The City of Denver is letting the voters decide the fate of the long-standing dog breed ban.
If approved by city voters, Ballot Proposal 2J would replace the current ban on “pit bulls” with a new law that would allow residents to keep these dogs, with certain regulations.
As outlined in a previous AKC alert, the new regulations would include a permit that allows up to two “pit bulls” per household and home inspections. The permit could be removed after 36 months with no incidents.
The AKC does not support breed-specific laws. Instead, we support measures that hold all dog owners accountable, regardless of breed. General dangerous dog and animal control laws are better at protecting community safety, a better use of city resources, and more effective at protecting the rights of responsible dog owners.
AKC appreciates that Ballot Proposal 2J would repeal the 30-year breed ban and hopes that someday the city will be willing to completely remove all breed-specific regulations from city laws.
Read AKC’s blog for more information on the ballot measure, AKC’s position on breed-specific legislation, and background on the city’s breed-specific law.
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor this proposal and will provide updates as they are available. For questions or more information, contact doglaw@akc.org.