Spend No Dollars in Denver, Colorado
In honor of Forrest and all dogs in Denver facing breed extermination, We the undersigned make Denver this promise: We will keep our dollars out of Denver until the repeal of your breed ban ordinance [sec 8-55 Municipal Code].
As a misguided public safety measure, Denver's breed ban mandates the confiscation and killing of any dog fitting the description of a "pit bull" or a mixed breed dog having the physical characteristics of a "pit bull." Since May 2005, Denver has ordered and carried out the killing of more than 1,700 dogs merely because they were, or looked like, a "pit bull."
Even friendly, non-aggressive family dogs, like Forrest, belonging to the McGahey family, do not escape Denver's death warrant. When Denver Animal Control picked up Forrest, a lost dog from Adams County (borders Denver city limits) in July 2008, Chris McGahey was forced to hire an attorney to keep Denver from killing his dog. Forrest was incarcerated at the shelter for two months while Chris and his attorney Karen Breslin did everything possible to secure the release of Forrest. Pleading for Forrest's return, Chris promised to move to Ft Collins (57 miles north of Denver), pay any fines, and never again visit the city of Denver.
Not good enough for Denver.
After a loud public outcry barraged city officials with letters and phone calls, Forrest was kicked out of Colorado and surrendered to a rescue organization in St Louis, MO. Denver ordered that Forrest NOT be adopted back to his real family (Stray Dog Rescue, MO confirmed this and must now put Forrest up for adoption). Not only has Denver punished Chris by shipping his beloved dog out of state, Chris is now facing criminal charges against him for violating the breed ban ordinance - punishable by a $5,000 fine and possible jail time. Unbelievable!
Dear City Council members,
You have terrorized dog owners living in Denver and traveling through your fine city long enough. Until you repeal your breed ban and replace it with responsible legislation that will rightly punish irresponsible dog owners in possession of dangerous dogs - regardless of breed - you can look forward to a drop in tourism and fewer home buyers. We expect you will respond to complaints from the travel industry and Denver business owners since you have ignored the voices of outraged dog owners and numerous animal welfare organizations who have spoken out against breed bans and other breed discriminatory laws.
Never in Denver Boycott: Freedom loving Americans together with our fellow global allies have promised not to spend a single dollar in Denver. No vacations. No homes. No Shopping. Can you hear that Denver?
More info at http://www.denverkillsdogs.com/
Join an aggressive, grassroots movement to stop the establishment of breed restrictive policies that are taking over our country at http://www.roverlution.org/.
Be the proud dog owner of any breed!
In honor of Forrest and all dogs in Denver facing breed extermination, We the undersigned make Denver this promise: We will keep our dollars out of Denver until the repeal of your breed ban ordinance [sec 8-55 Municipal Code].
As a misguided public safety measure, Denver's breed ban mandates the confiscation and killing of any dog fitting the description of a "pit bull" or a mixed breed dog having the physical characteristics of a "pit bull." Since May 2005, Denver has ordered and carried out the killing of more than 1,700 dogs merely because they were, or looked like, a "pit bull."
Even friendly, non-aggressive family dogs, like Forrest, belonging to the McGahey family, do not escape Denver's death warrant. When Denver Animal Control picked up Forrest, a lost dog from Adams County (borders Denver city limits) in July 2008, Chris McGahey was forced to hire an attorney to keep Denver from killing his dog. Forrest was incarcerated at the shelter for two months while Chris and his attorney Karen Breslin did everything possible to secure the release of Forrest. Pleading for Forrest's return, Chris promised to move to Ft Collins (57 miles north of Denver), pay any fines, and never again visit the city of Denver.
Not good enough for Denver.
After a loud public outcry barraged city officials with letters and phone calls, Forrest was kicked out of Colorado and surrendered to a rescue organization in St Louis, MO. Denver ordered that Forrest NOT be adopted back to his real family (Stray Dog Rescue, MO confirmed this and must now put Forrest up for adoption). Not only has Denver punished Chris by shipping his beloved dog out of state, Chris is now facing criminal charges against him for violating the breed ban ordinance - punishable by a $5,000 fine and possible jail time. Unbelievable!
Dear City Council members,
You have terrorized dog owners living in Denver and traveling through your fine city long enough. Until you repeal your breed ban and replace it with responsible legislation that will rightly punish irresponsible dog owners in possession of dangerous dogs - regardless of breed - you can look forward to a drop in tourism and fewer home buyers. We expect you will respond to complaints from the travel industry and Denver business owners since you have ignored the voices of outraged dog owners and numerous animal welfare organizations who have spoken out against breed bans and other breed discriminatory laws.
Never in Denver Boycott: Freedom loving Americans together with our fellow global allies have promised not to spend a single dollar in Denver. No vacations. No homes. No Shopping. Can you hear that Denver?
More info at http://www.denverkillsdogs.com/
Join an aggressive, grassroots movement to stop the establishment of breed restrictive policies that are taking over our country at http://www.roverlution.org/.
