Are Pit Bulls Dangerous by Nature? A Md. Court Says Yes

If your pit bull attacks someone, don't expect much sympathy in a Maryland court. An opinion recently released by the Maryland Court of Appeals states that you should have already known the breed was dangerous.

Just last week two dogs attacked children and the man who tried to help them in the Trinidad neighborhood of Northeast D.C. The dogs were later found in Cheverly, Md. and euthanized, according to ABC7. While the two dogs were not pit bulls, the incident brought the specter of dog attacks back into the public mind.

In recent years, D.C. Council member Jim Graham has tried and failed to pass legislation restricting the possession and sale of pit bulls in D.C., according to the Washington Examiner.

In Maryland, owners are now facing increased liability in attack cases, following a ruling in Tracey v. Solesky. The case involved a pit bull named Clifford that attacked a minor, causing life-threatening injuries. 

"When an attack involves pit bulls, it is no longer necessary to prove that the particular pit bull or pit bulls are dangerous," wrote Judge Dale R. Cathell in the opinion.

Cathell also stated that landlords have the right to prohibit pit bulls or pit bull cross-breeds from their property.

A PDF of the opinion is attached in the media gallery.

Is it fair for the court to designate pit bulls as inherently dangerous? How accountable should dog owners be held in attack cases? Tell us in the comments.