Governor O’Malley asks for assessment of animal cruelty laws

Following several incidents of animal cruelty, Governor O'Malley has asked the state attorney general to review the state's laws to assess their sufficiency.

Two teenagers were recently charged with animal abuse and cruelty after dousing a pit bull with gasoline and burning the dog. Phoenix, as the dog has been named, survived the burns, but - due to kidney failure - was euthanized days later.

Officials at the Baltimore City Health Department are currently seeking help to find the culprits in a similar incident in which a cat was chained to a pole and burned with firecrackers.

O'Malley - who owns three dogs and two cats - says that he was "deeply disturbed and saddened" by this cruelty.

Currently, Maryland law deems aggravated cruelty to animals through torture, beatings or dogfights a felony punishable by up to three years in prison and $5,00 in fines. And, abuse or neglect of an animal is considered a misdemeanor, which can levy a 90-day sentence and $1,000 in fines.

The Governor and other government officials wish to deter Marylanders from engaging in such cruel and heinous crimes.

Marylanders speak out: Chesapeake Bay

Earlier this month, we asked Marylanders what they thought about Governor O'Malley's stance on the Chesapeake Bay clean up efforts. As expected, Marylanders responded with thoughtful, creative ideas and touching stories about what the Bay means to Maryland. This month, we will be displaying many of these thought provoking stories and opinions.

On the Eastern Shore, there exists something of a cross-party consensus of concern about the state of the Chesapeake Bay. There is a need to champion measurable attempts to improve the quality and biological viability of Bay waters through insisting on accurate "state of the Bay" data, and instituting accountability alongside a timeline for improvements in water quality.
-- Nick, Queen Anne's County

The Chesapeake Bay is the heart of Maryland and feeds or is fed by everything we do in this state.  You can't live in Maryland without being impacted by the state of our environment.  I count on clean beaches, safe drinking water, proper trash disposal, and smog-free air.  I hope we plan ahead so my children will be able to enjoy an unspoiled Maryland...  I want us to be friendly to business without being unfriendly to the environment - which may mean tax incentives to make up for their careful use of our resources.  
-- Eileen, Montgomery County

For more information on Governor O'Malley's stance on the Chesapeake Bay go here. If you have thoughts on how Maryland is attempting to restore Chesapeake Bay please share your story with us here.

Calvert County is Maryland’s capital for the day

In order to recognize the various cities and regions that make Maryland the greatest state in the nation, Governor O'Malley created the Capital for a Day campaign. Each month, the state capital moves to a different location throughout the state. This month, the capital moves to Calvert County.

In order to recognize Calvert, Gov. O'Malley will visit several cities and towns throughout the county for a series of events, including an appearance by O'Malley's March at night in the River Concert Series.

The governor will start off the day at a prayer brunch with Calvert County faith leaders in Chesapeake Beach.

He will then travel to Calvert Memorial Hospital in Fredrick to participate in the ribbon cutting of the new Calvert Medical Arts Center. The new building will offer state of the art imaging capability, which will provide Southern Maryland cancer patients with easy access to all of the tools needed in the diagnosis and treatment process.

After the ribbon cutting, Governor O'Malley will speak with local officials in the State Cabinet meeting. The meeting will be held at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum in St. Leonard.