Overview
- Council Bill 097-2025 passed 7-0 after public testimony, with four members leaving the room during the vote.
- The legislation increases civil penalties for dangerous-dog violations to $500 for a first offense, $1,500 for a second, and $3,000 for a third.
- Leash rules are expanded to require dogs be leashed outside designated areas such as dog parks.
- A pilot program will allow adoptions or fostering of previously banned dogs under strict conditions including a permit, fee, pet-parent class, microchipping, and spay or neuter.
- Following a brief signing ceremony, the bill was transmitted to the county executive, with leaders citing heavy past enforcement costs and estimates of 20,000 to 30,000 pit bull-type dogs in the county.