Aurora, CO eyeing Pit Bull Ban

[vailpass]

On and on it goes, where it stops nobody knows....
Rocky Mountain News

Aurora leaders to discuss pit bulls
Ban would be similar to prohibition in Denver

By Javier Erik Olvera, Rocky Mountain News
July 6, 2005

Two months ago, Charmane Watson was at her wits' end.

She could no longer keep her dog - a 2-year-old, black and white pit bull named Nautica - after Denver's ordinance that bans the breed went into effect. The 39-year-old certified nurse's assistant decided to send her dog to live with family members in Aurora, where it wouldn't face a death sentence.

Now, Aurora leaders will begin discussing whether the city should adopt a similar ban on the breed that has developed a reputation as dangerous.

"This is nonsense," said Watson, who says the breed has gotten a bad rap and has sent letters to lawmakers trying to sway their opinions.

Aurora City Council's subcommittee on code enforcement today will be given a rundown on the city's existing law for aggressive, dangerous and vicious animals.

The subcommittee - composed of three council members - will determine whether the law is enough or whether it should propose a pit-bull ban to the full council.

At this point, Councilwoman Nadine Caldwell, a subcommittee member, supports a ban and says the breed has "a button that goes off."

"I've read too much about these dogs and know what they can do," said Caldwell, who says that Denver's ban has prompted some to move their dogs into Aurora.

Councilman Bob Fitzgerald, another subcommittee member, couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday. In earlier interviews, he said he would consider working toward a ban.

Denver's ban went into effect May 9 after the city won a contentious yearlong legal battle with the state over a law that banned municipalities from outlawing pit bulls. Last year, as Denver's court battle intensified, Aurora leaders decided to strengthen the city's animal law and to revisit the issue after a court ruling.

They decided to slap stiffer penalties - from $50 to $150 - on all pet owners who are convicted of having animals that are threats, including those that bite, lunge or snap. Additionally, a microchip would be inserted into the animal's skin so it could be monitored. The animal would be destroyed after a second offense.

Aurora's Animal Care Division didn't know Tuesday how many times the penalties have been meted out since the changes went into effect in August. The subcommittee's discussion comes three weeks after two pit-bull attacks in Thornton prompted city leaders to evaluate their own vicious animal law.

In one incident, a man suffered bites on his arms and hands as he tried to stop two pit bulls from attacking his dog, which survived.

In the other incident, Michelle Coughlin, 62, was bitten by her own dog when it was attacked by a pit bull. Her dog died from its injuries and the pit bull was euthanized.

The pit-bull owners in the cases - Alva Lacquement, 29, and a 15-year-old whose name wasn't released - were charged with animal attack violations.

Copyright 2005, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3906438,00.html

[Dave Lane]

Rock on!

Dave

[Saulbadguy]

It's about time!!

[BIG_DADDY]

We are actually starting to get some positive media out here finally. This one is from the Chronical:

All-American dog revered as icon, feared as beast
By JUSTIN M. NORTON, Associated Press Writer

Tuesday, July 5, 2005


Printable Version
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(07-05) 00:03 PDT Berkeley, Calif. (AP) --


One thing is apparent while strolling through this college town known for its counterculture residents who never seem to follow the mainstream: A rash of bad publicity has not made pit bulls any less popular.


Pit bulls are lounging under tables, chasing toys in public parks and sleeping near transients' shopping carts. But despite their ubiquity, the recent news of vicious attacks has made it tougher for owners to walk their dogs without steely stares and cranky complaints.


"People say, 'Oh no, you have a pit bull, we're going to have to watch it,'" said breeder Stephanie Davis, of Vallejo.


Four serious pit bull attacks have been reported in Northern California this summer, including the nationally publicized mauling death of 12-year-old Nicholas Faibish by two family dogs in his San Francisco home.


The attacks spawned public outcries to ban the breed. Faibish's mother has been charged with child endangerment for leaving the boy home alone with the dogs, and California legislators are considering a law change that would allow cities to enact breed-specific legislation, such as mandatory spaying and neutering.


So what drives people to own the stout breed?


Owners and registered breeders say people continue to be drawn to pit bulls because of their quintessentially American traits: strength, loyalty and tenacity.


"Once you've owned one it's hard to go to any other dog," said breeder Apryl Hall, of Sacramento. "They're smart and learn fast and they'll be loyal to the end."


The American pit bull terrier is as much a part of the nation's culture as Lassie or Scooby Doo. The dogs were bred from English bulldogs and came to the United States in the 1700s, where they were used for working and sport fighting with other dogs.


