Ruling Could Mean Life Or Death For Baltimore Dogs
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Some animal lovers have a bone to pick with the city of Baltimore.
As Mike Schuh reports, life and death decisions are at stake.
April Bloom says Betty is a good dog.
"No, really. She's a good, good dog," Bloom said. "She has really been my therapy dog. I don't know if I'd be here without her, so..."
She got Betty a few years ago, when she was recovering from a car accident and fighting breast cancer.
Betty was not a good dog then. After an incident, another county declared her dangerous. If Betty had another problem, she'd be killed.
"I moved to the city because she had this incident...partly because she had this incident," Bloom said.
In Baltimore City, dog owners can appear before a judge to appeal an order to have a dog euthanized.
Bloom then set out to permanently change Betty's behavior.
She paid thousands to have an animal behavior specialist train the aggression out of Betty.
"She actually was very responsive," said Aja Brown, Mutt Magic Training.
But recently, the city changed its dangerous dog law.
"You used to be able to [appeal]. You don't anymore," Bloom said.
Bloom says her due process has been taken away.
"You have the dangerous dog board; then it goes to the health commissioner," said Bloom. "`I appointed the dangerous dog board. I agree with them.'"
Despite multiple requests, the health commissioner---who oversees the process---declined an on-camera interview. A spokesman provided this statement: "Owners of dogs who are deemed dangerous or vicious may still appeal the Animal Hearing Panel's decision to the Commissioner of Health, whose determination is final for the agency."
But Bloom says that's not good enough and hopes the commissioner is watching.
"Please bring back the appeals process for these parts of our family," said Bloom. "Because she is...she saved my life."
Last year, of the 48 dog subject to health department hearings, 29 were returned to their owners with certain conditions, 10 were euthanized and nine were considered to not be dangerous.
