Mr. Schuh & Mr. Altomare,

I am writing to you in hopes you will rectify a problem that has existed for over 20 years regarding discrimination of pit bulls at Anne Arundel County Animal Control. Breed discrimination policies have been proven to be ineffective at making people safer through many scientific studies, and many reputable organizations have come out against them. This list includes the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society of the United States, and even the White House Administration. Anne Arundel County Animal Control discriminates against pit bulls based on an antiquated policy born out of fear and ignorance. Nearly every other facility in Maryland allows pit bulls to be adopted. Why? Because pit bulls are just like any other dog and deserve a chance to be directly adopted. It's time AA County Animal Control ceased their illogical and immoral policy. Their job is to ensure the safety of the public. Public safety is not being increased by banning pit bulls from being directly adoptable.

Instead, focus on increasing punishment for those citizens who mistreat animals. Focus on creating stricter penalties for animal abuse, and improving the paltry standards we currently have for tethering and housing dogs outside. If you'll look into the National Canine Research Council's findings, you'll see that these types of factors play a much larger role in the safety of a community. We need to stop using pit bulls as a scapegoat for the real problems, and stop letting ignorance mandate policy.

The policy currently in place, where pit bulls are rescue only, can be changed IMMEDIATELY, and does not require a change in laws, extra funding, or anything else. Some people would lead you to believe that extra funding is required, but BARCS is just one example of a MD shelter who made this exact change without extra funding. Don't put a positive change on hold for unnecessary reasons. Dogs are suffering because of the current discrimination TODAY, and have been for over 20 years. We can fix this TODAY. The recent Pit Bull Policy Commission that was put together UNANIMOUSLY voted FOR pit bulls being adoptable. Some of the members believe extra funding is necessary to make this change, and while extra funding is always helpful, it is certainly not mandatory for this change. Three of the members of the commission, including two high level employees of local shelters, recommend IMMEDIATE change of this policy. Anything else only prolongs the current suffering, as pit bulls needlessly go for weeks on end without human interaction, awaiting a temperament test that no other dog must endure. Considering visual breed identification has been proven to be woefully inaccurate, AACAC has a policy in place that can't even be applied fairly. This is but one of many reasons we need to enact change NOW.

All we are asking is for each dog to be treated equally. The number of organizations backing up this philosophy of equal treatment grows each day across the nation, and AACAC can finally rid themselves of an antiquated policy with your help. The answer to increasing safety lies in a multifactorial approach, including increased education of the public, an increase in spay/neutuering, and effective breed-neutral regulations.

Massachusetts, Nevada, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Connecticut, and Utah have all recently enacted laws that prohibit regulating dogs on the basis of breed. 18 states now prohibit breed specific legislation. The evolution of this issue is clear. It's time we stop wasting valuable resources applying a policy that fails to enhance the mission of Animal Control.

Simply put, the citizens of Anne Arundel county would prefer an approach from Animal Control that focuses on the true factors involved in animal incidents. Focusing on breed is ineffective, a waste of finite resources, and most importantly, an affront to the moral fabric of our society. As Gandhi once said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." By removing the ban on pit adoptions at AACAC, we can take the next logical step in our moral progress with regard to the treatment of pit bull type dogs in Anne Arundel County. The question isn't if this will happen, but when? The dogs sitting at Animal Control today, and all future incoming dogs, would greatly appreciate it if this change could be made as soon as possible. Their suffering is in your hands now. Please choose the scientifically, financially, and morally correct course of action in this matter.

Thank you for your time.