[Chapman87]

week's Westword, Jared Jacang Maher investigates whether twenty years of outlawing pit bulls in Denver has made the city safer. (You can also read more about the numbers of dogs killed in "Pit Bull Row"). Here, a photo tour of the city's "pit bull row," the home of Denver's confiscated pit bulls (and the place where thousands have been euthanized over the years). Photos by Anthony Camera. Text by Maher.

In 1989, Denver City Council passed a law banning pit bulls. Any dog suspected of having a majority mix of the breed is impounded at the municipal animal shelter at 678 South Jason Street.

Suspected pit bulls are housed in a special section of the shelter known as "pit bull row."

​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.

[Chapman87]

This two-year-old dog, name unknown, has been designated an "illegal pit bull."
​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 like this one with no identified owner 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.
​From pick up to euthanization, it costs the city roughly $256 per pit bull.

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.

MORE OF THE ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND HERE.

http://for-the-pits.blogspot.com/2009/09/westword-covers-denver-pit-bull-ban.html

AND HERE

http://www.westword.com/2009-09-24/news/for-two-decades-pit-bulls-have-been-public-enemy-1-in-denver-but-maybe-it-s-time-for-a-recount/1/


SAY (VOTE!) NO TO BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION!!!

[dog2000tj]

How is that the people of this city allow such stupidity from their elected officials?

[Chapman87]

I dont know. Its just like the article says, the dogs are killed for looking a certain way, not for acting a certain way

[JonM]

its the owners that should be sitting behind bars. letting a dangerous animal run loose isnt the animal's fault it lays squarely on the owner. when properly trained they make fine pets. but most owners think they are cool and just get one to look cool and put no effort into ownership or responsibility.

i have to go through hoops to be safe with firearms and ensure that when i take them out to use them they dont hurt anyone. if i am negligent with my firearms i end up in jail.

pitbull and similar dog owners get a "dont do it again" the dog gets killed. all blame is placed on the dog instead of the idiot that turned it loose.

[Chapman87]

Originally Posted by JonM

its the owners that should be sitting behind bars. letting a dangerous animal run loose isnt the animal's fault it lays squarely on the owner. when properly trained they make fine pets. but most owners think they are cool and just get one to look cool and put no effort into ownership or responsibility.

i have to go through hoops to be safe with firearms and ensure that when i take them out to use them they dont hurt anyone. if i am negligent with my firearms i end up in jail.

pitbull and similar dog owners get a "dont do it again" the dog gets killed. all blame is placed on the dog instead of the idiot that turned it loose.

I agree with you and 99.9% of what you said. However, I did not have to train mine to be a fine pet, she came like that. You have to train them to be vicious and fight if you want them to.

thanks!

[Shihan]

I don't care for the Breed myself. Just my opinion.

[Chapman87]

Originally Posted by Shihan

I don't care for the Breed myself. Just my opinion.

Care to tell me why? Just curious. There are many breeds I dont care for but that is mainly because of physical traits.

[Shihan]

Originally Posted by Chapman87

Care to tell me why? Just curious. There are many breeds I dont care for but that is mainly because of physical traits.

Let me first state that I have owned Pits and I have bred Rottweilers since the 80's. Pits were bred for one purpose. People will say the breed is a Staffordshire terrier. They may have Staffordshire in them and they will say they are Amstaffs. They were a combination of the breeds, bred for the purpose of fighting and fighting alone. There are Game bred and Show bred Pits and the differences in the two can not make a Standard for the breed.

There is a reason Pit Bulls are not recognized by the AKC.

I do not accept papers from the CKC. I can send a photo of a dog that looks like the breed and have the CKC accept it as that breed.

The UKC is no better.

[Chapman87]

Can I ask where you get your information?



AKC Recognized...
American Kennel Club - American Staffordshire Terrier Did You Know?


EDIT; I think I mis-understood your post. Are you saying that AmStaffs or APBTs are not recognized? Also, just because APBTs were bred for fighting in 1900 does not mean the dogs of today are bred for that. They are bred just like AmStaffs are, great working, competition, show and "pet" dogs.