Update on Denver Pitt Ban
Moderator: chowadmin
Update on Denver Pitt Ban
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Denver Backing Away from Breed Ban Legislation
*(Story below)
*The City of Denver has apparently discovered that a 'round up and kill'
strategy might just create more havoc publicly than it was originally
intended to quell. Obviously, it has animal rights activists throughout
the U.S. readying to pounce on shoddy legislation policies.
With the clear intent to aggressively fight back against those who would
shred our Constitutional Rights without regard for civil liberties and
the protections guaranteed American citizens, Denver legislators are
scrambling for cover.
It is not time to back down. It is time to uncover which politicians
drafted the Breed Ban Legislation proposals and which ones supported it
so they can be replaced in the next election. If they were so willing to
lay aside the Constitutional Rights of the people they were elected to
protect, they are unfit for office.
Further, at this time it is unknown how many Pit Bulls were handed over
as demanded and subsequently destroyed. We need this information so a
class action lawsuit can formally proceed. Please share any information
you have with us, publicizing the plight of the caregivers who were
forced to forfeit their canine companions.
The City of Denver will, of course, seek to control damages by offering
a token 'award' to those individuals involved.
While the Denver situation represents a significant victory in itself,
we must recognize the inherent threat it represents. Denver is known as
one of the areas where particularly bold legislation is first enacted so
that legislators can get an idea of the level of tolerance they can
expect from the American public.
Breed Specific Legislation is pending in many communities throughout the
U.S. and must not be tolerated. Instead, we need honest, effective
investigators, law enforcement personnel and district attorneys who will
address the two primary issues that have led to Breed Specific Legislation:
*1] Legislation designed to strengthen the dog fighting laws already
on the books by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting dog fighting
afficionados, and
2] outlawing chronic chaining of canines that has clearly been shown
to lead to aggressive behavior.
*
*
Thank You for your support.
/The US Animal Protection Team/*
posted by USANIMALPROTECTION at 4:51 PM | 0 comments
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Source*: AP (9 NEWS)
*Contact*: Mailto:dan.viens@9news.com
*Link*:
http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGN ... 89c01ca7bf
*Denver to re-examine dangerous dog ordinance*
posted by: _Dan Viens_ Web Producer
Created: *5/16/2005 6:45 AM MDT* - Updated: *5/16/2005 6:45 AM MDT
*
DENVER (AP) - Officials are reviewing the city's vicious and dangerous
dog ordinance in what could lead to a proposal to lift the ban on pit
bulls.
Officials said they planned to research laws nationwide and study
alternatives aimed at penalizing owners for a dog's misbehavior.
"We will certainly keep enforcing the law, but as time goes on we will
be looking at alternatives to improve our dangerous and vicious dog
ordinance and come up with a model we can recommend," said Doug Kelley,
Denver director of animal control.
Options include requiring a license or permit with strict stipulations
for owners on how a pit bull is to be kept; requiring owners to carry
liability insurance; and stiff fines for owners whose dogs are caught
roaming freely.
"I'm not in favor of repealing the ban without an effective
alternative," Kelley said.
Last year, a new state law prohibited cities and counties from
forbidding specific breeds of dogs, but Denver won a court challenge of
the law and resumed enforcement of its pit bull ban last week.
Since May 9, animal control officers have confiscated about two dozen
pit bulls from Denver homes. Earlier this month, the city sent more than
250 letters warning owners to get their pit bulls out of the city.
Denver banned the breed in 1989 after a minister was mauled by a pit
bull. A 5-year-old was killed by a pit bull the year before.
The city has received hundreds of letters and e-mails demanding that
Denver lift its ban. A group of pit bull owners plans to present a
petition with more than 500 signatures to repeal the ban at a City
Council meeting May 23.
"The money spent on litigation, as well as seizing and impounding pit
bulls, could be better utilized to focus on irresponsible owners and
dangerous dogs of all breeds," said Glen Bui, vice president of the
Washington-based American Canine Foundation.
