Denver Pit Bull Owners Sue City Over Breed Ban and Murder
Thanks to CBS4 Denver.com for this news.
Pit Bull Owners Sue Over Denver’s Euthanizing Dogs
(AP) DENVER Three pit bull owners have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Denver’s ban on the breed that gives owners a choice of moving out of the city or giving up their pets to have them put to death.
A least 1,110 dogs have been seized and killed under the law, which went into effect during the spring of 2005, according to the lawsuit’s backers.
“The lawsuit alleges that Denver’s ordinance violates (the) plaintiffs’ Fourteenth Amendment rights to liberty and property and to due process of law,” the Progressive Law Center, which joined in filing the suit, said in a statement Monday.The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Sonya Dias and Hillary Engel, who said they were forced to move out of Denver because of the pit bull ordinance, and Sheryl White, whose dog allegedly was seized under the city ban.
Denver banned pit bulls in 1989 after dogs mauled a minister and killed a boy in separate attacks. The Legislature passed a law in 2004 that prohibited breed-specific bans, but the city sued and a judge ruled in April 2005 the law was an unconstitutional violation of local control.
Since then, Aurora, Commerce City and Lone Tree have banned the breed, fearing Denver’s cast-off pit bulls might flood their cities. Other cities have beefed up vicious-dog ordinances without singling out pit bulls.
Pit bull typically describes three kinds of dogs — the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. But Denver’s ban applies to any dog that looks like a pit bull. The animal’s actual behavior does not matter.
Critics of the ordinance say that a blanket ban on an entire breed is misguided and that the law should instead target irresponsible owners and all dangerous dogs.
Follow this link to read the rest of the article and watch the video.
Hmmmm…my late father was an alcoholic who beat my mother unmercifully. He was dangerous as are most alcoholic wife beaters. Do you think we could get a nationwide ban on drunken wife beaters and start euthanizing them?
Makes more sense than the breed specific laws.
Unfortunately I think you’re right, Kenyon’s mom.
[...] Denver Pit Bull Owners Sue City Over Breed Ban and MurderThe lawsuit was filed on behalf of Sonya Dias and Hillary Engel, who said they were forced to move out of Denver because of the pit bull ordinance, and Sheryl White, whose dog allegedly was seized under the city ban. … [...]
Hmm, this just drives me nuts! I can’t believe they want to rid the city of the breed by making people move or killing the dogs! its like the holocaust against pitbulls and I think it is absoluetly ridiculous. I hope the plantiff’s win. It makes me even more mad that PETA thinks that all pitbulls should be killed to keep them from being abused. (tell me if i’m wrong).
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sorry last post didn’t post the web address, it’s http://www.cutepetopia.com
WOW! We can outlaw Pit Bulls….but not guns, alcohol, smoking, and a ton of other, PROVEN more dangerous things! WOW! We can make ya’ move if you want to keep your dog…what about those folks with “troubled” teens? And, why don’t we start killing more criminals? Or banning certain types of people (like child molesters) from living in any city/state? What’s wrong with this picture? You say guns don’t kill-people do…well, why not apply that same logic to the dog owners? There’s no bad dogs, only bad owners (whether it be intentionally or unintentionally)!!
I live near Wichita KS. and they just passed an ordinance that even though they did pick on the PB some it was not near as bad as Denver. You can have 2 PB’s, they must be microchipped and spade or nutered. It also have language that a convicted felon cannot own one and those who breed can’t breed more than once a year without paying a fine. Actuallly as I wrote that it sounded like good rules to just go by for all dogs not just ones considered viscious.
Anyway, these stories remind me of the nazi’s taking people out of there homes and sending them to the gas chambers.
If they start a ban on pit bulls & enforce it then what will be next. They wont stop there maybe you won’t be allowed to drive an suv or eat ice cream tell you what color you house has to be to make the city look better. I would rather start with drunk wife beaters than dogs.
I think that is horrible!!! The city has no right to get on someone’s property and take the animals. The owner should have the right. I like pit bulls, but I just don’t have one yet. But I still work at a city owned shelter, and I can say that none of us want a pit bull ban. I live in Lees Summit, and thank god there has not been a ban yet. But still you should have a choice to choose if you want to move, or have you pet murdered. And since they went into someone’s property and took the animal, they should have their asses sued. I hope the ban is broken in Denver, I know we in Lees Summit don’t want anything to happen here. But also people should have the choice. I hope you all win, and I also hope you save your pit bulls too.
Obviously, these a$$holes have never had their skin ripped apart by a Laso Apso!?!?! This makes my blood boil.
In response to Julie’s post….’It also have language that a convicted felon cannot own one’
Although not as bad as Denver, that is still a violation of ones rights. After all, it is the convicted felon who had his rights restored and voted for these people who think they can rule the world.
I don’t think I’ll be moving to KS or CO anytime soon!
In support of the Pit Bull and Pit Bulls breeds i am asking all that cares to go to the websites listed below and Read THE ARTICLES. Please help and support us in this DOG ORDINANCE. At the bottom of the articles is comments please add a small comment or large.
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2007/04/18/news/news04.txt
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2007/04/25/news/news04.txt
Our dogs have shaped our kids’ character. Their loyalty, spunk and neediness have taught them care and compassion. When our 2 dobies gave birth to 12 pups in a NYC kitchen, it was as close as my son Ben had ever come to nature. We found good homes for all twelve, further teaching our kids responsibility. Now we have Amy a Chesapeake/Rottweiler and two pitt mixes.Like many of you for us dogs are a part of our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. The State is flexing its muscle, and we must be strong in defending one another’s rights.