Pit bulls were lined up at the door of the Table Mountain Animal Center in Golden on Monday morning, looking to escape Denver’s ban on their kind.
A dozen pit bulls were impounded in Denver. Their future is dubious.
After nearly a year of reprieve, pit bulls in the Mile High City were officially illegal again, after a judge ruled a state law prohibiting breed-specific bans violated Denver’s home- rule authority under the state constitution.
Table Mountain took in nine pit bulls Monday, said Kristine Cook, manager of the center. Seven of those were surrendered by their owners, probably from Denver.
Four owners were there with five pit bulls when the doors opened Monday, Cook said.
At least one other area shelter, the Humane Society of Colorado in Englewood, also reported a recent upsurge in the number of pit bulls being brought in, but the numbers weren’t immediately available.
“We get pit bulls every day, but not typically nine by 4 o’clock,” Cook said.
Table Mountain normally has a large number of pit bulls, and Monday, 26 of 108 dogs at the center were pit bulls, she said.
“I definitely foresee that number growing quite a bit,” Cook said. “The thing is, I’d rather they come in and surrender them than abandon them” to fend for themselves, she said. The center adopts out pit bulls, but there are restrictions.
Six pit bulls were relinquished by their owners to Denver Animal Control, said Doug Kelley, director of the agency. Six more were rounded up by animal control officers.
The six relinquished will be put down, he said. If the owners of the others can be found, they will be given the opportunity to take the dogs out of Denver.
The number of telephone calls from Denver residents regarding pit bulls also was up, Kelley said.
But many of the dogs reported were found not to be pit bulls.
Staff writer Jim Kirksey can be reached at 303-820-1448 or jkirksey@denverpost.com.
