Poodle vs. jogger gets plenty of hackles up

By Annie Linskey sun reporter
Debate ensues after runner kicks and injures small dog that chased and nipped at him

    Anne Arundel County police spokesman Shawn A. Urbas said the jogger could face a misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty or a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty. However, Anne Arundel County laws require animals to be "leashed and under the control of a responsible person."

    Kristin Riggin, a spokeswoman for State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee, said a final decision has not been made regarding charges and declined to comment further on the case.
    ...
    "We will ask for a vigorous prosecution like the world depended on it," said Martin Mersereau, the manager for the domestic animal abuse department at PETA.
THC: I feel very strongly that it is not right to have an animal "attack" someone in a public space and legally require them to react positively. How many people that have been startled by an attacking dog can truly say they can always reacted well?

So should people be required to keep their animal under control or should joggers and cyclists be required not to harm an attacking animal? Read more to weigh in.

I should note that I do feel very sorry for the dog and sincerely wish more people knew how to handle animals well but if someone is fearful of an animal what should be expected when that animal attacks that person?
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by B' Spokes

Like most people I live a hectic life and who has the time for much exercise? Thanks to xtracycle now I do. By using my bike for daily activities I can get things done and get an hour plus work out in 15 minutes extra of my time, not a bad deal and beats taking the extra time going to the gym. In case you are still having trouble being motivated; the National Center of Disease Control says that inactivity is the #2 killer in the United States just behind smoking. ( http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/bb_nutrition/ ) Get out there and start living life! I can carry home a full shopping cart of groceries, car pool two kids or just get lost in the great outdoors camping for a week. Well I got go, another outing this weekend.
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Maryland Code:
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This is not about the right to drop kick a poodle but whether dog lovers have a right to drop their beloved pet into the lap of someone who does not like dogs or is extremely fearful of dogs and expect a rational reaction. Dog owners do not have the right to force their animals on anyone without their consent especially in surprise attack mode. Also I'm pretty sure I could find someone who if I surprise them with my daughter's totally harmless pet (a mouse) I bet they would fling it more then 10 feet. Or maybe if I used the neighbors pet snake ... you get the idea, people can have irrational fears and can act irrationally. Should someone be punished because they did not react well when someone else's pet was forced on them? PETA is launching an all out campaign so dog owners do not have to restrain their pets around other people including children. Are you sure this is going to be a good thing and not worth our time? Next I whole hardily support we need better education so people know how to handle attacking or chasing dogs better. AND we need better education so dog owners will keep their pets under better control especially around joggers, runners, rollerbladers and cyclists. But do you really think that fining the jogger $1000 and putting him in jail for 90 days is going to accomplish that? I feel we should use this as an opportunity to get this necessary information out there, if we just sit few will be wiser and more will not control their dogs. --- . . .o . . /L =()>()
TITLE 10. CRIMES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH, CONDUCT, AND SENSIBILITIES
SUBTITLE 6. CRIMES RELATING TO ANIMALS
Md. CRIMINAL LAW Code Ann.