Council leader softens his pit bull stance

Sarah Langbein, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 25, 2006 at midnight

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Denver City Council President Michael Hancock is a dog lover, but he's not a fan of pit bulls.

Still, after learning that three dozen pit bulls have been killed by the city because of a ban on the breed, he's been wondering if there could have been a different outcome.

On Monday, Hancock said he's considering proposing legislation that would allow the dogs to be adopted by someone outside Denver. Currently, Denver Animal Control euthanizes the dogs if their owners have been cited twice or more for violating the city's dog ordinance.

Hancock, who said he supports the city's ban, said he started thinking about the issue during the weekend and wants to talk to other council members and the city attorney.

Councilman Rick Garcia said he isn't willing to reopen the entire ordinance but is sensitive to the issue.

"There should be other options than just terminating these animals," Garcia said.

Hancock agreed.

"I do think there are enough people out there who care about these dogs," he said.

One of them is Tami Bishop, who fought unsuccessfully to save the dogs. Bishop, a volunteer at Denver Animal Control, had offered her own time and money to move the pit bulls, especially 13 pups, out of state.

But the dogs were euthanized Thursday night, when their owner turned over custody as part of a plea deal.

Michael Padilla avoided jail time and a fine by doing so.

Before their deaths, Bishop appealed to Mayor John Hickenlooper in an e-mail. The mayor responded to her on Monday, when he returned from vacation.

"Let me begin by thanking you for your volunteer service at the shelter," Hickenlooper wrote to her. "There are many people and issues in our community that would benefit from having an advocate as passionate as you.

"As you are no doubt aware, Denver's pit bull ban dates back to a series of incidents that occurred more than 20 years ago. According to city records, pit bulls attacked and seriously injured more than 20 people in Colorado between 1984 and 1989."

Three-year-old Fernando Salazar was killed in a mauling in 1986, and the Rev. Wilbur Billingsley sustained more than 70 bites and two broken legs in 1989.

"As for the specific situation about which you wrote me, please understand that there was no legal mechanism by which I could intervene," Hickenlooper wrote, telling her that only the City Council can change the ordinance. "No matter how compelling the arguments, I do not have the legal authority to selectively enforce or ignore established ordinances."

Hickenlooper's office received about three dozen complaints about the Padilla pit bull case.

Many of them were from out of state, said the mayor's spokeswoman, Lindy Eichenbaum Lent. Denver Animal Control received about 10 complaints.

Pit bull facts

Statistics on pit bulls in Denver from May 9, 2005, to May 8, 2006.

• 1,495 impounded.

• 323 returned to owners after first offense, as long as they were moved out of Denver.

• 1,056 euthanized.

• 68 transferred out of Denver. The dogs were strays or were relinquished by the owners; no criminal charges resulted.

• 21 picked up dead.Source: Denver Animal Control

langbeins@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2536

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