December 13th, 2007 by Editor

From the Post Independent:

“A potential pit bull ban in the town of Parachute has a number of people up in arms and planning to attend the second reading of the proposed ordinance at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The ban, which would prohibit anyone within town limits from possessing a pit bull, was proposed by town board member Linda Waite.

‘Existing pit bulls could remain in town,’ said Mayor Roy McClung. ‘But there would be criteria in that they would have to be licensed and registered and sterilized (neutered or spayed). There would be no new pit bulls allowed, and breeding would be prohibited’.”

Read this article in its entirety here.

Parachute should know that breed-specific legislation is prohibited under the Colorado Revised Statutes:

“(5)(a) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a municipality from adopting any rule or law for the control of dangerous dogs; except that any such rule or law shall not regulate dangerous dogs in a manner that is specific to breed.

“(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to abrogate a county’s authority under part 1 of article 15 of title 30, C.R.S., to adopt dog control and licensing resolutions and to impose the penalties set forth in section 30-15-102. C.R.S.; except that any such resolution shall not regulate dangerous dogs in a manner that is specific to breed.”

Please write or call city officials in Parachute and politely inform them that breed-specific legislation in any form is ineffective and unenforceable.  An enforced leash law and a non-breed-specific dog law are more than adequate to police irresponsible dog owners of any breed:

Town of Parachute
P. O. Box 100
Parachute, CO 81635

-or-

Parachute Town Hall
222 Grand Valley Way,
Parachute, CO 81635
970-285-7630