For two decades, pit bulls have been public enemy #1 in Denver. But maybe it's time for a recount.

All living things are born with a set of genetic blueprints. These genes control physical appearance and general temperament. Temperament is not a guarantee of behavior. You could say that a person is "quick-tempered," but if they existed in a vacuum, would they still be short-fused? If nothing exists, what could possibly cause such a person to be angry? Similarly, you could call a dog "friendly," but that dog is friendly because it has people and dogs to act friendly towards; if it had a friendly temperament but was the only living creature on the planet, what "friendly" behaviors could it exhibit?
The "pit bull problem" seems to center around whether aggression is inherent or learned. Let's cut to the chase. Aggression is a behavior. A complex behavior, to be sure, but a behavior nevertheless. And what do we know about behavior? It is influenced by environment and experience.
John Paul Scott is a renowned scientific researcher who was interested in the interplay between genetics and behavior. He did experiments with mice to determine whether highly aggressive mice could be created through breeding.
"The experiments with mice show us that aggression has to be learned. Defensive fighting can be stimulated by the pain of an attack, but aggression, in the strict sense of an unprovoked attack, can only be produced by training... Heredity can enter into the picture only in such ways as lowering or raising the threshold of stimulation, or modifying the physical equipment for fighting... In considering hereditary effects, we must always remember that the environmental situation is also important..." - John Paul Scott, Aggression
Mr. Scott has done all the hard work for us. Aggression is a learned behavior.

"But," shouts a voice in the crowd, "I knew someone who had a dog that was never trained to be aggressive, but it still attacked someone without provocation. Scott is full of it!" This line of reasoning is fallacious because this person assumes that learning only occurs when a dog is formally trained by its owner. This idea is both naive and arrogant. Dogs learn life lessons from a variety of sources, including but not limited to the owner. For example, a dog's play, in which two dogs pounce, growl, and tussle in a playful manner, is actually ritualized aggression. When dogs play, they are practicing aggression.
Aggressive behavior typically progresses along a line, starting with very minor signs, such as growling and raised fur. If the dog is given more opportunities to rehearse aggression, the dog is learning, practicing, and getting better at the behavior, even without direct training. Owners, especially those who rarely interact with their dogs, may not even notice that the aggressive behavior is progressing until an animal or a person gets seriously injured. Dog attack researcher Karen Delise notes: "Many owners [of dogs that committed fatal attacks] expressed shock at the 'sudden' and deadly aggressiveness of a pet they believed they knew. But, in reality, most owners did not really know their dogs. The fact that 25% of these dogs lived their lives at the end of a chain, 17% were running loose and 3% were kenneled indicates that many of these dogs were not spending a lot of quality time with their owners." (Fatal Dog Attacks: The Stories Behind the Statistics)

My mixed breed Terrier-Whippet dog, who has since passed away, was attacked by a Golden Retriever and nearly died. The vet told us that she had seen many Golden Retrievers with aggression issues. Several years later we adopted a scrawny pup from the shelter. We were told that he was a Boston Terrier mix. After fattening him up it is less likely that he is a Boston mix and more likely he is a Pit mix. He is not only non-aggressive, but down right cowardly. I have learned that the dog breed doesn't necessarily determine the temperament as much as the handling of the dog. With the help of a trainer we have worked hard to teach this strong dog small dog manners and have been quite successful. He is a cowardly delight.
Thanks for an insightful and balanced article.

What a FINE article -- probably the best general article ever written about Denver's pit bull ban. Congratulations to author Maher!

City leadership can't do better than read this article as background for reconsidering their law. Hopefully, when they do so they'll decide to replace it with an all-breed dangerous dog law plus responsive enforcement.

This is the best article concerning the ban I have read. Thank you for the time and effort.

And just for good measure: Some pitbull supporters, like myself, are in Denver and are making it their number one goal to fight this ban. In fact, I'm holding my 3rd dog spot for the day the ban is repealed.

