_3,497 dead dogs and other numbers from Denver’s
pit bull ban. Westword, Denver News
Inside Denver’s “Pit Bull Row” Westword, Denver
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Ruling on “pit bull” spared revives debate on Denver’s ban
The Denver Post, By Jordan Steffen
October 11, 2009
On Monday, an administrative judge ruled that Denver Animal Care and Control must remove the pit bull breed label from Kevin O’Connell’s dog.
On Friday, O’Connell, 40, of Thornton, and his boxer-mix Dexter celebrated the ruling. O’Connell’s attorney, Jennifer Edwards of The Animal Law Center, said the reversal could be a first step toward combating the controversial ordinance that bans pit bulls from Denver.
“This ruling absolutely disqualifies Denver in having any expertise in breed determining,” Edwards said.
Breed determination, Edwards said, is the crux of the city’s ability to enforce its ban on pit bulls.
During a July business trip, O’Connell left Dexter with friends who live in Denver. Animal control was called to the residence on an unrelated incident and saw Dexter in the backyard.
Officers suspected Dexter of being a pit bull and seized him. A few days later, the dog was subjected to a breed examination, during which he was found to have a majority of pit-bull characteristics.
O’Connell challenged the finding.
Animal Control director Doug Kelley said that this is not the first time a classification has been lifted and it is not uncommon for dog owners to contest exam results.
“This is the example of why we have this process in place,” Kelley said, “and this outcome only demonstrates that it is working.”
Once a confiscated dog is labeled a pit bull, it can no longer live in or visit Denver. Dogs in violation may be relocated or euthanized.
The exam panel is made up of two animal-control officers and a veterinarian technician, each of whom completes an exam of the dog to determine its breed characteristics, Kelley said.
Edwards, who presented testimony from American Kennel Club judges and professional dog handlers during the hearing, said the city’s process is inadequate and called the examiners unqualified. She said this ruling could lead to more dog owners coming forward to challenge the results of exams.
But Kelley said city dog examiners receive special training and field experience in determining a dog’s breed based on its physical characteristics and traits.
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AKC AND DOG OWNERS WIN RULING GRANTING A TRIAL TO CHALLENGE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF DENVER BREED BAN
New York – The American Kennel Club® is pleased to announce that United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has ruled in favor of plaintiffs Sonya Dias, Hillary Engel, and Sheryl White in their appeal challenging the constitutionality of the Denver breed ban. This ruling reverses the United States District Court of Colorado’s 2007 dismissal of the suit.
See AKC News Release: http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3857
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March 3, 2009: Denver Daily News reports that data suggest breed-specific legislation does not work
denver-daily-news-09do-dog-breed-bans-work
Hard on the heels of the study confirming the infrequency of dog bites (see story below) comes a report that Denver’s breed ban has had no effect on dog bite incidence or severity. (Full disclosure: NCRC’s Karen Delise and her extensive research are among the sources for the Daily News story. SEE our information regarding Denver’s breed ban elsewhere on this site.)
City officials did not reply to the Daily News’ inquiries by asserting that the ban has made Denver safer. Rather, they fell back on the rather feeble claim that there is no evidence that the ban is not working. [NCRC: We get it. It's not important whether it works. It only has to not not work.]
Assistant City Attorney Kori Nelson, an ardent ban defender, speaking for attribution, questioned the motives of those opposed to the ban, such as the Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs, accusing them of harboring a “hidden agenda.”
In contrast with Nelson and other city officials, Denver’s health department reported that it is studying the recent dog bite statistics with an eye, perhaps, to recommending a change in the statute.
February, 2009:
New Study Confirms Dog Bites Infrequent and Preventable
Colorado’s Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs released the results of a year-long survey tracking dog bite incidents in 17 “districts” across the state.
The Coalition survey revealed that only one of approximately 350 dogs in the survey area had bitten anyone. The survey said that 129 different breeds of dogs were identified among the dogs that had bitten. Most bites – a result confirmed by reports from emergency rooms and urgent care centers – were classified as minor.
Nor did the survey attribute all bites to canine aggression. The survey found that dogs running at large was the single most common bite circumstance, followed by dogs protecting resources they valued.
The Coalition emphasized responsible pet ownership as a key component in preventing incidents.
[NCRC agrees.]
The Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs is an organization whose membership includes veterinarians, animal-control officers, and other animal-care professionals.
National Canine Research Council