A pit bull draped in red, white and blue was a popular pro-American symbol in the early to mid-20th century.


Pits bulls have appeared on the cover of Life magazine three times, and a pit named "Bud" went on the well-chronicled trip — and what's believed to be the first cross-country drive — in 1903 with Horatio Nelson Jackson. Jackson later donated his car and Bud's goggles to the Smithsonian Institution.


The first superstar dog in the early years of television ("Our Gang" and "The Little Rascals") was a pit bull named Petey, the quirky, perpetually curious canine with the distinct black circle around one eye.


There are countless online stores devoted to pit bull merchandise including collars, paintings, tattoos, and red, white and blue T-shirts that read, "If It Ain't a Pit Bull It's Just a Dog."


The breed is also a perennial symbol of toughness. A Florida law firm uses the pit bull wearing a spiked collar as its symbol, and tennis star Venus Williams was recently referred to as a pit bull for her athletic prowess.


Still, pit bulls have been portrayed as the stuff of nightmares recently, a modern version of Cerberus, the three-headed mythological dog who guards the gates to the Underworld. Invariably, recent newscasts depict the breed as such, showing clips of pit bulls gnashing their teeth against chain link fences.


An urban myth held that the dogs' jaws lock during a bite. While pit bulls do have stronger jaws than most breeds, there is no locking mechanism.


Experts say many of the dogs blamed in recent attacks are not even authentic American pit bull terriers — which often weigh no more than 45 pounds.


"They're hybrids and shouldn't even have the same name because they're not the same dogs," said Liesl Wilhardt, a Harvard-trained theologian who runs Luv-A-Bulls pit bull rescue in Portland, Ore.


The American pit bull terrier wasn't even viewed as a problem breed until recently; that designation was saved for Rottweilers, German shepherds and, occasionally, Doberman pinschers.


Pit bull lovers blame the altered perception on unscrupulous breeders who have created bigger and more aggressive dogs.


In the 1980s, breeders say, pit bull terriers grew popular among criminals who knew of the dogs as adept fighters and saw their potential as "walking weapons."


Pit bull supporters are confident the dog can return to iconic status, but say it will take strict monitoring of breeders — not breed-specific laws.


"It's heartbreaking," said Davis, the Vallejo breeder. "I've been getting more questions like, 'Dogs don't just snap, do they?' I'm doing 100 times more education than ever."

[vailpass]

It's nice to hear what they are doing in Berkely but what does that have to do with planet Earth? :)
BD-
If this quote is true then why do Pit owners need to carry a break stick?

"An urban myth held that the dogs' jaws lock during a bite. While pit bulls do have stronger jaws than most breeds, there is no locking mechanism."

[BIG_DADDY]

It's nice to hear what they are doing in Berkely but what does that have to do with planet Earth? :)
BD-
If this quote is true then why do Pit owners need to carry a break stick?

"An urban myth held that the dogs' jaws lock during a bite. While pit bulls do have stronger jaws than most breeds, there is no locking mechanism."

They don't need to but it's a good idea if your dog will bite another dog. That would apply to all big breeds breaking sticks are not just for pits. Here is proof that they bite no more than any other big breed when others were as popular as it. This is from the Chronical as well

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/03/BAGGMDILA41.DTL&hw=pit+bull&sn=003&sc=487

NATION
Data on pit bulls may be skewed by popularity
Rottweilers were deadliest dogs for much of 1990s
Erin McCormick, Todd Wallack, Chronicle Staff Writers

Sunday, July 3, 2005


In the wake of a horrific streak of bloody maulings, pit bulls have gained a reputation as the country's deadliest dogs.

But experts disagree about whether pit bulls are inherently more dangerous -- or just the latest breed in vogue among irresponsible dog owners.

After all, German shepherds killed more people than any other dog in the late 1970s, when many people favored the breed for its fierce reputation. Then, for two years, it was Great Danes. Rottweilers topped the list of killer dogs through most of the '90s, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control. Now it's pit bulls.

And even those rankings are based only on the rarest of dog attacks -- the couple dozen each year that kill.

Much less is known about which breeds are most likely to cause nonfatal bites, which send an estimated 1,000 people to hospital emergency rooms each day around the country. There's no central reporting agency that tracks the estimated 4.7 million U.S. dog bites each year. And smaller studies present conflicting results for which breeds are the most dangerous.

"If we're just focusing on dog deaths and we're just focusing on pit bulls, we're missing the point," said Florida dog trainer Jim Crosby, a national expert on dog aggression.

