PLATFORM/Breed-specific dog bans
In May, a Denver ordinance that bans pit bulls from city limits was allowed to stand by the Colorado Supreme Court despite a 2004 state law that prohibits local governments from instituting breed-specific bans. Denver’s ban, written in 1989 following two pit bull attacks that killed a 3-year-old boy and wounded a 59-year-old minister, allows animal control to round up any dogs that resemble pit bulls and euthanize them regardless of behavior. Other cities, counties and states have considered or are considering similar bans on specific dog breeds. American City & County asked readers of its weekly e-mail newsletter whether they support such bans. The following are some of the responses:
“I am sorry to hear about the knee-jerk ordinance passed by Denver. The violence inflicted by mistreated animals, and by animals that have been trained to fight or attack other animals or humans, is the responsibility of the owner(s) of the animal. They say that guns don’t kill people; people kill people. We don’t destroy guns and claim that we’re curbing violence.”
— Dean Whitehead, Los Angeles
“I would be in favor of a law banning specific dog breeds that display aggressive or violent behavior. Law-abiding citizens should be able to walk the streets without wondering if someone’s pit bull is going to go ape on them.”
— John Morabito, planner, East Fishkill, N.Y.
“In Germany, animals are a part of the German Constitution and have the same rights as humans. Denver’s law against pit bulls and any animal that resembles a pit bull is barbaric! To judge whether a particular dog is bad simply by its appearance is an insult to all Americans’ intelligence!
While the rest of the U.S. moves forward to combat terrorism, organized and ordinary crime, Denver has made it legal to commit mass murder of innocent animals, while also breaking the hearts of these animals’ human best friends!”
— Dawn Dippell, founding management, Long Island, N.Y.-based Immtec
“Some dog breeds are for fighting or attacking only. They should be banned. There are enough breeds out there that a person can find a pet in lieu of a vicious attack animal.”
— Steve Brody, engineer, St. Louis-based HBE