Denver Pit Bull Ban: Disturbing Photos Of Executed Dogs

UPDATE(10/5/2010): The Denver Pitt Bull Ban was enacted in 1987 after one particular dog attacked a man. The story erroneously reported that a "slew" of attacks was what led to the ban.

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Denver's controversial Pit Bull Ban, which took effect in 1987 after a slew of attacks, has resulted in the execution of over 3,497 dogs, according to Westword.

Recently, a series of photos showing dozens of dead pit bulls surfaced on Flickr. The photographer contacted Westword to confirm that the subject of the photos was in in fact pit bulls that had recently been executed by the City:

The photo-taker, who asked to remain anonymous, tells Westword the pictures were taken in 2006 on the grounds of the city animal shelter as the dead dogs were being removed by a contractor for disposal.

The Denver pit bull ban has been a subject of intense debate in Denver recently, as protesters have descended on city hall to call for an end to the ban. The city enacted a one-year moratorium on the ban in 2004 after the State of Colorado passed a law making the singling out of breeds illegal. The moratorium ended when the City of Denver won a law suit that determined the state law unconstitutional. The pit bull ban has been in place since.

Photos courtesy of Flickr: BL1961:

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Comments

[Momklok]

02:08 PM on 10/08/2009

How sad for these dogs and their owners. German Shepards were once considered a vicious breed, as were Doberman Pincers. Breeders changed their practices and mellowed the dogs. This could be done with Put Bulls as well. But truly, the dog fighting community must take the blame squarely on the jaw for the dispicable abuse they heap on these animals and the press it creates.

[SeerauberJenny]

07:44 PM on 10/08/2009

You assume that there ever was a bred-in temperament problem in any of those breeds. Dog breeders, and particularly money hungry unethical ones, aren't quite skilled enough to actually breed a specific temperament into a breed of dogs. It's just not that simple.

The media vilifies different breeds of dog based on a desire to create fear and to drive up their reader or viewership; and politicians pander to their ignorant and fearful constituents. It's been going on practically forever. Before Dobies and German Shepherds, the public was terrified of Spitz breeds (such as the Pomeranian) and bloodhounds. The latter inspired the Hound of the Baskervilles.

The fact is that the pit bull breeds are generally even tempered, almost overly friendly breeds. All they need is a fair break.

[Progressiveama]

03:20 AM on 10/09/2009

right!

[macini]

05:38 PM on 01/17/2010

I think you`ll fed that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier was bred to have a specific temperament, fight to death in the pit and 100% reliable with people especially kids.

[dontomas]

01:16 PM on 10/08/2009

I am a dog lover and currently have a dog. The pit bull ban was put into place since there have been so many pit bull attacks not only in Denver but across the US. We all know of pit bulls that are real friendly but having a dog that has been bred to fight and attack does not make sense. I wish the law covered some other breeds that are prone to attack such as those dogs that mauled an elderly woman in Thornton the other day.

[SeerauberJenny]

07:10 PM on 10/08/2009

One of the things few people realize about the 'pit bull attacks' they see in the media is that many of the dogs involved are not actually pit bulls, usually defined as any of three to ten discrete breeds of dog.

To illustrate, here are just a few of the actual dogs the media has reported were 'pit bulls':

http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/dog-bites/dog-bites-and-the-media/breed-identification/

This isn't some hypothetical case. These are actual pictures of dogs that were involved in some of the rare fatal attacks on humans between 2002 and 2008. Tell me honestly, how many of the dogs IDed by the media as pit bulls would you identify as such? Several of them look like purebred or at least predominant Labs to me.

Remember, every major study purporting to track dog bite incidents by breed is based on these media identifications. Do you trust these stories of 'pit bull' attacks, knowing that these are the dogs the media is telling you are 'pit bulls'?

Not only does reporting like this cause the type of devastation we see in these pictures, but it creates in many a false sense of security, as other breeds of dog that have bitten someone are inaccurately identified as 'pit bulls' by the media.

How many Lab owners have you heard say that their dogs are safe family dogs that pose no danger at all?

[Progressiveama]

03:19 AM on 10/09/2009

dogs are the victims of human beings.........pit bulls become violent for one reason, they are pushed and pushed and tormented and tortured, same with any dog.......don't blame any dog

[InYourWorld]

11:08 AM on 10/08/2009

How can pit bulls be the problem?

Every Pit Bull I have ever had the pleasure of knowing was goofy and nice like labs. How about we go after the people that abuse their dogs and make them mean.

I have been bitten by a dog 3 times. 1 St. Bernard, and 2 heelers.

[NoSillyName]

02:49 AM on 10/08/2009

This is very sick and inhumane. I remember when Denver started this ridiculous ban, but I don't remember what year it was. Its been quite a while and I wonder if they've counted the number of innocent animals they've killed since the beginning. Absolutely despicable.

[Spiritof1982]

01:09 AM on 10/08/2009

Here's your progressive city, folks!

[Grimway]

04:24 AM on 10/08/2009

Murder.