Petitioners hoping to quash Aurora’s pit-bull ban apparently came up short Monday on signatures needed to force a vote on the issue.
“It didn’t appear there was enough,” said Suzanne Staiert, an assistant city attorney.
Opponents of the new ordinance beat a deadline by mere minutes, turning in a box to the city clerk’s office just before 5 p.m. But after an initial review of the documents, Staiert said, the group looked to be more than 1,500 signatures short of the 4,483 needed to force the council to amend the ordinance or send it to a public vote.
Several attacks in the city over the past three months have elevated the pit-bull controversy.
In September, two men were attacked by pit bulls in separate incidents at the same address in the 1900 block of Dallas Street.
On Nov. 2, 10-year-old Gregg Jones was mauled in an attack by three pit bulls as he entered the backyard of his home, in the 16400 block of East Asbury Avenue.
The attack on the boy came nine days after the Aurora City Council banned new pit bulls in the city and imposed strict regulations on existing pit bulls. Owners must buy a $200 annual license, have at least $100,000 in insurance and post warning signs on entryways.
The new ordinance goes into effect Thursday, and the city will begin enforcement in February.
The clerk’s office has 10 days to verify the signatures on the petition. Petition-gatherers couldn’t be reached for comment.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