Excellent article, very apparent the writer did the required research on this complex issue. The best dog legislation addresses dangerous dogs of any and all breeds. By targeting one or a few breeds, all the dangerous dogs of other breeds are not being controlled. A dangerous dog is a dangerous dog no matter the breed (or mix). Owners must be responsible for their dogs. Those that are not are the real problem, not the dogs. In this day and age, letting your dog out to roam is terribly negligent. Imagine the number of bites that could be reduced if all dogs were in control of their owners.

Thank you for this in-depth investigative report into Denver's pit bull ban.

It seems, on the most pertinent measurements of success, Denver's breed ban has failed miserably. Increased hospitalizations, a steady case of dog bite reports and enough pit bulls to, after 20 years, warrant an entire building of kennels. These are not indicators of a successful program or one to emulate.

Thank you for exposing the travesty that is Denver's pit bull ban.

Thank you! This is the first time I've ever seen anyone actually research and write about the facts behind the attack on Rev. Billingsly in 1989. It's sad that nearly the same thing happened with the little boy who died in 1986. Gil Troncasa, the owner of that dog, had been previously sued by the families of other children that had been attacked by his dogs.

Why was that man still allowed to own dogs? If the laws had been strong enough or animal control had been doing their job the boy, Fernando Salazar, wouldn't have died that way. Now, being that he was wondering alone along a very busy street (Mississippi Aveneue), there are a lot of other bad things that could've happened to him, but not by dog bite.

There's just so much information that no one writes about and I'm glad that this writer did!

Finally, a thoughtful article that discusses the facts of the pit bull ban. Thank you for writing it. I am the owner of a pit bull who was rescued from the streets of New Orleans. I am among the group of individuals who treat their dog well, train their dog, and whose dog is more disciplined than many - yet, I have to hide my dog and live in fear. I only hope the misconception about these dogs will change and the pit bull ban will be overturned. This breed is not called luv-a-bull for nothing!

Just put the word JEW where ever it says "pit bull" and you will have the story...Kory Nelson has made his "bones" on "pit bulls' just like Hitler did on the Jews...

Excellent article.
Finally, a reporter who WORKED on a story - and who bothered to check his facts and do some critical thinking.

It will take a whole lot more articles like this to restore my faith in the media - but this is a start.

Amd I am glad Westword chose the Pit bull issue, as the amount of misinformation, sloppy, and downright disgustingly irresponsible reporting of "pit bull issues" has brought so much harm to this breed.

Thank you Westword!

TIME to make bad owner's responsible and NOT their dogs!

How many thousands of good innocent dogs have been slaughterd for the actions of a couple of dogs with irresponsible owners?

Until the OWNER's are made to pay dog attacks will NOT decrease and this has been PROVEN. Netherlands removed their ban after documenting for 20 years NO decrease. Italy up to 92 banned and/or restricted dogs and stopped their ban this year because of NO CHANGE.

Golden Retrievers are NOW the number 1 biter in Denver because people just change dogs and do not become better dog owners.

There are 24 registered breeds of dogs COMMONLY MISTAKEN for pit bull type dogs and IF you include the mixes of those dogs there are THOUSANDS of dogs with NO pit bull in them that are subject to this DARCONIAN law in Denver.

STOP THE SLAUGHTER, STOP THE WITCH HUNT, STOP CANINE GENOCIDE.

Make owner's accountable and dog attacks WILL DECREASE.

I wonder, that dog that Doug Kelley is hugging, was that sweetie killed by Kelley and company after that photo shoot?

Was that friendly, happy dog taken out back and thrown in the trash with the other pit bulls Denver has killed?

Kelley, hugging dogs for the camera, and killing them when the cameras are off.

As a pit bull owner residing in Denver, reading all the ignorant statements made by ban supporters is absolutely infuriating. It is a ban born of hysteria, and here is no rationalization for punishing a dog because of the actions of its owner. Having known many pit bulls, the only way they would ever act violently is due to mistreatment by their owners. Every day I am reminded of the violations to my rights as I walk my incredibly friendly dog around my neighborhood with constant paranoia in the back of my mind. I know there is support in the city to lift the ban, because I cannot walk around the block without at least one person crumbling to pieces over the sweet face and demeanor of my pit bull.

