Charles County government has abandoned a proposal to specially regulate pit-bull-type dogs following vocal protests by scores of dog owners who have been objecting since the measure was introduced in July.

The proposal would have pre-emptively labeled their pets “potentially dangerous” based on their breed.

Pit bulls were not mentioned by county staff or commissioners during Animal Control Chief Ed Tucker’s follow-up Tuesday on proposed revisions to the county Animal Control Ordinance. The pit bull rule, which would have imposed strict rules for leashing and confinement of pit bulls and related dogs, has been dropped, Tucker said in a brief interview afterward.

The rules were originally proposed after roaming pit bulls killed two cats belonging to Patti Faulkner and her husband of Newburg, county officials said. On Tuesday, Faulkner said she was disappointed by the reversal.

“I am kind of surprised. I thought it was going to be a long process. I guess I’m surprised, but in a way I’m not surprised. I think it’s because it seems people are sensitive about the issue. So many people that own pit bulls now, I guess we’re just in the minority, sort of, and left unprotected,” said Faulkner, who said she had to call the police in August and September after a neighbor’s roaming pit bull threatened her.

“I’m just disappointed. I don’t know, with the whole pit bull thing, there’s just so many people who own pit bulls now who are irresponsible, and it makes it bad for the people that [are responsible],” Faulkner said. “So many people say it’s all in how they’re raised. It’s not all in how they’re raised. Those dogs have been interbred and irresponsibly bred, so you just can’t trust that because you raised your pit bull to be a gentle lapdog, he’s always going to be that way. Something could set him off.”

The Humane Society of Charles County and several other animal groups opposed the restriction.

Anita Marsh, director of the local humane society, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

In July, Marsh said, “Our stand is … that the Humane Society of Charles County does not support the singling out of any breed for special or unique treatment for any reason. Suitable safety measures must be taken for the handling of individual dogs that have been shown to be dangerous.”

Other changes move forward

The commissioners voted to hold a public hearing on the remaining proposed changes to the ordinance. The hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Among updates to the ordinance, which was last revised in 2006, are stricter regulations on the treatment of outdoor animals in general, with new requirements for space, shelter and shade, a restriction limiting outdoor tethering to four hours at a time, and a prohibition on tethering with a collar or harness primarily made of metal.

The proposal also would maintain a “dangerous animal” designation imposed by another jurisdiction if the animal moved to Charles County.

Lying to an animal control officer or hiding an animal under investigation from the authorities would become offenses, while increases to a raft of animal-related fees are also suggested, including raising the fine for interfering with an animal control officer from $50 to $250 and the maximum fine for animal cruelty from $500 to $1,000.

“This will give us an opportunity to cite them for [hiding animals], bring them before the [Animal Matters Control] Board and hopefully find out where the animal is,” Tucker told the commissioners.

It also would introduce what Tucker previously deemed an anti-hoarding measure, an annual license for an “animal fancier,” defined as someone who keeps at least 10 animals in a location for purposes other than breeding, boarding or livestock husbandry. The rule also would give the county grounds to supervise people who have many animals that the county suspects, but cannot prove, are being bred, Tucker said. An annual inspection would be required.

Other revisions would ban the sale or possession of exotic animals including poisonous snakes, monkeys and apes; wolves and wolf-dog hybrids; wildcats weighing more than 30 pounds; and wild animals including skunks, raccoons and bears, bringing county regulations in line with state law, the presentation states.

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