What would you do if buying your dream home meant giving up your dog?
In 2018, Cait Conroy and her husband were forced to confront Prince George’s County, Maryland’s decades-old “pit bull” breed ban when it threatened their beloved Poptart. That experience sparked Cait’s ongoing advocacy — not just for her own dog, but for all dogs and pet parents impacted by this harmful law.
In this episode, Cait and Ilona from the PG Pet Unity Project share the shocking history of why “pit bull” dogs were banned in PG County in the 1990s, and the deeper consequences this law has had on families, the animal welfare system and the dogs. From wasted taxpayer dollars to ineffective public safety outcomes, we dig into why breed-specific legislation fails families, communities – and the dogs.
But there’s hope: we’ll talk about recently proposed Pit Bull Pilot Program, why momentum is growing to finally overturn the BSL now, and what it would mean for Maryland to leave this discriminatory policy behind.
Cait, Ilona & I discuss:
Their childhood experiences with animals;
How Cait & her husband learned about BSL in Prince George’s County;
Ilona’s experience volunteering at the PG County Animal Services Shelter;
Why BSL was enacted in PG County and attempts that have been made to overturn it;
The current status of BSL and why there’s such momentum now to overturn it now;
How BSL affects animal welfare through Maryland, Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia;
How enforcement of BSL has changed over the years;
Why all tax payers should care about BSL;
The Pit Bull Pilot Program; and
Why microchips are important for animal welfare and other ways PG Pet Unity Project is helping the community
Show Your Support for PG Pet Unity Project:
Website: https://www.petunityproject.org/
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