Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman Wants City To Vote On Existing Pit Bull Ban

Back in February of 2020, the Denver City Council ended its longstanding ban on pit bull ownership by approving a new measure.

With the measure's success in Denver, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman wants to bring its own pit bull ban up for consideration, according to FOX31.

"I think we need to refer it back to the voters," said Mayor Coffman.

The Aurora City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the ownership of pit bulls back in October of 2005. People who are convicted of illegally keeping a pit bull face a minimum fine of $700 and/or up to one year in jail.

In Denver, the measure proposed that pit bull owners had to obtain a "breed-restricted license." Applicants would need to provide their address, two emergency contacts, a description of the pit bull, an annual fee, and show proof the dog was microchipped and had its rabies vaccination.

These safety procedures did well with voters in Denver and Mayor Coffman thinks the same could happen in Aurora.

"They have language in there addressing safety concerns about microchipping these dogs... about giving them provisional licensing, about having the animal control division come up with a series of guidelines," said Coffman.

Coffman wants to let voters weigh in on establishing a special permit system similar to Denver's in November 2021.

In 2014, Aurora voted to keep the pit bull ban in place.

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