The lack of reliable data could make it more difficult to figure out how to draft effective regulations to keep the public safer from dog bite injuries or which breeds to focus on. In the wake of several pit bull attacks, including the one that killed 12-year-old Nicholas Faibish on June 3, San Francisco officials are supporting state legislation to give them the authority to crack down on that particular breed.

"I've got a pit bull problem," said Carl Friedman, director of San Francisco's Animal Care and Control department, which responds to dog bites in the city. Friedman points out that most of its hearings on aggressive dogs involve pit bulls.

State law bars cities and counties from targeting specific breeds. But a bill sponsored by Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, would let cities restrict breeding of certain breeds, or force owners to spay or neuter the dogs to make them less aggressive.

Still, despite the recent wave of publicity surrounding pit bull attacks, the number of fatal dog maulings has remained fairly constant -- averaging around 20 per year in the United States for decades. Indeed, you're more likely to be struck dead by lightning than killed by a dog.

But the breed responsible for the fatalities has changed. Lately, pit bulls have been the main culprit, accounting for 45 of the 145 fatalities since 1999, according to a Chronicle analysis of dog fatality data collected by the National Canine Research Foundation. Rottweilers ranked second with 25 attacks.

Other unexpected breeds have killed people, too. For instance, a tiny Pomeranian mix climbed up on a bed and killed a 6-week-old girl in Southern California in 2000. Because fatal maulings are so rare, some dog experts say it's unfair to blacklist an entire breed based on a few vicious attacks.

"You can't base your assumptions about a whole breed's behavior on three or four dogs," said Karen Delise, founder of the National Canine Research Foundation, who has conducted extensive dog fatality studies.

While even their defenders concede that powerful breeds, like pit bulls and rottweilers, can kill more easily than miniature poodles or cocker spaniels, many insist the deaths have more to do with fads in ownership than problems with the breed itself.

"In the early to mid-1990s, rottweilers became the tough-guy dog," said Crosby. "They were the macho dog to own amongst people who were not particularly responsible owners." Now it's pit bulls, says Eric Sakach of the United States Humane Society. Sakach said some people are specifically breeding pit bulls for fighting and aggression, which in turn can lead to more deadly attacks.

Kenneth Phillips, a Southern California lawyer who has devoted his career exclusively to dog bite cases, says all kinds of dogs bite -- not just the ones people think of as dangerous.

Indeed, some of the most severe injuries his clients have faced came from dachshunds. "If they bite you, they just rip off your face," he said.

Another limitation with dog bite statistics is they generally do not take into account the popularity of the dogs: One breed may account for more attacks than another, simply because the breed is more common.

The American Kennel Club, which registers about 1 million dogs a year, says it has the best data available to rate the popularity of America's 74 million dogs. But it doesn't register mixes or undocumented dogs, which account for half of dogs, by AKC's own estimate.

And it doesn't consider pit bulls to be an official breed at all. So no one knows precisely how many pit bulls there are nationwide -- let alone which breed accounts for the highest number of attacks per dog. "Dog bite statistics are not really statistics, and they do not give an accurate picture of dogs that bite," warns a report from the American Veterinary Medical Association. "Invariably the numbers will show that dogs from popular, large breeds are a problem."

Meanwhile, some insurance agencies have compiled their own lists of vicious breeds, based on claims. Allstate Insurance, for instance, won't offer homeowners insurance to Californians who own any of eight types of dogs: pit bulls (American Staffordshire terriers), akitas, boxers, chow chows, Dobermans, rottweilers, Presa Canarios and wolf hybrids, plus any mixes that include the breeds.

"They are the dogs that generate the most lawsuits," said spokesman Rich Halberg. Nationwide Insurance compiled a similar list, though it doesn't include akitas or boxers.

Company spokesman Joe Case, in Columbus, Ohio, said the carrier consulted the CDC's fatality study, but thought it was critical to consider the insurer's own experience handling reports of other serious dog bites.

"Not every dog attack results in a fatality, but it could result in an insurance claim being filed," said Case. Unlike Allstate, Nationwide will still sell policies to owners whose dog completes the American Kennel Club's "Canine Good Citizen Program," which includes a test to make sure the dog is well behaved.

Delise, who studied dog fatalities dating back to 1965 for her book "Fatal Dog Attacks," has identified numerous patterns in the most serious attacks. She argues that the patterns are more important than the breed.

For instance, dogs kept on chains or for protection posed a much bigger danger than family dogs kept in houses. Most deadly dogs were males. Only a minority of dogs had been spayed or neutered. Many cases involved owners who neglected or abused their dogs, she said.

