The Denver City Council voted to repeal the breed ban in February, but it was vetoed by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who cited safety concerns. NEWStat contacted Apryl Steele, DVM, CAWA, president and CEO of the Dumb Friends League (DFL) a Denver-based animal rescue organization and shelter that cares for and adopts out sick, injured, neglected, and unwanted animals, to talk about the implications of lifting the ban. COVID-19 Update: AAHA staff is currently working remotely and will support our members virtually. Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) is any legislation that puts restrictions on dogs based solely on their apparent breed. Leading advocacy group Denver BSL, which stands for breed specific legislation, applauded the decision on social media, calling the approval of Ballot Measure 2J “an absolutely historic win.” City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. Tony McReynolds Denver residents voted November 3, 2020, to repeal the pit bull ban. City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. Important message regarding AAHA and COVID-19, AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year Award, Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity, 2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines Web Conference, Connexity 2020 Virtual and On-Demand Conference, Distance Education Veterinary Technology Program (DEVTP), Secret Lives of Fleas: What Really Goes on in the Home, Strategies for bringing back clients, finances, and production postpandemic, Practices Celebrating Accreditation Anniversaries, AAHA Board of Directors notice of position vacancies, Notice of AAHA Board of Directors slate of nominations, overturn an ordinance banning ownership of pit bulls, more difficult than other breeds to adopt out. As of today, the two biggest cities in CO have ended their breed bans - 2021 is off to a GREAT start! The ban on pit bulls and other breeds is closer to ending after the Denver City Council voted for repeal on Monday night. Replace Denver BSL is a community action group. Steele said the DFL has been a vocal supporter of BSL reform in Colorado: “By allowing pit bulls in Denver, we’re allowing people to adopt behaviorally screened pit bulls and increasing the opportunity for [them] to experience better socialization.”, Steele said the three-decade-old ban didn’t necessarily deter people from owning pit bulls, but it did make them sneakier about it, to everyone’s detriment: “People in Denver [still] had pit bulls, but they . This is … The resulting public outcry helped demonize the breed, and many communities passed similar … Leading advocacy group Denver BSL, which stands for breed specific legislation, applauded the decision on social media, calling the approval of Ballot Measure 2J “an absolutely historic win.” City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. Leading advocacy group Denver BSL, which stands for breed specific legislation, applauded the decision on social media, calling the approval of Ballot Measure 2J “an absolutely historic win.” City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. Denver was one of an estimated 700 cities across the U.S. with similar breed-specific legislation. Now, it joins the ranks of municipalities walking back these outright bans, including Castle Rock, which repealed its ban in 2018 and moved to a similar behavior-based, non-breed-specific law. Leading advocacy group Denver BSL, which stands for breed specific legislation, applauded the decision on social media, calling the approval of Ballot Measure 2J “an absolutely historic win.” City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. The city of Denver has voted to repeal its 30-year ban on pit bulls, and unlike a similar bill that was passed by its council earlier this year, the city’s mayor said he won’t try to stop it. Replace Denver BSL wants a law that empowers Denver residents to keep their fellow citizens safe by taking the best possible care of their dogs. Citizens of Denver, Colorado, voted to overturn an ordinance banning ownership of pit bulls last week, striking a decisive blow for proponents of breed-specific legislation (BSL). [UPDATE 7/29/20] After a COVID paws, the BSL repeal is bark in biz. The resulting public outcry helped demonize the breed, and many communities … The previous law mandated that if a dog was declared to be at least 51% “pit bull” based on a visual assessment, it would either be forcibly removed from Denver or killed. All orders are currently shipping as normal. - Denver residents voted this week to overturn the city's longtime ban ... BSL is shorthand for breed specific legislation. Our goal is to replace Denver’s current breed specific legislation with a … Thankfully, the law has changed to allow pit bull-type dogs into the city through a breed restricted permit. Here’s what you can doo: Contact End Aurora BSL through their website or Facebook page to volunteer. Typically, this legislation bans certain breeds from a city, county, state or country. Despite 30 years of BSL, Denver consistently ranks as one of the worst cities in the nation for dog bites – significantly higher than fellow Colorado communities without BSL. Leading advocacy group Denver BSL, which stands for breed specific legislation, applauded the decision on social media, calling the approval of Ballot Measure 2J "an absolutely historic win." Denver was one of an estimated 700 cities across the U.S. with similar breed-specific legislation. In the United States, more than 300 cities, counties, and states have repealed BSL – reflecting the growing understanding that breed-specific legislation does not reduce dog bites and often increases them. CO 80228. 