Sept 25, 2009: Dead Dogs Barking

[xoxoxoBruce]

20 years ago, Denver, Colorado, outlawed "Pit Bulls".

Any dog suspected of having a majority mix of the breed is impounded at the municipal animal shelter.
​Each dog is evaluated by three shelter employees to see if it has the "the majority of the characteristics" of the three pit bull breeds defined in the ordinance: American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Since 1992, 5,286 pit bulls have been impounded by the city under the ordinance.

Pit bulls can be released if their owners pay impound fees and provide proof that the dog will be relocated out of city limits.

​The law prevents shelters in Denver from putting pit bulls up for adoption. So dogs will only be released if staff can find space in shelters outside the city. But such arrangements are rare. Under the ban, Denver has put down an estimated 3,497 pit bulls.
​Doug Kelly became director of Denver's animal control in 2000. He can offer no definitive proof that the pit bull ban works. Still, his agency must enforce what's written in the ordinance.

Yeah... it's the law. What a goddamn shame.

link