TheDenverChannel.com









Denver News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters

Denver Allowed To Enforce Pit Bull Ban

District Court Says Ban Is Constitutional

POSTED: 5:30 pm MDT April 8, 2005
UPDATED: 6:39 pm MDT April 8, 2005

The city of Denver will be allowed to enforce its 15-year ban on pit bulls.

A state law passed last year prohibits cities and counties from singling out certain kinds of dogs, so the city of Denver sued.

  SURVEY
Do you agree with Denver's ban on owning pit bulls?

A judge in Denver's District Court on Thursday upheld Denver's law, saying that the state Attorney General's Office failed to provide any new scientific evidence in the field of animal behavior or other new information that would make Denver's ordinance unconstitutional.

The same judge had also ruled in December that "home rule" gives Denver the right to ban specific breeds of dogs, despite the state law.

The city said it will start enforcing the pit bull ban on May 9. Pit bull owners have 30 days to remove their dogs from the city, officials said.

Denver banned pit bulls after the Rev. Wilbur Billingsley was attacked by a pit bull in 1989. He was bitten 70 times and both of his legs were broken.

The city sued the state in May 2004 after Gov. Bill Owens signed a state law making owners liable for injuries the first time a dog bites. The bill, which also prohibited cities and counties from outlawing specific breeds, followed the fatal mauling of an Elbert County woman by three pit bulls last year.

The Denver pit bull law prohibits any person from owning, possessing, keeping, exercising control over, maintaining, harboring, or selling a pit bull in the city and county of Denver. The city defines a pit bull as any dog that is an American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of these breeds. Copies of these three official breed standards are available at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter at 678 South Jason St. in Denver. Call (303) 698-0076 for more information.

Discuss: Are Pit Bulls Getting Bad Rap?


Links We Like
Sponsored Content
You can pick your friends, but not your family -- or your neighbors. Here's what you need to know about how to deal with yours. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Are you often tired or rushed in the morning? Give your morning habits a makeover, and start the day feeling positive and energetic instead. More

If you're looking to save on your next new vehicle, a low sticker price is just one aspect. Consider all the costs and make the right decision. More

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network
Sponsored Links

MyReport Network

E - News Registration focus group
  My Report Network: Tell your story on 7NEWS. Sign up to be a member of our My Report Network