The problem is not with Pit Bulls or any other breed for that matter. The problem is with irresponsible owners who either do not train their dogs correctly or train them to be used as weapons. Drug dealers and other people who own dogs as a method of intimidation are what should be banned from the community. And people who get a dog and then make it live at the end of a chain in the yard for its entire life so it is never socialized to humans or other animals also bear responsibility for badly behaved dogs. THEY need to be fined and the dog taken away just like an abusive parent would lose the rights to their children. Of course given how many people fail to raise their kids to be responsible and respectful why be surprised that they don't raise their dogs properly either.

A few years ago I was bitten twice while walking home by the most vicious dog I've ever encountered - a Dauchshund. The dog's bad behavior was clearly the fault of its owner, a terrified woman who could not leash the dog (who had just had puppies)because, she told me angrily, "she bites." Breed bans do nothing to discourage poor training, poor care, or lack of responsibility on the part of dog owners. The several pit bulls I've encountered over the years at parks, on walks, in the neighborhood, have never exhibited half the aggression that the little weiner did.

excellent article.
One correction: Wellington no longer has a breed ban; they rescinded it several years ago

My husband and I rescued our adorable pit bull, "Buddy," five years ago when we were living in Boulder and the Denver law was in abeyance. But when I got a job in downtown Denver, my dreams of living in a city neighborhood and waling to work were dashed. To keep our dog, we moved to Wheat Ridge and began commuting every day, adding to the ozone problem and the Denver bottlenecks. We would love to live a green, carless life, paying taxes in a city that we actually enjoy--but we love our dog more. I firmly believe that our commuter lifestyle does more harm to Denver than our Buddy ever would.

As a final thought, as Denver faces its $150M budget shortfall, does rigid enforcement of this ban make budgetary sense? If it takes three trained examiners three days each (that's nine employee days) to examine a single dog for pit "characteristics," this is not an inexpensive program. What's the annual cost, and is Denver getting its money's worth? Would the city rather kill dogs or preserve its police force, community mental health programs, and its snow removal systems? Has a misplaced fear completely overtaken a rational approach to the budget crisis?

Thanks so much for a wonderful, well-reported article.

I just had to put my pitbull down. I've always been in favor for getting rid of the laws against the breed until last week. A week ago while I was at work my 6 year old dog killed my two cats. There was no reason for the action at all. Now I favor having the entire breed be destroyed.

Tony,
I`m sorry about your cats but
that`s all Breed behavior,not Pit Bull Breed specific behavior.

Cat chasing
http://www.diamondsintheruff.com/catchasing.html

I have a Lab that lives with 3 cats.
She`s fine and enjoys their company while I`m present but there is no doubt in my mind that
she would kill at least 2 of them if I was not present and she would kill any and all cats she encountered outside in a blinding flash.

She is separated from them when I`m away and smart cats should not jump into out backyard because there would be a cat "murder".

Once again the Media has you believing that this is Pit Bull specific because the Media reports cat killings ONLY when it`s a Pit Bull and they`ll actually call it a cat "murder'.
Denver is notorious for reporting cat "murders" and there will be hundreds if not thousands of comments.It`s ridiculous to think that only Pit Bulls will kill cats.

Many dogs will give chase and many dogs will kill cats.

And Tony I should add that I think you made a huge mistake killing your dog for that behavior,it was your behavior that needed to be adjusted if you wanted to have both dog(s) and cats living together.
If my dog was to kill a cat,I would be the one to blame,certainly not my dog and I wouldn`t kill my dog if my behavior led to it killing a cat.
I don`t blame my cats or kill them for killing mice.

I hope you learn more about dog behavior before bringing ANY dog of ANY Breed into your house or you may come home to more dead cats in the future if you believe that it`s a Breed specific trait.Dogs are individuals and that`s the way you need to look at them.