Be the proud dog owner of any breed!
I urge you to read the comments left on this petition and see for yourself that Denver is rapidly becoming a very unpopular city for tourists and business owners.
You have the power and influence to repeal your breed ban and put in its place a stronger non-breed specific dangerous dog ordinance. Linda Hart from the Colorado Dog Federation has offered her legislative expertise in this area and has prevented several other Colorado cities from following in Denver's dangerous footsteps. You can contact Linda Hart at (303) 842-1033. Get more info at: http://www.codogfederation.org/
You may also contact me should you wish to hear testimony from a veterinarian and proud owner of two lovable dogs your city has banned and deems fit to kill.
Regards,
Paula Terifaj, DVM
Founders Veterinary Clinic
330 N Brea #F
Brea, CA 92821
(714) 990-0661
Our pets are part of our family, and separating dogs from families not only breaks the hearts of all who love and care for their pets but it breaks the bond of trust and loyalty that we have grown to rely on when we have adopted dogs to be our pets. It is not the animal that is the threat but the human that mistreats it. Punish the human who has a brain and should know better than the dog who's only job is to protect and love those who feed him.
A friend's 27 year old daughter had to say a horribly heart-wrenching goodbye to her wonderfully sweet and kind- tempered dog of 6 years when she had a situation arise in her life that gave her no choice but to relocate from her home in Florida to Denver, Colorado. The daughter's very mixed breed dog (probably part labrador retriever) looked like she might have had a bit of American Staffordshire Terrier in her lineage. The daughter refused to take a chance that her adored dog might be mistaken as a "Pit Bull" mix in Denver and frantically searched for any adjoining counties that might allow her to keep her beloved family member and in which she could also be able to find an apartment or rental home that would accept her pet! Not successful, she began to frantically look for a new home for her adored four-legged family member or a rescue organization that could take her. In the last desperate moments before the daughter's scheduled departure from Florida (just a week away) she joyously found a new home for this beloved family member. My friend's daughter was lucky! Her doggy family member was even luckier! My friend's daughter has no choice but to live and spend money in Denver and in Colorado...But I Do. From now on, all of my online purchasing will be carefully scrutinized to be sure the company or product is not produced or distributed by Colorado...not just Denver! And every person in my life will be educated about and urged to do the same until breed bans are overturned. I promise this.
Please put an end to BSL. The belief that certain breeds have a tendency to be violent towards humans in a misconception. In fact, "Pitbulls" have been bred throughout the years to be loyal to humans. Human aggression has been considered an undesirable characteristic in these breeds since the dogs were first bred for bull baiting, because the handlers did not want the dogs turning on them. Pitbulls that were aggressive towards humans were intentionally kept from breeding so as the eliminate this quality from the breed. The end result is that Pitbull breeds are some of the most loving and loyal dogs in the world. In England these dogs were once refferred to as nanny dogs because they were used to help care for the children. In America, many pioneer families moving west would bring Pitbulls along to protect the children from wild animals while the adults were away hunting. There are many different breeds of dogs that commonly fall under the category of "Pitbull" including the American Pit Bull Terrier, and the American Stafordshire Terrier. To say that all of these dogs are violent because of the actions of a few dogs that were either trained to be that way, or the victims of abuse that caused them to be that way, is an uninformed generalization that is killing many loving dogs who deserve a chance at life. Any dog can be trained to bite, none are born that way. There are many effective alternatives to BSL that other municipalities have instituted with positive results.
I live in Colorado, 2 1/2 hours from Denver! BSL never works - it only punishes the innocent, while allowing the REAL problem, PEOPLE, to continue in their ignorant ways. REPEAL BSL!!!
We had our innocent and sweet dogs taken by Animal Control. We had 24 hours to get them out of Denver County and our home was searched by police shortly after we signed the affidavit that they were out of town. We move shortly thereafter 3 BLOCKS south and they were legal. RIDICULUOUS!!!! BSL does not work! see Best Friends Animal Society and their campaign to "save America's dog" for a wealth of information.
We had our innocent and sweet dogs taken by Animal Control. We had 24 hours to get them out of Denver County and our home was searched by police shortly after we signed the affidavit that they were out of town. We move shortly thereafter 3 BLOCKS south and they were legal. RIDICULUOUS!!!! BSL does not work! see Best Friends Animal Society and their campaign to "save America's dog" for a wealth of information.
Please be aware, we had planned our family reunion for Denver, CO for this upcoming March. Many of the children in our families like the Casa Bonita, and the area hotels are lovely. However, since grandma and grandpa (the founding members of our large family) are also proud dog owners, we will be moving our reunion elsewhere. Yes, our family would rather cancel 43 hotel room/meal reservations than spend even one minute in a town that sanctions the outright murder of non-human family members. Unless we hear that this horrible, vicious profiling has been stopped, we will be spending our one-week vacation elsewhere. Perhaps, as many family members are community and national leaders, we will even go so far as to contact current Denver business owners/managers, and discuss this boycott with them...
