Aurora – After listening to more than two hours of impassioned pleas from dog owners, City Council members voted Monday night to ban new pit bulls from the city and impose a host of new rules on owners of the dogs already in Aurora.
The council voted 6-3 to ban pit bulls, joining Denver, Commerce City and Castle Rock, which have similar ordinances.
“It’s totally unfair,” said Larry McBeth, who has lived in Aurora for 22 years. “The ordinance won’t solve the pit-bull problems. The city has a strong, aggressive dog ordinance now. Why not use the existing ordinance?”
Aurora’s ban also puts stiff regulations on owners of existing pit bulls, forcing them to spay or neuter and microchip the dogs. Dogs outside must be muzzled when on a leash of no longer than 4 feet and in a locked 5-by-10-foot steel cage if in the backyard.
Owners also will have to post warning signs on their home entrances, and dogs won’t be allowed on porches or anywhere in a home where they could easily escape.
The council scaled back its original proposal, reducing the mandatory annual pit- bull license from $600 to $200 and agreeing to review the ban’s effectiveness in two years.
The ban will go into effect 30 days after the council reaffirms Monday night’s vote, which is scheduled for Oct. 24. Owners of existing dogs will have 60 days after that to comply with the new rules.
Councilwoman Kathy Green said the city needs the ordinance because bans in other cities are bringing more pit bulls to Aurora.
“We can come to a consensus that we do have a problem,” said Councilman Brad Pierce. “… We’ve reduced the fee; we’ll look at the ordinance again. We have made some compromises.”
Councilwoman Sue Sandstrom was one of the three voting against the ordinance.
“What I see is this ordinance punishes responsible owners,” she said. “Irresponsible owners will ignore these rules. My hope is the responsible owners will continue to work to get these dogs that are being mistreated out of the hands of irresponsible owners.”
Many in the audience left the meeting frustrated. “I will not stand for it,” said Kay Feeman, who has lived in the city for 14 years and has owned her pit bull for five. “I am moving. I will be leaving.”
Staff writer Jeremy Meyer can be reached at 303-820-1175 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com.
