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Pass Bear-Bear's Bill to Crack Down on Dog Shootings
  1. Signatures
    2,344 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. The MD State Senate (+ 21 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The MD State Senate
      • The MD State House
      • State Rep. Jill Carter (MD-041A)
      • State Rep. Don Dwyer (MD-031B)
      • State Rep. Michael Smigiel (MD-036A)
      • State Rep. Curtis Anderson (MD-043A)
      • State Rep. Luiz Simmons (MD-017C)
      • State Rep. Kathleen Dumais (MD-015B)
      • State Rep. Susan McComas (MD-035B)
      • State Rep. Susan Lee (MD-016C)
      • State Rep. Kriselda Valderrama (MD-026B)
      • State Rep. Joseph Vallario (MD-027AB)
      • State Rep. Frank Conaway (MD-040A)
      • State Rep. Kevin Kelly (MD-001B)
      • State Rep. Neil Parrott (MD-002B)
      • State Rep. Sam Arora (MD-019A)
      • State Rep. Tiffany Alston (MD-024A)
      • State Rep. Keiffer Mitchell (MD-044B)
      • State Rep. Luke Clippinger (MD-046B)
      • State Rep. Michael Hough (MD-003B)
      • State Rep. Michael McDermott (MD-038BA)
      • State Rep. John Cluster (MD-008C)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Last summer, a rescued Siberian husky named Bear-Bear was shot by an off-duty federal officer at the Quail Run Dog Park in Maryland. The tragedy moved dog lovers across the country into speaking out against senseless dog shootings. In the wake of Bear-Bear's death, Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold publicly stated that "our citizens deserve answers and accountability," and he personally took up the charge to strengthen animal cruelty laws. 

This legislative session, he took the cruelty issue to the state level and worked with Delegate Robert Costa (R-Anne Arundel) to get a bill introduced.

House Bill 294 (pdf), known as "Bear-Bear's Bill," would create a new offense of shooting an animal (legal hunting is excluded) or otherwise injuring an animal with a weapon. It would also increase the penalty for "inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain on an animal" (as in the case of Phoenix, the dog who was set on fire). Sen. John Astle (D-Anne Arundel) has introduced a companion bill, S.B. 425 (pdf), in the state senate.

In testifying for Bear-Bear's bill, Leopold said that "Maryland ought to send a very strong message that it is unacceptable to abuse animals. [Pets] are part of the family."

Tell Maryland legislators to support Bear-Bear's bill to protect Maryland's animals and set a precedent for dealing with these senseless dog shootings.

Photo: Bear-Bear

 

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Please Pass Bear-Bear's Bill (HB 294/SB 425) to Protect Pets From Violence

Greetings,

Last summer, people around the country were horrified by the story of Bear-Bear, the husky who was shot at a dog park in Anne Arundel County. Sadly, this was just one event in a chain of brutal cruelty toward animals committed in Maryland.

I urge you to pass Bear-Bear's Bill to protect Maryland's animals and set a precedent for other states which are dealing with senseless dog shootings.

As you may know, violence toward animals is often a precursor to violence toward other humans. In addition, most Americans view pets as part of their family and the loss of a companion like Bear-Bear is devastating. Please help protect animals and your community by passing Bear-Bear's Bill (HB 294/SB425).

Thank you.

[Your name]

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