Pit-bull aficionados criticize Denver ban

City stands by decision despite letter campaign

April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 22, 2005 at midnight

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Charmane Watson's beloved pit bull terrier was given to her as a birthday gift last year.

The northeast Denver resident, 39, said Thursday that she can't imagine finding another home for 1-year-old Nautica.

Watson is one of 150 Denver residents who were sent a letter from Animal Control this week warning them that the city plans to resume its ban outlawing pit bulls within city limits on May 9, city officials said.

"It's just not right," Watson said. "I have a loving dog who loves kids and wouldn't hurt anyone. They need to look at each individual situation. It's not the animal. It's the owner.

"If I have to be put in jail, I'm going to do what I gotta do. Nautica hasn't done anything. He's just a pit bull," Watson said.

Watson's not alone in her appeal for canine clemency.

Dozens of letters from across the state, the nation and the world are flowing into City Hall, urging city leaders to rethink the plan to resume Denver's pit bull ban.

Stephanie Kupets of Mesa sent a letter appealing to the Denver City Council's "sense of humanity" after learning that her son's mixed-breed pit bull must be out of the city in 30 days. Her son attends college in Denver.

"My son's dog is very loving, and this is his companion," she wrote. "My son is devastated and does not know what he will do without his dog. The ruling is unfair and prejudicial."

City Council members say they will stand by the city's decision to resume enforcement of its ban.

"Whenever this issue comes up, we always get a lot of letters," City Council President Elbra Wedgeworth said. "They have their own little network. I'm standing by the decision that has been made to resume enforcement of our ban."

The letter-writing campaign comes on the heels of a district judge's ruling earlier this month that upheld Denver's home-rule authority to outlaw pit bulls.

Animal rights activists from as far way as Australia are writing and accusing the city of Denver and the court of enacting knee-jerk legislation that discriminates against a specific breed of dog.

The appeals on behalf of pit bulls are doing little to sway city officials.

Assistant City Attorney Kory Nelson, who successfully defended the pit bull ban, said most of the letters are coming from outside of Denver.

Animal rights organizations such as the American Canine Foundation are behind the lobbying efforts, he said. The city even monitors a Web site that "people against breed-specific legislation" use to feed off each other, Nelson said.

"The urban environment of Denver is heck of a lot different than the Outback of Australia," Nelson said. "These dogs (pit bulls) pose such a risk should they attack. We think as a community we shouldn't have them."

Denver banned the breed in 1989 after a 54-year-old local minister was attacked and mauled by a pit bull. A 5-year-old boy had been killed by a pit bull the year before. More recently, Denver resident Josh Armijo was attacked by a loose pit bull in October and left with $20,000 in medical bills.

City officials estimate that there were about 4,500 pit bulls kept illegally before enforcement of the ban ended last April. They haven't kept exact data, but officials believe that number has climbed, Animal Control Director Doug Kelly said.

Challenges to the city's pit bull ban may continue for some time.

The canine foundation has an appeal pending in the Colorado Court of Appeals.

Pit bull prohibitions

• Denver's pit bull law prohibits any person from owning, possessing, keeping, exercising control over, maintaining, harboring or selling a pit bull in the city and county of Denver.

• It is permissible to transport a pit bull directly through Denver, from a starting point outside of Denver to another destination outside of Denver, provided that the pit bull dog remains in the vehicle.

• Copies of the official breed standards are available at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter, located at 678 S. Jason St. For more information, call 303-698-0076.Source: City Of Denver

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