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image - Aurora Colorado Repeals 15-Year Ban On Pitbull Ownership

For the past 15 years, citizens of Aurora, Colorado were not permitted to own pit bulls within the city limits. That law was repealed by the Aurora City Council with a 7-3 vote.

The Denver Post reports that, thanks to the repeal, citizens of Aurora will be able to own pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

Back in 2014, there was a possibility of a repeal, but lawmakers rejected it at the time.

Mayor Mike Coffman made the suggestion of putting a new ballot measure in place that would remove the ban. The target date for the vote was November 2021, but a decision by the council members allowed it to be voted on right away.

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Aurora isn’t the first city in Colorado to lift the regulations on pitbull ownership. The Denver Post further reported that Denver had reversed their ruling on pit bulls last year. It went into place on January 1, 2020, and residents of Denver can now keep various restricted breeds, such as pit bulls, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers as pets. In order to do so, they have to get a permit and the dog needs to be microchipped.

There is a two pitbull limit per home and a higher fee will have to be paid for having one of those breeds compared to other breeds. They also have to have a three year clean record with no issues involving pit bulls.

The city wide ban in Aurora was put into place in 1989. In the five years prior to that ruling, 20 people were attacked by pit bulls, according to The Denver Channel. The first pitbull adopted by a shelter in Denver took place on January 5 of last year and was named Gumdrop.

Gumdrop is known as Odin by his new family. The Denver Department Of Public Health and Environment spokesperson, Kyle Wagner, spoke to PEOPLE, confirming that it was the first pitbull since 1989 that was adopted.

It was January 2 when Gumdrop was put up for adoption after being held for five days at the Denver Animal Shelter. After he wasn’t claimed, a family drove for an hour to pick him up and give him a forever home.

The Denver Animal Shelter went on Facebook to announce: “We are so excited to celebrate the first Pit Bull adoption since the new breed ordinance! 🎉🎉🎉❤️. Gumdrop was so happy to go home with his new family! Today is a day of celebration! 🙌😍❤️🐶 .”

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog