City of Baltimore - File #: 13-0132R

• File #: 13-0132R
• Version: 0
• Name: Request for State Action - Strengthening Animal Abuse Laws
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 11/4/2013
• In control: Health Committee
• Final action: 2/10/2014
• Title: Request for State Action - Strengthening Animal Abuse Laws FOR the purpose of calling on the Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly to act to strengthen our anti-animal abuse laws by securing the enactment of legislation tightening animal abuse penalties, criminalizing the trafficking of animal fighting paraphernalia, and creating a public registry of violent animal abusers.
• Sponsors: Robert Curran, Carl Stokes, Mary Pat Clarke, William "Pete" Welch, Warren Branch, Brandon M. Scott, Helen L. Holton, Sharon Green Middleton, Edward Reisinger, James B. Kraft, President Young, Bill Henry, Rochelle Spector
• Indexes: Resolution

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/10/2014	0	Health Committee	Recommended Favorably with Amendment
2/10/2014	0	City Council	Adopted
12/5/2013	0	Health Committee	Scheduled for a Public Hearing
11/7/2013	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
11/7/2013	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
11/7/2013	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
11/7/2013	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
11/7/2013	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
11/4/2013	0	City Council	Introduced
11/4/2013	0	City Council	Assigned

* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*

CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: Councilmember Curran


A RESOLUTION ENTITLED

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Request for State Action - Strengthening Animal Abuse Laws

FOR the purpose of calling on the Baltimore City Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly to act to strengthen our anti-animal abuse laws by securing the enactment of legislation tightening animal abuse penalties, criminalizing the trafficking of animal fighting paraphernalia, and creating a public registry of violent animal abusers.
body

Recitals

Animal abuse is a serious problem nationwide, throughout the state of Maryland, and within Baltimore City. Recognition of the gravity of animal abuse, and its strong links to other violent crimes, is steadily growing in our communities.

Despite this increased awareness, there is much more that could be done through our legal system to truly deter and punish these heinous crimes. Although there are numerous ways in which Maryland animal abuse law could be improved, five simple changes that could be enacted by the next General Assembly should be treated as top priorities.

First, demand for barbaric dogfighting or cockfighting events should be attacked by increasing the penalty for attending a dogfight or cockfight in Maryland Criminal Code § 10605 from a misdemeanor to a felony. These abusive fights should be further addressed through the enactment of a new law criminalizing the possession, t...