2,942 talking about this. See more of Replace Denver BSL on Facebook. This means that Denver … RepealBSL.org is a grassroots project that provides resources for combating BSL and breed-discriminatory bans. . Take Action Take action against BSL and breed-discriminatory bans by contacting elected officials in cities and states where BSL is being challenged or discussed. Replace Denver BSL is a community action group. Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) criminalizes U.S. citizens. any legislation that puts restrictions on dogs based solely on their apparent breed. Lakewood, “We have patrons at the League every week who want to adopt a pit bull but can’t because of where they live.” She said pit bulls have historically been more difficult than other breeds to adopt out because of BSL. BSL stands for breed specific legislation. Pit bulls have been banned from Denver since 1989, when the Denver Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) took place and prohibited pit bull breeds in the city. Since 2005, breed-specific legislation (BSL) has been in place in the city of Aurora, CO impacting dogs labeled as "pitbulls" which includes American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. ranks as one of the worst cities in the nation for dog bites, “The Impacts of Breed-Specific Legislation on the City and County of Denver”. It is cruel and unjust punishment. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed a measure to repeal a ban on pit bull type dogs. Despite 30 years of BSL, Denver consistently ranks as one of the worst cities in the nation for dog bites – significantly higher than fellow Colorado communities without BSL. Not to be dissuaded, pit bull advocates sent the issue to the ballot for voters to decide. Sign this petition. We are going to need everyone’s help if we are going to replace Denver’s outdated Breed-Specific Legislation. Quinn Pigott who is a community organizer that coordinated Repeal Denver BSL shared with Woof Republic about the news that the voters in Denver supported this initiative. We’re going to be spilling the kibble along the way, letting you pups know how you can help. Our goal is to replace Denver’s current breed specific legislation with a law that makes Denver … DENVER — Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has chosen to veto a bill that would have overturned the city’s three-decade-old pit bull ban. Updated: November 10, 2020. 2,942 talking about this. The city enacted the ban in 1989 after a rash of pit bull attacks in Colorado, and across the US, made headlines. . It’s been 30 years since Denver’s controversial pit bull ban began, and this November, for the first time since it was enacted, voters will have the opportunity to decide the prohibition’s fate. An “Informed Voter”? That ordinance passed and repealing Code 14-75 is back on the agendog. ... Aurora and, of course, our friends at End Aurora Breed Specific Legislation! The ballot proposal passed the finance committee and is on its way to City Council and then mayoral approval. The mayor of Denver, voicing concern about the “very real risk” of injury to children, said Friday he would veto a measure passed by the … We’re going to be spilling the kibble along the way, letting you pups know how you can help. Citizens of Denver, Colorado, voted to overturn an ordinance banning ownership of pit bulls last week, striking a decisive blow for proponents of breed-specific legislation (BSL).. Replace Denver BSL is a community action group. No. [UPDATE 7/29/20] After a COVID paws, the BSL repeal is bark in biz. All Rights Reserved. Or do you need to brush up on the facts about Denver’s BSL? Breed-NEUTRAL legislation has been proven to reduce dog bites, cost less for the community, and improve owners’ care for their pets – by putting responsibility for dog safety back into the owners’ hands. 8-67, pit bull breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier) are prohibited, unless they have been issued a provisional Breed-Restricted Permit . Voters in Denver have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that repeals the city’s 30-year breed ban. Denver residents voted November 3, 2020, to repeal the pit bull ban. Are you a “Dog Hero”? The city council voted to end it in February, but that was vetoed by Mayor Michael Hancock, who cited concerns if someone were hurt following a repeal. Photo credit: © Photography by Adri/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Plus, 12575 W. Bayaud Ave., Can Denver’s repeal of its pit bull ban help dismantle stereotypes? Steele says she expects to see a jump in pit bull adoptions at the DFL because of the lifting of the ban. Voters in Denver have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that repeals the city’s 30-year breed ban. Nevertheless, she’s proud of the League’s track record: “We have placed every healthy and safe pit bull we’ve received over the past three years into communities that don’t have BSL, but because the adopter pool is limited, these dogs have had a longer length of stay than most other breeds.”. It’s not the first time efforts have been made to overturn the Denver ban. Denver BSL Facts . Denver City Council repealed the city's 30-year-old ban on pit bulls Monday night by a razor-thin margin, replacing it with a type of "probation" meant to safely reintroduce the often-demonized breed. Ballot Proposal 2J, which was approved by … You can read the full ordinance here. End Aurora BSL believes they have secured the votes to repeal BSL (Code 14-75) provided a dangerous dog ordinance be passed prior to repeal. or. #pitbulls #endbsl #denverbsl #denverpitbulls #pitbullawareness #pitbulladvocate #bsl #breedrestriction #adoptthecropped #denver#rescue #adoptdontshop 679-03, adopted September 9, 2003. In case after case, breed-specific legislation or BSL has proven ineffective and costly. