Any dog lover should think twice before doing business with Denver, Colorado. The Denver government is a disgrace.
— Kenn
DENVER – The city council said no to allowing pit bulls to be service dogs within city limits and now the city is facing a legal challenge over its ban.
The city has a ban on the pit bull breed that was put in place to stop any dog attacks.
A federal law says pit bulls can be used as service dogs for people with disabilities.
Vietnam Veteran Glen Belcher suffers from post- traumatic stress disorder and asked the city to allow him to keep his pit bull and service dog Sky.
Monday night, the city council voted to deny his petition.
He plans to challenge that in court, because he says the ban violates federal law.
I agree that he should be able to have his dog. I live in Colorado, but NOT Denver. My town has a dangerous dog, but not dangerous Breed. I have a Pitt bull as a pet and he is the most loyal loving animals out there. I have seen more vicious chihuahuas, poodles, dalmations and others. It should be the dog not the breed!!!! Denver is very wrong in what they are doing!!!
Agree!!!! How long will it take to get into those bureaucrats thick head that there is such things as dangerous dog!!
This is a civil rights issue, any law that blanket bans any living creature on the basis of race is bigotry.
Even the best of dogs has an occasional bad day and may bite with little or no provocation. The problem with Pit Bulls (or any dog bred to fight to the death), is that they don’t let go, and this trait IS breed specific.
This is complete untrue on many levels.
Let’s start with this:
“Even the best of dogs has an occasional bad day and may bite with little or no provocation.”
No. This is patently false. Yes, dogs have moods just like people. However, like people, dogs have some basic personality traits. One of these is a threshold for aggression. Normal, stable dogs have a high threshold for aggression, and are difficult to provoke. In extreme situations, like intense fear or pain (although a stable dog is hard to frighten), this threshold is lowered. However, for a dog’s aggression threshold to go from extremely high to “[biting] with little or no provocation” as the result of a “bad day” is NOT normal, and it does not happen to the “best of dogs”. If a dog behaves this unpredictably, it most likely needs to be humanely euthanized, as this behavior is the result of a serious temperament or socialization issue, not a “bad day.”
Your opinion on this is not reflected in any reputable literature or research on dog behavior, and that is a fact.
Now, as for “pit bulls”:
1.) “Pit bull” is not a breed. It is a vague type used to refer to several breeds of dogs, typically the American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Pit Bull Terrier, but including many MANY others, such as Bull Terriers, Dogos Argentinos, American Bulldogs, to name only a few.
2.) Therefore, suggesting that “not letting go” is a “breed specific trait” is problematic for obvious reasons. Pit bulls are a diverse group of dogs most often labeled that way because of general physical traits, and cannot be said to share any one trait.
Do your research before you speak on a subject.
What you are saying about pit bulls is not true at all. Pit bulls DO let go if they bite and are NOT bred to fight – they are abused and forced to fight. Learn about things before you speak so strongly against them.
dear katlinsims- i learned, therefore I AM AGAINST PITS. i have seen a pit maul another dog, and they DO NOT let go. the owner had to drag him into the ocean & practically DROWN the pit before he would let go.
no killer dogs- i couldn’t agree more. and any article regarding breed-specific bans brings out the pit-lovers. what they don’t realize is that most of the country agrees with bans on pits. i am heavily involved in rescue & it’s the only dog i won’t foster. too unpredictable. google the articles about the pregnant woman who was mauled to death by her intact male pit– she was a member of anti-breed banning legislation. killing your human….how is that ‘loyalty??” and i have yet to see even a single article on death by chihuahua bite.
There are so many types of dog why does one need a pit-bull. They are unpredictable and bread to fight. I have been attacked by one. I would have them all put down if it were in my realm.Nasty creatures that are a threat to the community.
Working with all types of breeds over the past 15 years. Out of the THOUSANDS of dogs I’ve worked with I have only come across 1 pit that was “fearful aggressive” if you want to even call it that. We used a muzzle to be cautious because she was growling, but to her defense she was just hit by a car and was in lots of pain. A few days later she was very friendly. Now on the other hand small breeds including chihuahuas, pomeranians, miniature pincher, and many other toy breeds were aggressive and we muzzled about any dog under 15lbs. Not all small dogs were but we ran in to about 4-10 a day. If pits are being outlawed because they are unpredictable then we should outlaw dogs under 15lbs for the safety of the community.
( in no way do I actually believe that outlawing dogs is an answer! I have seen many pit but service dogs along with small breeds that were very well behaved. CGC may be a good thing for every dog, Or make it as necessary as spaying or neutering your pets)
My lab/pit mix saved my life.
I’ve been bitten by a Mini Poodle, a Cocker Spaniel, a Collie and a Boxer. I’ve also been around Dobermans, Shepards, pit mixes, and rotties. I’ve owned a fear-aggressive husky/shep mix, an aggressive shep/terrier mix, a junkyard dog, and lab/shep mixes, and currently have a Mini Poodle and a Labradoodle. My Mini Poodle is more likely to bite someone than all the rest I’ve had.
Ok Denver needs to quit blaming the breed of dog it is the person that owns the dog.All Service Dogs are trained to be good canine citizens I bet the dumb person that started this does not even have a dog.If some people have their way there will be no dogs in the future.
After watching the Pit Boss episode in Denver,Colorado on the ban against pit bull dogs, I was very upset.Good loving owners are forced to give up their dogs who are part of their family as a result of this ban. There are dog owners who are irresponsible with their dogs, but so many are not. There are so many unwanted dogs in the animal shelters as it is, why take these beautiful loyal dogs away from their owners. And especially from the people who have and need Service Dogs. If this is allowed to happen,there maybe
other breeds of dog that will be next. The Council needs to use common sense regarding this matter.When election time comes up, these people will be voted out. I live in California where jobs are scarce. I’m sure Colorado isn’t much better. That is something the Council members should think about.
Agree all the way! I am not directly affected but believe that breed bans are totally stupid, especially since “pit bulls” are not recognized as a breed. I believe most of the “pits” that have been problems are likely cast-offs from the fighting community. Dog fighting should be stomped out, not the dogs!
Remind me NOT to go to Denver on vacation this year…..
honey, we don’t want or need you & your pit here on vacation.
Anyone able to do so should ban travel & commerce with Denver, but make sure to notify the council you are doing so!
Denver should take a lesson from OHIO. Punish the dog fighters and irresponsible owners not the dogs. I agree EVERYONE WHO LOVES PITTS_STAY AWAY FROM DENVER>
not all dogs are mean i had a very loving rotte and pitty it all on how you raise them
Pit Bulls now… What’s next?
well, if you creat something worse than a pit bull, i guess we will ban that too, then.
i’m so sorry, but federal law does not give you the right to own a pitbull particularly where they are banned. i am heavily involved in rescue, and i am thrilled pits aren’t allowed in denver, as i live here. say what you will but it DOES cut down on dog attacks. i am paralyzed with fear when i see a pit, especially one being walked by a 15 yr old with his pants around his knees. THAT will not be a well-socialized or friendly dog, and by the time i get close to him, it’s too late & i’m on my way to the emergency vet– if i’m lucky. been there, seen it, thrilled about the ban.
i agree. every time i see a pit, it is being walked by someone thuggy. don’t want to racially profile, but they are used as ‘tough guy’ status symbols. and they are almost always intact males. tell me those owners are ‘reputable.’ can’t love another breed? really?? there are 400 recognized breeds. if you ‘have to’ have a pit, then i don’t feel bad for you.
i can have a lion tiger or a cobra,,but denver wants to kill my pitbull who has never ever shown anyone or anything aggression…..denver is a weak city for sure