Colorado Ban on Pit Bulls: A Comprehensive Guide

Colorado has a complex history with Pit Bull breed restrictions, with some cities and counties implementing their own bans. In 1989, Denver became the first city in Colorado to enact a Pit Bull ban, which was later upheld by a court ruling in 1994.

The Denver ban was a result of a fatal mauling by a Pit Bull in 1988. The city's decision to ban the breed was a response to public outcry and pressure from local residents.

One of the key factors in the ban was the perceived public safety risk posed by Pit Bulls. According to data from the time, Pit Bulls were responsible for a disproportionate number of dog bites and attacks in Denver.

The ban has been in place for over three decades, with some arguing that it has helped reduce the number of dog bites and attacks in the city.

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Colorado's Pit Bull Ban Laws are a bit of a mixed bag. Currently, Colorado doesn't have any state-level BSL, meaning pit bulls aren't automatically banned or restricted throughout the state.

However, local governments are allowed to enact their own BSL, and several cities in Colorado have done so. For example, Denver has a long-standing ban on pit bulls that dates back to 1989.

In Denver, owning a pit bull is prohibited anywhere in city limits, with a few exceptions. These exceptions include owners who obtained a dog license from the Denver Animal Shelter on or before August 7, 1989, and humane societies or licensed animal shelters that placed a temporary hold on a pit bull.

If you own a pit bull in Denver, you must keep it confined in a home or secure enclosure, spay or neuter it, and keep it current on rabies vaccination. You must also post pit bull signs at all property entrances.

The penalty for unlawful ownership or harboring a pit bull within Denver is immediate impoundment of the dog. The city has attempted to repeal the ban in the past, but the mayor vetoed an attempt in 2020 on the basis of public safety.

Other Colorado cities with pit bull bans include Aurora, Commerce City, Lone Tree, Louisville, Fort Lupton, and Simla. Some of these cities also ban other dog breeds, such as wolf-dog hybrids in Louisville and Broomfield.

Here's a list of Colorado cities with pit bull bans:

It's essential to know the law in your city or any city where you intend to move, as owning a prohibited dog may result in impoundment and placing your dog in a shelter.

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Colorado has no state-level ban on pit bulls, but some cities have enacted their own breed-specific legislation (BSL). This means that pit bulls are not automatically banned or restricted throughout the state.

Several cities in Colorado have implemented BSL, with Denver being one of them. Denver has a long-standing ban on pit bulls that dates back to 1989, which prohibits pit bulls within city limits and requires those found in the city to be euthanized or relocated outside of the city.

Aurora is another city in Colorado with a breed ban on pit bulls. On the other hand, cities like Fort Collins and Colorado Springs do not have BSL and allow pit bulls.

Even in cities without BSL, pit bulls may still be subject to other regulations, such as leash laws and requirements for vaccinations and licensing.

Here are some cities in Colorado with BSL:

Note that this list is not exhaustive, and it's essential to check with local authorities for specific regulations in your area.

The Denver Ban is a significant aspect of the Colorado ban on pit bulls.

Denver, Colorado, has had a long-standing pit bull ban in place since 1989, with Ordinance 8-67 prohibiting the ownership or keeping of pit bulls within city limits.

Exceptions to the ban include owners who obtained a dog license from the Denver Animal Shelter on or before August 7, 1989, and humane societies or licensed animal shelters that temporarily hold a pit bull.

To own a pit bull in Denver, you must keep the dog confined inside or in a secure enclosure, spay or neuter the dog, and maintain current rabies vaccination.

You must also post pit bull signs at all property entrances.

The penalty for unlawful ownership or harboring a pit bull in Denver is immediate impoundment of the dog.

Several other Colorado cities, including Aurora, Commerce City, Lone Tree, Louisville, Fort Lupton, and Simla, also ban pit bulls.

Here's a list of some of the cities in Colorado that ban pit bulls:

The city of Denver has attempted to repeal the ban, but it has been vetoed by the mayor, citing public safety concerns.

Colorado has a complex history when it comes to banning pit bulls. Several cities in the state have enacted breed restrictive ordinances against pit bulls, including Aurora, Commerce City, Fort Lupton, Lone Tree, Louisville, and Simla.

Some cities ban other dog breeds, like wolf-dog hybrid breeds in Louisville and Broomfield, or fighting dog breeds in Lone Tree. If you own a prohibited dog, you may face impoundment and a shelter stay, with the option to surrender the pet or move to a city without a restrictive ordinance.

Aurora, Commerce City, and Fort Lupton have repealed their pit bull bans in recent years, but Louisville and Simla still enforce theirs. Lone Tree's ban on fighting dog breeds, including pit bulls, is still in effect.

Denver, the state's capital, has a long-standing pit bull ban that prohibits owning the breed anywhere in city limits. However, in 2021, the ban was uplifted, and citizens can now own a pit bull in Denver, but with specific requirements and procedures to follow.

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Here are some Colorado cities that ban pit bulls:

To own a pit bull in Denver, you'll need to schedule a restricted-breed assessment and apply for a Breed-Restricted Permit, which requires providing detailed information about your dog and paying a $30 fee. The permit must be renewed annually for three years at $30 per animal per year.

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In 2021, the Aurora City Council repealed the ban on pit bulls, but a district court judge recently reinstated the ban, stating that the repeal was "without authority".

The ban in Aurora was initially upheld by a ballot question in 2014, and it's interesting to note that breed-specific legislation, or BSL, is responsible for more killing of healthy treatable dogs in Colorado than any other single reason.

Several other cities in Colorado ban pit bulls, including Commerce City, Lone Tree, Louisville, Fort Lupton, Simla, and Aurora (again, after the recent court ruling).

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Denver has had a long-standing pit bull ban in place for over 30 years, with an ordinance passed in 1989 prohibiting ownership or keeping of pit bulls within city limits.

In 2021, the ban on pit bulls was lifted in Denver, allowing citizens to own a pit bull, but owners must follow specific requirements, such as a restricted-breed assessment and a breed-restricted permit application.

The debate over BSL is ongoing, with proponents arguing that it's necessary to protect public safety, while opponents argue that it's discriminatory and ineffective.

Here's a list of cities in Colorado that ban pit bulls:

It's worth noting that some cities in Colorado have repealed their BSL laws, including Castle Rock, Commerce City, and Lone Tree, among others.