A Senate committee passed a measure Thursday to change state law in response to a court ruling that determined pit bulls are "inherently dangerous" animals. The bill creates a strict liability standard for all dogs, regardless of breed. That means owners of all dogs would be liable for bites.

Harold Domer, the director of the Frederick County Animal Control Division says because dogs are capable of biting people he supports the legislation. "I do think that if the legislators adopt a law that applies to all animals, unilaterally, then we are in support of that, and it's not singling out a specific breed, and making a certain breed inherently dangerous, whether it be, Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweillers, Poodles or any other type of dog."

The court's ruling resulted from a Baltimore County case involving a 10-year-old boy who was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull in 2007. Dominic Solesky almost died after a pit bull attacked him in Towson. His father first sued the dog’s owner who declared bankruptcy and then sued his landlord. He believes that if landlords and insurers are off the hook, victims could be left with no recourse to get money to pay huge medical bills.

"Based on what's occurred in the Court of Appeals, I do feel that our legislators are trying to be fair and just to victims of dog bites," continued Domer.

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee advanced the bill to the Full Senate on the first day of a special session, which has been called to focus on gambling legislation.