Not to be dissuaded, pit bull advocates sent the issue to the ballot for voters to decide. 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. It’s not the first time efforts have been made to overturn the Denver ban. 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. 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. Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) is any legislation that puts restrictions on dogs based solely on their apparent breed. City officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners even though the repeal is not effective until January. 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. COVID-19 Update: AAHA staff is currently working remotely and will support our members virtually. Sign this petition. 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).. 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. 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. ... founder of Replace Denver BSL. 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). 77, Update 3) 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. Our goal is to replace Denver’s current breed specific legislation with a … The resulting public outcry helped demonize the breed, and many communities passed similar … 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. 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 . or. It is cruel and unjust punishment. All Rights Reserved. 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. Under Denver’s Ordinance Sec. 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. ... Aurora and, of course, our friends at End Aurora Breed Specific Legislation! 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The city enacted the ban in 1989 after a rash of pit bull attacks in Colorado, and across the US, made headlines. See more of Replace Denver BSL on Facebook. Replace Denver BSL is a community action group. Replace Denver BSL is a community action group. 11/11/2020. BSL is shorthand for breed specific legislation. We are going to need everyone’s help if we are going to replace Denver’s outdated Breed-Specific Legislation. Are you a “Dog Hero”? Follow Dog-Friendly Denver and Replace Denver BSL for pupdates. We’re going to be spilling the kibble along the way, letting you pups know how you can help. CO 80228. #pitbulls #endbsl #denverbsl #denverpitbulls #pitbullawareness #pitbulladvocate #bsl #breedrestriction #adoptthecropped #denver#rescue #adoptdontshop 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. 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. Ballot Proposal 2J, which was … “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. 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. RepealBSL.org is a grassroots project that provides resources for combating BSL and breed-discriminatory bans. Under Denver’s Ordinance Sec. 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. BSL stands for breed specific legislation. 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. According to Denver’s election results page, 64% of voters were in favor of overturning the ban and 35% were against it. Replace Denver BSL is a community action group. 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. 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.”. Denver residents voted November 3, 2020, to repeal the pit bull ban. 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. 2,942 talking about this. 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. 679-03, adopted September 9, 2003. - As of today, the two biggest cities in CO have ended their breed bans - 2021 is off to a GREAT start! “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. Thankfully, the law has changed to allow pit bull-type dogs into the city through a breed restricted permit. 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. 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. The repeal will go into effect in January, though city officials have already published requirements for pit bull owners. 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 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. 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. 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 . The ban on pit bulls and other breeds is closer to ending after the Denver City Council voted for repeal on Monday night. 2,942 talking about this. We are partnering with dozens of local volunteers and dog trainers to help Denver dog owners responsibly care for their animals and provide public education promoting responsible ownership. (Supplement No. [UPDATE 7/29/20] After a COVID paws, the BSL repeal is bark in biz. All orders are currently shipping as normal. Voters in Denver have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that repeals the city’s 30-year breed ban. 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 Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed a measure to repeal a ban on pit bull type dogs. 3.4K likes. This means that Denver … Steele says she expects to see a jump in pit bull adoptions at the DFL because of the lifting of the ban. 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).. 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. This isn’t the first challenge to the policy, described as breed-specific legislation (BSL). A number of pit bull advocates actually supported the mayor’s veto. This is … Ballot Proposal 2J, which was approved by … Voters in Denver have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that repeals the city’s 30-year breed ban. The ballot proposal passed the finance committee and is on its way to City Council and then mayoral approval. The resulting public outcry helped demonize the breed, and many communities passed similar legislation. The city enacted the ban in 1989 after a rash of pit bull attacks in Colorado, and across the US, made headlines. . A breed-neutral safety law will improve public safety, reduce the incidence of dog bites, and come at a lower cost to the taxpayer. 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. Follow Dog-Friendly Denver and Replace Denver BSL for pupdates. The city enacted the ban in 1989 after a rash of pit bull attacks in Colorado, and across the US, made headlines. Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) criminalizes U.S. citizens. But it’s not a free ride for Denver pit bull owners—they still need a permit to own a pit bull. You can read the full ordinance here. 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. Mayoral approval criminalizes U.S. citizens in pit bull breed ban the kibble along the way letting. 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