Droopy lips? = A death sentence in Denver?
What would be the fate of this dog in Denver? *
Since Denver started re-enforcing its pit bull ban in 2005, the city has killed approximately 2,000 dogs they claimed were “pit bulls.”
To facilitate this killing, Denver has a pretentious one-page form, called the “Pit Bull Evaluation Form”, which when filled out by “Denver’s experts” is literally a life or death sentence for any dog that has been impounded or seized by authorities as a “suspected pit bull.”
What critical questions does Denver’s Evaluation Form ask their “experts” to answer which will help them to determine whether a dog is a danger to the community?
What questions are found on Denver’s Pit Bull Evaluation Form that will determine whether a dog should live or die?
Does Denver’s Pit Bull Evaluation Form ask if the dog is:
Friendly or Aggressive? No
However, Denver’s Evaluation Form does need to know if a dog has:
“Compact shaped feet or upright shaped feet”
Does Denver’s Pit Bull Evaluation Form ask if the dog is:
A therapy dog or has obedience training? No
But, Denver’s Evaluation Form does need to know if a dog has:
“Loose or Not loosed skin”
Does Denver’s Pit Bull Evaluation Form ask if the dog is:
Sick, old, injured, or shows signs of physical abuse - No
But Denver’s Evaluation Form does need to know if a dog has:
“Tucked loins or close coupled loins”
Does Denver’s Pit Bull Evaluation Form ask if the dog was:
Leashed and under the control of an owner when seized- No
But Denver’s Evaluation Form does need to know if a dog has:
“Close, even or droopy lips”
Recently, a woman driving with her dog stopped to let her dog relieve itself near a field. She knew about Denver’s breed ban, but she was unaware that she had crossed over into the Denver city limits (she was right on the border of another jurisdiction and Denver). Her dog was seized by officials and taken to animal control. At animal control the dog was evaluated using the Pit bull Evaluation Form. Three “experts” each filled out a form.
Denver’s holds that if at least two of the “experts” say it’s a pit bull, then the dog is a pit bull and very well may be put to death. If at least two of the evaluators say it’s not, then the dog is not a “pit bull” and can be released back to its owner.
The law essentially reads that if Denver says your dog is a pit bull, then it is.
The woman’s dog, although the experts disagreed on at least 16 of the physical characteristics, was found by two of the “experts” to be a pit bull. (See the three evaluations forms below - one from each of the “experts.”)
Denver_Pit_Bull_Evaluation_Form
How could Denver’s Evaluation Form identify these Dogs?
Do you know a “Pit Bull” mix when you see one?
** The woman’s whose dog was seized was fortunate that with help, and after an emotional and stressful ordeal in which she feared her dog would be killed, was able to prove she did not live in Denver, and had her beloved dog returned to her.
* The dog pictured above is a mixed breed dog (with no traces of Pit bull). DNA testing done by MARS Wisdom Mix Breed Panel.
***
Breed Specific Legislation:
Not only has Denver passed breed specific legislation that is contrary to holding owners accountable for the actions of their dogs, whatever the breed, but Denver defied Colorado State Law in doing so; as Colorado State law prohibits breed specific legislation: coloradostatelaw
Dog Fighting:
Dog Fighting is a Class 5 felony in Colorado. Possession of dogs for fighting and being a spectator at a dog fight are also a Class 5 felony in Colorado.
See how Colorado ranks in addressing dog fighting as compared to other states:
http://www.hsus.org/acf/fighting/dogfight/ranking_state_dogfighting_laws.html
National Canine Research Council