HELLO ?? Dogs will kill cats - when did we become so ignorant of canine behavior that we think that this is a breed specific behavior?
My uncle's Collie killed my cat - we NEVER even thought of killing his Collie for this - It's ugly, but it's nature.
Cats kill mice - would any sane person think that this is a reason to kill a cat?
Geez, to kill your dog because it killed your cats is a disgusting - if this happened - it is your fault for not understanding canine behavior and failing to keep your cats safe.

I am thrilled to finally read an article that lists arguments from both sides and still comes to a logical conclusion: breed bans do not work. How arrogant are the city officials of Denver?!! They don't care that a multitude of people have fled the city and will not return. They care very little for many of the former citizens of Denver-those with paws and without. I used to love the city wholeheartedly as a child. When I adopted Arabella, however, my now 5 year old boxer/pit mix in 2004 I contemplated moving to Denver. Thank the lord I didn't Not even a full year later I would have been scrambling to get out of town to save the life of my beautiful baby girl. I don't have children, Bella is family to me. Taking her away would be like taking away my family. You are NOT protecting the citizens of Denver by banning a single breed. Mark my words: In 5 or 10 years another "dangerous breed" will be "terrorizing" the streets of Denver and no one will be safe because it is only the pit bulls we need to worry about right? Don't mind that salivating German Shepard or that Labrador who has bitten 6 people in the neighborhood...the streets are safe because we've killed thousands of little furry family members of former Denver residents..GET REAL!

Thanks for writing a fair & unbiased article about a "hot button" dog. I am amazed by the comment attributed to Brown (?P14, bottom of column 1)"the word 'obedience' and pit bulls-to me there's a disconnect there. If I took my young dog to an obedience class and there was a pitbull there, I'd turn around and walk out" shows the level of prejudice that some people carry. To me, that equates to this: if there was a black person in the school I was taking my children to, I'd turn around and walk out.

Many pitbulls are extremely obedient and I believe that is a breed trait. I also believe many people have a problem when their little, untrained dog acts agressively towards a larger dog, and pack behavior takes place. I will acknowledge that my dog plays rough, and only some dogs like to play with her, but I trust her 100% around children.

Did you know that the original staffordshire terrier was known as "the nanny dog" because of their temperament with people? Check out "Bully, it's the pits" by Paul 107 for some good pictures and factoids about these misunderstood canines. Thanks again for the article. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you for the breed.

By the way I live in Hawaii where the pit bull is almost the unofficial state dog, if the yard census is anything to go by.

Pitbulls....people don't just like pitbulls as a pet, they like them because it protects their property from anything and everything, if a coconut fell off a tree, the pit would maul the nut as if it were a chihuahua. Yes, they are very good at guarding the property, I think that on a private property it's okay to have your pit tied up with a chain, but on a residential area, they should with out a doubt be caged up! They can still protect the property but without any one getting harmed! Private properties they can do whatever it is that they want to, some people trespass and what do they get for disobeying a posted sign, would be their own fault!

Nate from Tamuning,
You just showed your obvious lack of knowledge about dogs and your leanings.

"I think that on a private property it's okay to have your pit tied up with a chain,.."

It`s not ok to have any dog tied up with a chain guarding your property.
Pit Bulls especially love people and need to be with people.
They are family dogs not guard dogs.
How would you like to be left outside with no coat,no love and chained all day?

Get a Security System or put the money that is being wasted on BSL to hire more Police Officers to deal with the problems in the neighborhood.

Resident dog vs Family dog
http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/resident-dog-vs-family-dog/

I am Kevin O'Connell's mother. He and Dexter (his dog, which is NOT a pit bull) lived with me for about 2 yrs. I have a small Yorkie and a little Maltese. The three dogs were best friends. Dexter would lie down and the maltese would open his lips and clean his teeth. Strange thing to watch but, just to let the "powers that be" in Denver know he is one of the most gentle dogs any of them could ever come into contact with. He played with other dogs in the neighborhood and the children of all sizes. No one was ever afraid of him. The Denver "gestapo" needs to rethink what they are doing. They are acting like Hitler when he rounded up all the Jews and killed them.