BSL is as unfair as racial profiling. Neither myself or my family will be visiting Denver anytime soon, as my family includes two pit bulls. Pitbulls and their owners are not criminals. Please repeal your BSL.
That is absolutly crule and colorado govt. is being inconsiderate not thinking that the dogs they are killing are some childs best friend, or gaurd against all the sick f***in pervs. out there.... Bravo for you Denver... F***in bravo...
Denver should be ashamed.
It is a common pattern of massive mental sickness that people get “heated” and “thrilled” by having and using fatal power and methods and torture helpless creatures. If people like Charlie "Adolf" Brown would not have fun with the “pit bull ban and pogrom” people like him would choose another species, right?
I guess that means Utah gets my skiing business because i will avoid the whole state.
Petie on the Little Rascals was a Pit Bull. This is overkill in the worst sense of the word. I am ashamed this type of thing is happening in America. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
2 wrongs don't make a right! How can you kill innocent animals while trying to punish animals for killing or harming innocent people. I guarantee this will not solve any problems just create broken home whose pets have been unjustly removed. Denver blows!
Punish the deed not the breed. If you are banning dogs you may as well ban cutlery, fireworks, alcohol, and cars....b/c all of those things can hurt people.
you are putting responsible dog owners in the same category as gangsters, dog fighters, etc.! Why don't you tell the truth for once and show people what the APBT is really like! Oh, that's right, if you did that you couldn't make any money with your piss-poor journalism could you..?
It is very disgusting that human beings can be so cruel with animals, would they be that unhumane with there own children. Animals give so much in return its to bad that they will never enjoy the love that they give us.
Only a city that hates dogs, would put a breed ban. I do not support any city that hates dogs.
I will move a thousand times before I give up my pit bulls. They are family. I am a responsible owner and we don't deserve to be punished!
I am sickened by the discrimination these dogs face. When we have a high rate of crime among a certain race or color - do we BAN them? When we have a child that is misbehaving - do we BAN them? A ban is not the answer and is not enforceable. This boils down to owner responsibility, not the breed of dog. Don't punish responsible owners by taking their furry family members. Please.
This ban is sick and I can't believe it's being upheld in the United States. You cannot punish an entire breed of dog for anything, that's insane. How is that different than punishing an entire nationality or ethnic group for one stereotypical thing!?
Proud owner of a pit/viszla mix!!
Denver should immediately overturn its completely misguided breed ban and cruel practice of exterminating any dog that resembles a pit bull. If those in power in Denver actually met a pit bull they would change their tune. I have owned two and they are the sweetest dogs you will ever meet--only want to love and be loved. Great with kids, and people of all ages.
Since its difficult to get to the Colorado slopes without traveling through Denver, next time I want to ski Rocky Mountain powder, Utah here I come!
I will never visit Denver no matter what and I will spread the word to all my friends and family the unjust and inhumane euthanizing of helpless animals that Denver is carrying out.
We were planing a trip to Denver Colorado in the spring but that has changed. when my Daughter was 1year old she was playing in my yard with her PIT BULL named Cha Cha the neighbor's dog seen her and was coming after her growling and barking My Pit Bull saved her life by getting between her and the other dog the other dog kept coming so my Pit bull stopped him in his tracks she was a good dog and I would own one again we had her for over 18 years and she NEVER EVER bit a Human!
cancelling my job offer, im outraged, i am an owner of the friendliest dog who happens to be a pit bul
MY DOG IS MY BEST FRIEND... HES LIKE MY CHILD.... AS OF RIGHT NOW MY APARTMENT MANAGERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE ME GET RID OF HIM. WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, MY DOG WAS WELCOME... NOW THEY WANT HIM OUT! I AM BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR OWNING A BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIOR. AND EVEN WORSE HE IS BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR BEING WHO HE IS. HUMANS DID THIS, NOT THE DOGS. HUMANS ARE THE ONES WITH ALL OF THE HIGH EXPECTATIONS SET TO MAKE THERE DOG THE BEST HUNTER, OR FIGHTER. MY DOG JUST HAPPENED TO BE BORN INTO A LOVING FAMILY WHO WOULD NEVER THINK TO TEACH HIM SUCH VIAL THINGS. HES A LOVER AND WOULD NEVER HARM ANYONE... THESE DOGS DO NOT DESERVE THIS. IM ASHAMED OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING. HUMANS DID THIS... HUMANS DID THIS!!!!:(
I belong to four professional organizations that hold yearly conferences, and I also attend smaller, independent conferences. I plan to contact the governing board of every conference I attend and have ever attended, to apprise them of this situation and to encourage them to not hold any of their meetings in Denver. Many of these organizations have strong activist components, and I am sure they will boycott Denver once they learn of this horrific situation. I am also the owner of a gentle, loving pit bull who has never even growled at a human being.
I'll be passing on business travel to Denver. A portion of the funds that would have been spent there will be directed to APBT rescue.
