Wagtown Report: Denver is "raking in the boon" without doing the work to be genuine or responsible.

As of November 2020, the City and County of Denver finally ?deserves? to be on authentically "dog-friendly city" lists such as these. But, do they? 

What "dog-friendly city" would penalize dog owners with increased expense as well as transportation and occupational barriers based on their pooch's pedigree? I've talked with hundreds of community leaders and stakeholders about the unprecedented appeal of dog friendliness. It's not for everyone (yes, I said that), but when it's genuine and responsible, it's an economic and lifestyle image boon. Denver is "raking in the boon" without doing the work to be genuine or responsible. The Denver region is now moving forward with a formal, in-person breed evaluation. "Any dog in Denver who looks like a pit bull must be evaluated and permitted. The cost is $25, nonrefundable. ALL other dogs (I asked about a Greyhound, Visla, and Rottweiler as examples) are not required to be evaluated at all." Sooooo, there's an extra $25 in your pocket for all you "approved-sight-unseen" dog families. (City of Denver, Denver County, 2021)

?? If the argument is that the dog's BEHAVIOR is the issue, why is the dog’s APPEARANCE the metric?

Here's the oddity that should be buzzing about your brain. They are requiring evaluation to see if the dog has certain physical characteristics, but it is not given a temperament, obedience, or whatever test -- just breed identification. Even if you're visiting from out of town, you have to have someone assess your dog...but only by looks...and only if it looks any more than 50% Pit.

Don't get me wrong, I was delighted when Denver repealed its ban on pit bulls. BUT, it is still a punitive system that screams lack of social equity. They have lessened the kind of laws that create what I call "BREED DISCRIMINATION REFUGEES," but they have a long way to go.

Let's talk about #DollarsFollowDogs. This evaluation-by-looks approach does NOT make economic sense. Studies have repeatedly confirmed that treatment of dogs is a powerful factor in housing decision making - particularly with the sought-after millennial market. The Denver approach results in decreased workforce mobility and attraction. Why do that? It's a stain on your reputation and value proposition.

Valuable workforce candidates and prospective residents are literally driven out of their dream destination (for travel or housing). A colleague of mine nearly had to back out of his home purchase contract, relocate, and incur extra financial burden. Why? His dog is part Pit Bull. He couldn't live in the community that had hired him. 

Denver, I get it. You want to understand the dog population now that the Pittie families can start to come out of the shadows (that guarded them against removal and euthanasia). There is value in collecting that data, but what a missed opportunity! Why not spend that time and money on animal welfare education and developing curriculum to teach kids about dogs. Pivot to creating tools to help the entire community understand how to best care for their pets and how they can reach out for assistance if needed.

I am still learning to understand the complex history of "how we got here," but that is exactly what it is: history. Let's learn from it and be better. 

Keep wagging,

Beth

Beth Miller: Founder of Wagtown

[email protected] | https://www.wagtown.org

#dogfriendlyexpert #wagtown

* Wagtown will not work with any community on dog-friendliness initiatives if they actively have laws that discriminate by breed - unless it's to get rid of breed specific legislation. 

#stopBSL #breeddiscrimination #workforcesolutions #breeddiscriminationrefugee #nonprofit #animalwelfare #DogsOfDenver #dogfriendly

Read a recent story about new guidelines for owners of previously banned dogs.