Parker cages pit bull ban

Breed-specific laws criminalize dog, not owner, says critic

By Penny Parker, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 18, 2006 at midnight

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PARKER - To exuberant applause, the Town Council yanked a proposed pit bull ban from consideration Tuesday night.

Town leaders opted instead to work on toughening their existing vicious dog regulations rather than specifically targeting pit bulls.

The 6-0 vote came after dozens of residents condemned the proposed pit bull ordinance in public testimony.

One man likened restrictions on the animals to the relocation of American Indians to reservations and Japanese-American citizens to internment camps during World War II.

A woman told town leaders that breed-specific legislation, like a pit bull ban, criminalizes the animal rather than the dog's owner. She walked away from the podium holding a sign that read, "Stop Racial Profiling."

"Any dog, regardless of breed, is only as dangerous as its owner allows it to be," said Parker resident Byron Ferguson.

Several residents pleaded with the council members not to succumb to hysteria created by media reports about pit bull maulings, saying the number of pit bull attacks is exaggerated and sensationalized.

"It is fashionable in certain municipalities to follow in a herd mentality," said resident Bill Denny.

Councilman Jack Hilbert, who sponsored the ordinance, said he was still concerned about Parker becoming a dumping ground for pit bulls restricted from other metro-area communities.

But he did not think the single breed focus ultimately was the right approach.

"What has come to light is that there are other breeds just as dangerous, so we need an ordinance that addresses all vicious dogs," he said.

Parker would have joined Commerce City and Aurora in banning new pit bulls and placing severe restrictions on the ones already living there. Denver has an all-out ban on pit bulls.

Parker's ordinance not only would have banned new pit bulls in town but would have required owners of existing pit bulls to license, vaccinate, neuter and implant an identifying microchip in their animals. A $100,000 liability policy on the dogs also would have been required.

Other language in the ordinance would have required pit bull owners to muzzle their dogs and keep them on a 4-foot leash in public. While at home, they would have to keep the dogs in a pen while outside.

"One way to make a dog mean is to kennel him, muzzle him, cage him and not let him get any exercise," said Kurt Schleser, who lives near Parker.

Christy Beyerly, a Parker resident, was the lone citizen to speak in favor of the ordinance. Her next- door neighbor owns a pit bull.

"I am just terrified that that dog is going to jump that split-rail fence and attack my 2-year-old child or me," she said.

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