In one case, the owner had previously been reported for beating his dog with a hammer. Another involved a dog that was starving to death on his chain. By far the majority of those who died from dog attacks were children -- usually unsupervised. A scenario that comes up again and again in the data is the toddler who wanders up to a dog chained in a backyard when no one is watching.

Several infants, left on a floor or bed, have also been killed by a family dog.

In one case, a German shepherd killed an infant by picking it up and carrying it to his family in the living room in what may have been a friendly gesture.

Delise said only a tiny number of dog attack fatality cases -- perhaps two or three each year -- are freak accidents in which a seemingly nice dog goes bad.

Others are either aggressive dogs or abusive owners who create accidents waiting to happen. Or they involve a cascade of mistakes, such as an owner failing to neuter a dog, ignoring a previous aggressive incident and then leaving an unsupervised child with the dog. "Once in a while, the dominoes line up and somebody gets killed," Delise said. "But statistically it's such a small number."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safety tips
-- Spay/neuter your dog. This reduces aggressive tendencies.

-- Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.

-- Train and socialize your dog.

-- Seek professional advice if the dog acts aggressive.

-- Advise children to avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs.

More tips are online at www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm

Source: Centers for Disease Control.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Causes of death
Dog bites usually cause fewer than two dozen deaths each year in the United States. Here's a comparison of how many people die from some unusual causes:

Traffic collision with deer: 113 (2002)

Legal execution: 59 (2004)

Tornado: 54 (2003)

Lightning: 43 (2003)

Dog bites: 22 (2004)

Skydiving deaths: 21 (2004)

Whooping cough: 17 (2002)

Fireworks: 8 (2004)

Sources: Centers for Disease Control, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Death Penalty Execution Center, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, National Canine Research Foundation, National Weather Service, United States Parachute Association

[Donger]

Safety tips
-- Spay/neuter your dog. This reduces aggressive tendencies.

-- Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.

-- Train and socialize your dog.

-- Seek professional advice if the dog acts aggressive.

-- Advise children to avoid approaching unfamiliar dogs.

More tips are online at www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm

Source: Centers for Disease Control.

Good advice for any dog owner. Pomeranians have killed kids before.

[jspchief]

That article doesn't "prove" anything, other than we don't really know which breed is most vicious. It certainly doesn't prove that Pit bulls don't bite more.

[BIG_DADDY]

That article doesn't "prove" anything, other than we don't really know which breed is most vicious. It certainly doesn't prove that Pit bulls don't bite more.

The whole article says the stats arte skewed because of their popularity. Rotties were the top killer in the 90s due to their popularity. Pits are the most popular big breed now so the stats are skewed their direction. What that article doesn't show is the charts they posted in the actual paper. From 75-80 German Shepards were the biggest killers followed huskies and Saint Bernards.

What it really comes down to is whether we want to femanize the entire large breed canine world over fatal dog maulings when you have a much better chance of being struck by lightning. This is a media feeding frenzy, that simple.

[jspchief]

The whole article says the stats arte skewed because of their popularity. Rotties were the top killer in the 90s due to their popularity. Pits are the most popular big breed now so the stats are skewed their direction. What that article doesn't show is the charts they posted in the actual paper. From 75-80 German Shepards were the biggest killers followed huskies and Saint Bernards.

What it really comes down to is whether we want to femanize the entire large breed canine world over fatal dog maulings when you have a much better chance of being struck by lightning. This is a media feeding frenzy, that simple.

I know what the article says. It says "we don't know". That's a far cry from "proving" anything.

[MOhillbilly]

"An urban myth held that the dogs' jaws lock during a bite. While pit bulls do have stronger jaws than most breeds, there is no locking mechanism."

its the easiest and most humain way to get the dog out of holds.

[BIG_DADDY]

They estimate there are over 7k pits in SF alone. You take a national count and there would be literally be millions. There are an average of 20 people killed a year by dogs in this country and that is not going up with the popularity of pit bulls. What they are calling pits are responsible for 30 % of those from 99 - 05. That is 6 a year. Millions of dogs, 6 a year. It's a friggen witch hunt and if BSL starts passing look for a lot of other big breeds to be thrown in down the road. Included in that will be almost all bulldogs, Sheperds, Rotties, Boxers, Huskies and anything even resembling them because they can't prove blood. Anyone who wants to own a large dog should be concerned about any BSL being pushed through.

[Goapics1]

Big Daddy = PETA member? or just loves Pit Bulls?