This is a very well written article. Maher has done his research and provided a thorough and unbiased report on this travesty of an issue.

Right now it's a human eat dog world in Denver.

“In the Dog House” by Jared Jacng Maher reviews the history and issues surrounding Denver’s breed ban. The article grazed the surface. As a legal, social, and economic issue it is substantially more complex. The bottom line is that the problem is less about canines and more about humans. Neglect and abuse of dogs will often lead to attacks. The owner should be culpable and criminally prosecuted to the full extent of the law. No matter what the breed. It is about behavior rather then lineage.

Denver Animal Control will not permit DNA evidence for a dog to be submitted. Scientific blood tests confirm the exact breed of any animal. When a dog is detained in Denver as a “pit bull” they are looking for “traits” or characteristics that determine whether an individual is considered likely to commit a particular type of crime. Does that sound familiar?? It’s called racial profiling.

Animal control officers are burdened with the task of determining what animal might fall into this mysterious realm of “pit bull.” They are also responsible for determining if a threat to society exists. Swimming pools and toys should also be considered.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission states, “There were an estimated 220,500 toy-related injuries in 2006 to children under the age of 15.” Swimming pools were the cause of 3,582 deaths in America in 2005.

The Westward article says, “Firearms killed 30,000 people in the United States in 2006.” The Center for Disease Control is more specific about these deaths regarding accidents or violent crime (different numbers). Also, according to the CDC, “16 fatalities in 2005 were a result of injuries sustained in dog attacks.” 16 total deaths in the entire United States.

Deaths:

Dog 16
Swimming pool 3,582
Toys for Children 220,500

Swimming pools and toys are far more dangerous then dogs. Luckily, Denver has seized and euthanized approximately 3,497 dogs that might have been “pit bulls.” But they might not have been. They could have been your typical boxer mutt or lab mix labro-doodle.

Fear is powerful.

Another consideration is that Denver is a city with almost no off-leash parks. It’s a perfect storm. Captivity and restraint for a long duration leads to depression and dementia. The same is true for humans. Goldfish have less of a problem with this. Animals need exercise, but especially the ability to be un-tethered. Play and interaction is essential.

The County Court is overwhelmed with off-leash dog violations. Including vaccination/registration, breed ban, and reproduction sterilization tickets. The money generated in fines for these infractions, does not come close to what it costs taxpayers to keep County Courts tied up.

Are dogs really that important? $150M in the red for budget, huh.

Crime reduction in a city can be the result of any number of factors. Since, 1989 Denver has made positive steps to improve the city through community development and gentrification. It is unlikely there is a breed ban correlation.

It would be remiss to not also point out Denver breed ban, leash laws, and other related infractions are a socio-economic issue. The poor are not equal when it comes to ownership. Financial stability often provides a pet with obedience classes, backyards, and proper veterinary pet care. The amount of money a pet owner has is an undeniable factor. It’s a social class issue. People with cash can also fight the system.

There is no perfect solution. None. Here is an idea to start:

End the Denver dog breed ban.

Create more parks with dog specific areas. Fenced and unfenced, small sections of EVERY park in Denver should allow off leash. Not the entire park. Bikes, kids, and unrestrained dogs are a horrible combo. Provide sections within each park. People from all parts of the city need to access a park convenient to where they live.

Boulder, Colorado has created a system for monitoring dogs. Owners register dogs and they are tested for voice command and the ability to listen. It is also an opportunity for officials to observe the health and wellbeing of a pet. Jobs are created and revenue is generated for the city. At least might influence a small piece of that $150M. People can stop hiding in the parks or trying to out run officials to avoid tickets. Less “us” versus “them.” Compliance is rewarded. The dogcatcher job will be to ensure safety. Yes, safety.