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock hammered the final nail in the coffin of a City Council attempt to repeal the city’s long-standing pit bull ban Monday night. The ballot proposal passed the finance committee and is on its way to City Council and then mayoral approval. Replace Denver BSL. Ballot Proposal 2J, which was … "My co-lead and I gave out all 100 of our Replace Denver BSL buttons to supporters in the room," notes Hereld, who moved out of Denver because of the ban but is eager to return now. Now, it joins the ranks of municipalities walking back these outright bans, including Castle Rock, which repealed its ban in 2018 and moved to a … ... founder of Replace Denver BSL. But it’s not a free ride for Denver pit bull owners—they still need a permit to own a pit bull. Denver Pit Bull Facts. Citizens of Denver, Colorado, voted to overturn an ordinance banning ownership of pit bulls last week, striking a decisive blow for proponents of breed-specific legislation (BSL).. 8-67, pit bull breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier) are prohibited unless they have been issued a provisional Breed-Restricted Permit.. The group Replace Denver BSL in a Facebook post Thursday hailed the result as "an absolutely historic win." © 2021 American Animal Hospital Association. Our goal is to replace Denver’s current breed specific legislation with a … Replace Denver BSL knows that a community approach is the best approach to dog bite prevention and public safety. Typically, this legislation bans certain breeds from a city, county, state or country. Pit Bull Breed Ban Repeal In Denver Passes On First Vote ... Council members expressed concerns about taking away the 30-year-old breed specific legislation. Segment two of two: "Steffan is joined by Co-Founder of Replace Denver BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) on the Pit Bull bans, Breed History and Information, and the move to repeal the bans. Leading advocacy group Denver BSL, which stands for breed specific legislation, applauded the decision on social media, calling the approval of Ballot Measure 2J “an absolutely historic win.” City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. The repeal will go into effect in January, though city officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners. Under Denver’s Ordinance Sec. The group Replace Denver BSL in a Facebook post Thursday hailed the result as "an absolutely historic win." often hid them so [the dogs] didn’t get confiscated.”, That compounded the problem the ban was meant to solve by decreasing the dogs’ socialization—and their access to behavior resources, thus increasing the possibility of negative interactions with people, which, in turn, reinforced the negative stereotype of the “dangerous” pit bull: “Dangerous dogs come in every breed,” Steele pointed out. 3.4K likes. The statute defines pit bull–type dogs as those who display a majority of physical traits of any one or more of the following breeds: American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, or Staffordshire bull terrier. (Supplement No. In Denver, BSL was commonly referred to as the “pit bull ban” because it specifically prohibited the ownership of dogs that were thought to be “pit bulls” based on their appearance. A breed-neutral safety law will improve public safety, reduce the incidence of dog bites, and come at a lower cost to the taxpayer. BSL is shorthand for breed specific legislation. “And our laws should manage the risk of any dangerous dog,”, Steele said reforming Denver’s ban is likely to help other communities seeking to overturn BSL: “Because Denver was one of the largest cities with a [pit bull] ban, supporters of BSL often use Denver as an example.”. The city enacted the ban in 1989 after a rash of pit bull attacks in Colorado, and across the US, made headlines. Thankfully, that’s likely to change, at least in Denver: more than 900 cities in the US currently have some form of BSL on the books. This isn’t the first challenge to the policy, described as breed-specific legislation (BSL). 77, Update 3) Blog DISCLAIMER – the views expressed in our blog and articles are often user-submitted and not always the opinion or position of Replace Denver BSL. Under Denver’s Ordinance Sec. The city enacted the ban in 1989 after a rash of pit bull attacks in Colorado, and across the US, made headlines. Click here to take our quiz and find out! Follow Dog-Friendly Denver and Replace Denver BSL for pupdates. In November of 2020, Denver voters took a step in the right direction by voting to lift the 30-year pit bull ban in favor of a breed-restricted permitting program. The ballot measure was approved by at least 65% of voters. We are asking the city of Denver to repeal Section 8-55 of REVISED MUNICIPAL CODE, City and County of DENVER, COLORADO Codified through Ord. BSL stands for breed specific legislation. 11/11/2020. Leading advocacy group Denver BSL, which stands for breed specific legislation, applauded the decision on social media, calling the approval of Ballot Measure 2J “an absolutely historic win.” City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. Log In. Create New Account. According to Denver’s election results page, 64% of voters were in favor of overturning the ban and 35% were against it. The resulting public outcry helped demonize the breed, and many communities passed similar legislation. Follow Dog-Friendly Denver and Replace Denver BSL for pupdates. “The Impacts of Breed-Specific Legislation on the City and County of Denver” (2019) argues that BSL has not improved either public safety or the perception of public safety, negatively impacts communities that are already historically discriminated against, and wastes Denver’s resources. See more of Replace Denver BSL on Facebook. 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