Tiara
07-26-2005, 09:21 AM
Here is the link to the Commerce City council members, please send your letters ASAP.
http://www.ci.commerce-city.co.us/departments/city_council.html (http://www.ci.commerce-city.co.us/departments/city_council.html)
Rocky Mountain News
URL: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3954068,00.html
Another town targets pit bulls
Commerce City plans rigorous restrictions
By John Aguilar, Rocky Mountain News
July 26, 2005
COMMERCE CITY - It appears that Commerce City will become the next municipality in the metro area to ban pit bulls, though it plans to exempt those already living there.
The ban could pass as early as next Monday. During a study session Monday night, seven City Council members voiced strong support for the proposed ordinance.
If the ordinance does pass, Commerce City residents would have a limited amount of time to register their pit bulls and comply with a rigorous list of conditions, including taking out a $100,000 liability policy, implantation of a computer registration chip in the dog, neutering the animal and securing it behind a cement-reinforced chain-link fence.
Mayor Sean Ford suggested passing the ban as an emergency ordinance so that it could take effect as soon as possible.
The mayor fears that if the city allows for a full debate of the ban, pit bull owners from Denver and Aurora would be given time to relocate to Commerce City and use the city's pit bull registration period as an amnesty plan of sorts to grandfather in protection for their dogs.
Pit bulls have been prohibited in Denver since May 9, and about 260 of the dogs have been killed by the city since the ban took effect. A pit bull ban also will be considered in Aurora next month.
"I don't want to see these dogs piling in here and getting to stay here," Ford said. "They've been shown to be malicious, bad-type animals."
Several pit bull attacks, on dogs and people, have been reported throughout the metro area, including two in one week in Thornton last month.
Councilman Paul Natale questioned why Commerce City was even allowing existing pit bulls to remain legally in the city instead of banning the animals outright, as is the case in Denver. He said people would be enticed to use the city's registration period as a loophole to bring pit bulls to Commerce City when they are young.
"Then this dog's clean for the next 15 years," Natale said.
But Ford said it would be "unfair" to penalize responsible pit bull owners who see their dog as a "part of the family" and who have properly trained the dog not to be a vicious animal.
He said he hoped the city's stringent regulations and the cost of abiding by them would discourage most existing pit bull owners from keeping their dogs in the city.
"I imagine the majority is going to find it's not worth it," he said.
Commerce City Police Chief Brian Hebbard, who addressed council members Monday night, said that the city has "quite a number" of pit bulls. He said while there has only been one pit bull attack in recent memory, he said the potential exists for serious attacks in the future.
"Pit bulls, by and large, are less than desirable neighbors," Hebbard said.
Several council members said an attack on just one child would be too many.
Council members have not yet decided how long they would allow the registration period for existing pit bulls in the city to last, though ideas ranged from immediate compliance to four weeks. Some members insisted that residents be given adequate time to erect a fence, neuter their pit bulls and conform to the city's proposed regulations.
Copyright 2005, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.ci.commerce-city.co.us/departments/city_council.html (http://www.ci.commerce-city.co.us/departments/city_council.html)
Rocky Mountain News
URL: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3954068,00.html
Another town targets pit bulls
Commerce City plans rigorous restrictions
By John Aguilar, Rocky Mountain News
July 26, 2005
COMMERCE CITY - It appears that Commerce City will become the next municipality in the metro area to ban pit bulls, though it plans to exempt those already living there.
The ban could pass as early as next Monday. During a study session Monday night, seven City Council members voiced strong support for the proposed ordinance.
If the ordinance does pass, Commerce City residents would have a limited amount of time to register their pit bulls and comply with a rigorous list of conditions, including taking out a $100,000 liability policy, implantation of a computer registration chip in the dog, neutering the animal and securing it behind a cement-reinforced chain-link fence.
Mayor Sean Ford suggested passing the ban as an emergency ordinance so that it could take effect as soon as possible.
The mayor fears that if the city allows for a full debate of the ban, pit bull owners from Denver and Aurora would be given time to relocate to Commerce City and use the city's pit bull registration period as an amnesty plan of sorts to grandfather in protection for their dogs.
Pit bulls have been prohibited in Denver since May 9, and about 260 of the dogs have been killed by the city since the ban took effect. A pit bull ban also will be considered in Aurora next month.
"I don't want to see these dogs piling in here and getting to stay here," Ford said. "They've been shown to be malicious, bad-type animals."
Several pit bull attacks, on dogs and people, have been reported throughout the metro area, including two in one week in Thornton last month.
Councilman Paul Natale questioned why Commerce City was even allowing existing pit bulls to remain legally in the city instead of banning the animals outright, as is the case in Denver. He said people would be enticed to use the city's registration period as a loophole to bring pit bulls to Commerce City when they are young.
"Then this dog's clean for the next 15 years," Natale said.
But Ford said it would be "unfair" to penalize responsible pit bull owners who see their dog as a "part of the family" and who have properly trained the dog not to be a vicious animal.
He said he hoped the city's stringent regulations and the cost of abiding by them would discourage most existing pit bull owners from keeping their dogs in the city.
"I imagine the majority is going to find it's not worth it," he said.
Commerce City Police Chief Brian Hebbard, who addressed council members Monday night, said that the city has "quite a number" of pit bulls. He said while there has only been one pit bull attack in recent memory, he said the potential exists for serious attacks in the future.
"Pit bulls, by and large, are less than desirable neighbors," Hebbard said.
Several council members said an attack on just one child would be too many.
Council members have not yet decided how long they would allow the registration period for existing pit bulls in the city to last, though ideas ranged from immediate compliance to four weeks. Some members insisted that residents be given adequate time to erect a fence, neuter their pit bulls and conform to the city's proposed regulations.
Copyright 2005, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.