_
_(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Denver Backing Away from Breed Ban Legislation
*(Story below)
*The City of Denver has apparently discovered that a 'round up and kill'
strategy might just create more havoc publicly than it was originally
intended to quell. Obviously, it has animal rights activists throughout
the U.S. readying to pounce on shoddy legislation policies.
With the clear intent to aggressively fight back against those who would
shred our Constitutional Rights without regard for civil liberties and
the protections guaranteed American citizens, Denver legislators are
scrambling for cover.
It is not time to back down. It is time to uncover which politicians
drafted the Breed Ban Legislation proposals and which ones supported it
so they can be replaced in the next election. If they were so willing to
lay aside the Constitutional Rights of the people they were elected to
protect, they are unfit for office.
Further, at this time it is unknown how many Pit Bulls were handed over
as demanded and subsequently destroyed. We need this information so a
class action lawsuit can formally proceed. Please share any information
you have with us, publicizing the plight of the caregivers who were
forced to forfeit their canine companions.
The City of Denver will, of course, seek to control damages by offering
a token 'award' to those individuals involved.
While the Denver situation represents a significant victory in itself,
we must recognize the inherent threat it represents. Denver is known as
one of the areas where particularly bold legislation is first enacted so
that legislators can get an idea of the level of tolerance they can
expect from the American public.
Breed Specific Legislation is pending in many communities throughout the
U.S. and must not be tolerated. Instead, we need honest, effective
investigators, law enforcement personnel and district attorneys who will
address the two primary issues that have led to Breed Specific Legislation:
*1] Legislation designed to strengthen the dog fighting laws already
on the books by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting dog fighting
afficionados, and
2] outlawing chronic chaining of canines that has clearly been shown
to lead to aggressive behavior.
*
*
Thank You for your support.
/The US Animal Protection Team/*
posted by USANIMALPROTECTION at 4:51 PM | 0 comments
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Source*: AP (9 NEWS)
*Contact*: Mailto:dan.viens@9news.com
*Link*:
http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGN ... 89c01ca7bf
*Denver to re-examine dangerous dog ordinance*
posted by: _Dan Viens_ Web Producer
Created: *5/16/2005 6:45 AM MDT* - Updated: *5/16/2005 6:45 AM MDT
*
DENVER (AP) - Officials are reviewing the city's vicious and dangerous
dog ordinance in what could lead to a proposal to lift the ban on pit
bulls.
Officials said they planned to research laws nationwide and study
alternatives aimed at penalizing owners for a dog's misbehavior.
"We will certainly keep enforcing the law, but as time goes on we will
be looking at alternatives to improve our dangerous and vicious dog
ordinance and come up with a model we can recommend," said Doug Kelley,
Denver director of animal control.
Options include requiring a license or permit with strict stipulations
for owners on how a pit bull is to be kept; requiring owners to carry
liability insurance; and stiff fines for owners whose dogs are caught
roaming freely.
"I'm not in favor of repealing the ban without an effective
alternative," Kelley said.
Last year, a new state law prohibited cities and counties from
forbidding specific breeds of dogs, but Denver won a court challenge of
the law and resumed enforcement of its pit bull ban last week.
Since May 9, animal control officers have confiscated about two dozen
pit bulls from Denver homes. Earlier this month, the city sent more than
250 letters warning owners to get their pit bulls out of the city.
Denver banned the breed in 1989 after a minister was mauled by a pit
bull. A 5-year-old was killed by a pit bull the year before.
The city has received hundreds of letters and e-mails demanding that
Denver lift its ban. A group of pit bull owners plans to present a
petition with more than 500 signatures to repeal the ban at a City
Council meeting May 23.
"The money spent on litigation, as well as seizing and impounding pit
bulls, could be better utilized to focus on irresponsible owners and
dangerous dogs of all breeds," said Glen Bui, vice president of the
Washington-based American Canine Foundation.
_
_(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
