Happy dance for happy dogs

DENVER RESIDENTS KICK 30-YEAR-OLD BAN ON PIT BULL TERRIERS TO THE CURB

Cue the happy dance: In Denver, there’s big news for pit bull terriers and any wigglybutt pups who even look like one. For the past three decades, the city of Denver has been the “poster child” for breed-discriminatory legislation that targets pit bull terriers, and it has been a dangerous place to be for any stout, block-headed dog resembling a pit bull.

Residents with dogs fitting that description sought homes in neighborhoods outside the city limits to keep their pets safe. And visitors with pit bulls avoided traveling through, fearing that their dogs would be confiscated. For a long time, it seemed like that was just the way it was going to be, and nothing would ever change. But then, in a resounding statement against breed discrimination, voters in Denver struck down the 30-year pit bull ban, by an overwhelming majority.

It’s a huge victory — though there’s more work to be done. While the outright ban has been lifted, the city still places certain restrictions on pit-bull-like dogs, so we’ll keep pushing for Denver to follow the example of other dog-friendly cities.

In the last two years alone, more than 40 cities have lifted breed bans without restrictions. Soon after Denver’s step in the right direction, neighboring communities Aurora and Commerce City removed their bans and all breed-specific restrictions. These cities finally realized that breed-discriminatory legislation fails to enhance public safety, interferes with property owners’ rights and is a waste of taxpayer dollars when it comes to trying to enforce those laws.

That’s why we’re working tirelessly to prevent new breed-discriminatory laws and to reverse existing ones. Even though it’s a 24/7 endeavor, there’s always time for a happy dance to celebrate each victory. So go ahead, cue the music and dance.