[|Zach|]

This sucks...seems as though the website is going to lose its Auora viewership...

http://www.zachishere.com/cprot/pitbulls.jpg

[MOhillbilly]

They estimate there are over 7k pits in SF alone. You take a national count and there would be literally be millions.

yep thats a whole shitpot of curs,culls,dunghills and shiteaters.

[BIG_DADDY]

I know what the article says. It says "we don't know". That's a far cry from "proving" anything.

I have listed every stat I don't know what else your looking for. If you want the continued ZachKC type feminization of this country I am sure your all for BSL and probably own a cat.

No matter what legislation you pass you will never get rid of pits. If you ever owned one you would never own another dog.

[BIG_DADDY]

yep thats a whole shitpot of curs,culls,dunghills and shiteaters.

True enough.

[MOhillbilly]

you know what? the world was better when every small dicked wigger/****** whitetrash retard thought his GSD was a badass dog and realdogmen could giggle to themselves cause they new that 'mongrel' chained up out back would eat a GSD for breakfast,lunch and diner.

what theyre calling a 'pitbull' now i wouldnt feed for ANY amount of money.

like everything else thats good... egos and intrests other than the dogs and the box *****ed it up.
I never owned a pitbull to make me tough and id never send a DOG to do my job.
maybe thats just me.

[jspchief]

I have listed every stat I don't know what else your looking for. If you want the continued ZachKC type feminization of this country I am sure your all for BSL and probably own a cat.

No matter what legislation you pass you will never get rid of pits. If you ever owned one you would never own another dog.

I think you're missing my point. You said that article proves that pit bulls "bite no more than any other big breed when others were as popular as it".

That statement is false. The article does not prove it.

If you had said that it proves that there is no conclusive evidence that pit bulls are more dangerous, I'd be inclined to agree.

I'm just saying there's a big difference between "proof that bit bulls aren't more dangerous" and "no proof that pit bulls are more dangerous". you're trying to paint it as an incorrect stereotype, when we really don't know if is or not.

And as I've said before, I'm not for BSL. Most of my arguments with you on the subject have been geared towards your insistence that they are completely benevolent.

[BIG_DADDY]

you know what? the world was better when every small dicked wigger/****** whitetrash retard thought his GSD was a badass dog and realdogmen could giggle to themselves cause they new that 'mongrel' chained up out back would eat a GSD for breakfast,lunch and diner.

what theyre calling a 'pitbull' now i wouldnt feed for ANY amount of money.

like everything else thats good... egos and intrests other than the dogs and the box *****ed it up.
I never owned a pitbull to make me tough and id never send a DOG to do my job.
maybe thats just me.

No that's just not you, I totally agree.

[|Zach|]

What is a GSD?

[BIG_DADDY]

I think you're missing my point. You said that article proves that pit bulls "bite no more than any other big breed when others were as popular as it".

That statement is false. The article does not prove it.

If you had said that it proves that there is no conclusive evidence that pit bulls are more dangerous, I'd be inclined to agree.

I'm just saying there's a big difference between "proof that bit bulls aren't more dangerous" and "no proof that pit bulls are more dangerous". you're trying to paint it as an incorrect stereotype, when we really don't know if is or not.

And as I've said before, I'm not for BSL. Most of my arguments with you on the subject have been geared towards your insistence that they are completely benevolent.

Any dog can be raised to be dangerous, I agree with you on that.

My point was that now that what they are calling pits are so popular the death rate is not increasing making what much of the media is doing a witch hunt.

For the record I don't think they will be able to pass an outright ban on Pits in here. Making nuetering mandatory possibly. I still won't get mine fixed ever though. It will be unenforceable.

[vailpass]

its the easiest and most humain way to get the dog out of holds.

Thanks BD and MOhill. I thought a breaking stick was to unhinge a locked jaw. Seems like it's just a good way to gently pry open a (big) dog's mouth.

[MOhillbilly]

Thanks BD and MOhill. I thought a breaking stick was to unhinge a locked jaw. Seems like it's just a good way to gently pry open a (big) dog's mouth.

ive raised hundreds of gamebred apbts and neverever hadone i needed a key for.:)

[Uncle Fester]

I am gonna have to buy more bullets! :drool:ROFL

[vailpass]

"I never owned a pitbull to make me tough and id never send a DOG to do my job.
maybe thats just me."

That sums it up perfectly. For many of us the only exposure we have to any form of Pit breed is the fugstick that has one because he thinks it makes him hard. It's not hard to figure out why many feel fear/hate when they have only seen this side of the breed, not the side that BD and MOhill seem to represent.