Owners with animals that are involved in violent crimes should face extremely harsh consequences. Send them to Guantanamo. Fines and criminal prosecution on par with DUI, or in more dramatic criminal attacks charges of attempted manslaughter. Breed is arbitrary. Dangerous dog law for all breeds is the way to go, with harsher penalty for owners.

Please speak up and stand up. MANY THANKS to Westword.

Denver doesn’t have a dog problem. Denver has a human problem.

Resources:

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_13316680
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_11815740
http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_11796291

http://www.americanhumane.org/protecting-children/
http://www.hsus.org/pets/issues_affecting_our_pets/animal_abuse_and_neglect/the_facts_about_chaining_or_tethering_dogs.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/images/dogbreeds-a.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5801a1.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5801a1.htm

I am in support of repealing the Denver pit bull ban. This breed of dog has been unfairly targeted. I lived in Boulder, CO for seven years and much of the sentiment toward the breed was present there as well. Now that I am in Phoenix, a city which seems to be pit bull friendly, I am relieved to walk my best friend (with a leash) and not get the comments and dirty looks that I often got in Boulder. I am submitting a link to an article below that includes some of my thoughts on the pit bull ban and the Michael Vick case.http://sagejessica.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/i-wanna-be-like-mike-why-pitbulls-and-african-american-felons-deserve-michael-vicks-second-chance/

In addition, I agree with the person who has commented above. I too complied with Boulder's dog regulations. Happily. The city of Denver must be spending ridiculous amounts of money housing and then euthanizing pit bulls. Imagine, instead, if they would have created a few extra Animal Control city positions, where Animal Control officers could check up on pit bull owners (to ensure no fighting is taking place) or implement training classes (more jobs created) for supposed "mean breeds." They could have even spent money AND created jobs testing purported "vicious" breed pit bulls for behavior issues. All of these options would have created jobs and allowed responsible, loving pit bull owners to keep their pet AND live in the city that they want to live in. I eventually wanted to move from Boulder to Denver but could not because of my dog. If ever there is a class action law suit against the city for infringment upon some of my basic human rights, I'll be the first to sign up.

I just don't have a lot of pity for the owners of some of these dogs. I think there should be some sort of training requirement to own one. My border collie mix, Lucy was mauled badly by an at-large pit bull who had escaped its owner at a nearby screen door as we walked on the sidewalk several yards away. I then found out that this same dog had nearly killed a pomeranian, the pet of a neighbor, the previous year AND the owners had already had a larger male dog taken from them and euthanized for attacking a landscape worker in our town home complex.

Sadly, this dog, named Blondie, was also taken from them and euthanized. They just didn't show any remorse or sense of responsibility or even LOVE for their dogs. I probably cried more for Blondie than her owners when I found out she'd died for their foolish irresponsibility!

HELLO???? Mauled a chihuahua!!!! Next stop, mauling and killing a two week old baby!!! These vicious animals need to be put down before they have a chance to do anymore harm than they already have. We need a zero tolerance against this type of violence.

"Hunt with the hounds and run with the hares"never was a saying more appropriate than watching that Genocidal Maniac Doug Kelley hugging a pitbull.
He and the likes of Hinklepooper and the "self proclaimed war hero "K. Nelson will fight tooth and nail to keep BSL alive.After 20 years of creating this Murderous Screw-up in Denver,you are now asking them to admit failure,it wont happen easily you will have to VOTE them out.

smarock10@yahoo.com

Jane I read your comment was a tad confused,were you referring to humans or pitbulls when you stated zero tolerance?For the record in the whole of the USA their are less than 20 fatal dog attacks per year(all breeds)Am quite sure if you buy any newspaper in Denver ,just last night in Denver there were more than 20 deaths caused by Drunke-drivers,Rapists,Drug-Dealers,Paediaphiles etc. etc etc.
These crimes are being perpetrated by us, the master race,the
humans.In this department I do agree with you zero tolerance.am sure to this you were referring.
smarock10@yahoo.com