Voters to have say on pit bulls
Aurora ballot measurewill decide if breed ban stays or is repealed
Aurora’s ban on pit bulls has been controversial since its inception more than eight years ago, but now voters will have a say on whether they want to keep or repeal the ban.
Ameasure to repeal the ban on pit bulls and other restricted-breed dogs is one of four city initiatives on the ballot, which will be mailed out Tuesday. The other three involve tax increases formarijuana, public safety and roads.
By far, the pit bull repeal question is drawing the most interest. On Saturday, a group led by Coloradans for Breed Neutral Dog Laws Inc. held a rally near Bicentennial Park, urging people to vote to repeal the ban.
Juliet Piccone, president of the organization, acknowledged that bites from pit bulls have decreased since the ban. But she said city animal control officers are focusing mainly on pit bull calls and ignoring calls or attacks involving other breeds, which, she said, have gone up.
Pit bulls that were already in the city before the law took effect in 2006 were allowed to stay, but no new ones have been permitted (except for service dogs). The decrease in pit bull attacks has happened, in part, because of deaths or people moving out of town with their dogs.
“If the goal is to prevent dog bites, it’s not working,” Piccone said. “If the goal is to prevent dog bites from restricted breeds, they can say, ‘Yes, that’s happening.’ ”
City officials say that’s not true but could not immediately provide numbers.
Aurora initially had prohibited 10 breeds in the city when the law was enacted, but a few years ago trimmed the list to pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers— all considered pit bulls.
In 2005, there were 35 bite reports involving restricted breeds. Nowthe city sees a few a year.
Aurora City Councilman Bob Broomdoesn’t support repealing the ban. In fact, after council members decided against repealing the ban themselves, he voted against putting it to voters. But he hopes this election is the one thatmuzzles anymore talk of repealing the ban.
“Let’s put an end to it forever,” Broomsaid.“Maybe thatwill quiet the peoplewho champion the pit bulls.”