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