meet in court over a dog bite.

Under the House approach, owners would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence they had no prior knowledge their dog was prone to biting. The Senate position requires dog owners to prove it by clear and convincing evidence, a higher standard.

Negotiators will try to work out the differences before the session ends next week.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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