Hancock Vetoes Ending Denver Pit Bull Ban, New Licensing Code

DENVER, CO — Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said Friday he will veto the removal of the city's pit bull ban. Denver City Council voted Monday night to remove the ban, which has been in place for 30 years.

In a 7-4 vote, the council passed a new law that would require pit bull owners to get a breed-restricted license and register their dog with Denver Animal Protection.

The mayor said one of his biggest concerns about the new ordinance is injury risks, particularly to children.

Some Denver residents who oppose ending the ban agree with Hancock's decision — they say too many people have personal accounts of pit bull attacks in the city; however, many others have called the ban, which was enacted in 1989, "uninformed" and "out of date."

"After living in California for many years, with thousands of Pit Bulls, and numerous maulings and even fatal child Pit Bull mauling deaths, I was relieved to not see Pit bulls in the Denver area," one person wrote in a Neighbor Post on Denver Patch.

Under the new law, Denver pit bull owners would need to give their dog's name, address and two emergency contacts. Proof of the dog's microchipping, vaccination and neutering or spaying would also have to be provided. If a pit bull dies, escapes or bites someone, Denver Animal Protection would have to be notified immediately.

The new code would also cap the number of pit bulls in one home to two. If owners abide by the new code for three years, they no longer need a breed-restricted license and their pit bull can be licensed with the same requirements as other dogs.

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Pit bull bans remain in Aurora, Commerce City, Louisville, Lone Tree and Fort Lupton.