Baltimore revives anti-animal abuse commission

BALTIMORE —

Baltimore’s anti-animal abuse commission has been revived after years of inactivity, following city council legislation passed in 2024 that restructured the commission and required it to meet at least twice a year.

The commission was officially revived with a swearing-in ceremony for its members at City Hall on Monday, marking a new beginning for a group that has long been a part of the picture in Baltimore.

“This is about now trying to evolve that work in the city of Baltimore,” Mayor Brandon Scott said.

The commission is tasked with advising city agencies on legislation to protect animals and prosecute abusers, increasing awareness of animal cruelty laws, and training techniques for law enforcement and animal control officers.

The group was originally formed after a 2009 animal cruelty case in which a pitbull was badly burned and later euthanized.

However, in 2013, some members of the commission began resigning, citing city leadership’s unwillingness to adopt their recommendations and implement systemic changes.

Concerns about the commission’s effectiveness continued into 2024, when Caroline Griffin, the former chair of the commission, addressed city council at a hearing.

“We brought resources and stakeholders to the table, conducted lots of trainings, and with a lot of effort and time, these cases were investigated and prosecuted zealously. Tragically, a lot of that progress has disappeared,” Griffin said back in 2024.

Griffin has now returned to the commission, and Mayor Scott acknowledged the challenges the group faced in the past.

“We know a lot of things, during the pandemic, things just went a different way, but it’s important to us,” said Mayor Scott. “It’s important to me as a pet owner to make sure that we are protecting animals in the city of Baltimore, making sure people are treating them in the right way, and this group will be advising and pushing us to make sure we are doing that. We know after the pandemic so many people had pets and then they were just discarding them and all of these things so we really want to make sure that we are on top of that in addition to what has been happening for a long time not just in Baltimore but around the country.”

Mayor Scott emphasized the importance of reinstating the commission as part of the city’s efforts to address animal cruelty.

“I think this is the number one step, to have the board here and have the board seated,” he said.

The commission includes 15 members, including representatives from animal rescue organizations, advocacy groups, and shelters such as BARCS and the Maryland SPCA. It also includes the mayor, city council president, Baltimore sheriff, and Baltimore police commissioner.

A spokesperson with the Baltimore Police Department sent WBAL TV 11 News a statement saying:

“The Baltimore Police Department welcomes the revival of the City’s Anti-Animal Abuse Commission and looks forward to working with its members to strengthen collaboration in addressing animal abuse and neglect. Animal cruelty is a serious crime, and we recognize the connection between animal abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse. The commission will strengthen coordination among partner agencies, improve information sharing, and support prevention and enforcement efforts. BPD’s participation reflects the Department’s continued commitment to protecting both residents and animals throughout Baltimore.”