The way a dog is reared has far more influence on its behavior than its breed. However, this hasn’t stopped some people from discriminating against specific breeds of dogs, particularly pit bulls, which have an undeserved reputation for being ferocious and aggressive.
Pit bulls’ bad image not only prevents them from finding loving homes (they’re always the most prevalent breed found in shelters), but it also makes them the target of laws outlawing them entirely. For decades, several localities have had local legislation prohibiting the ownership of pit bulls.
However, thanks to the efforts of local dog lovers and breed supporters, these bans are being repealed in an increasing number of places. And, just this week, a large Kansas city repealed its prohibition on pit bulls.
On Monday, the Overland Park City Council voted overwhelmingly to abolish the law, putting an end to a 30-year ban on pit bull ownership in Kansas’ second-largest city. On October 1, the repeal will take effect.
For decades, the regulation had been a source of contention, with animal rights activists claiming that pit bulls were not intrinsically more dangerous than other pet breeds. According to FOX 4, an attempt to overturn the law was unsuccessful in 1989 at the Kansas Supreme Court.
According to the Kansas City Star, Councilwoman Holly Grummert said during a public safety committee hearing, “What we’re really trying to accomplish with this law is address poor conduct in animals across the city and be standard in that approach.”
A unanimous City Council vote resulted in the long-awaited repeal, which was part of a larger reform of local pet rules. New rules on how long a dog can be tethered have also been implemented.
Overland Park was “one of the last holdouts” in the area, according to the Kansas City Star, while other cities in the Kansas City metro had lifted their restrictions in recent years.
It’s part of a broader shift in public opinion across the country, with cities around the country choosing to repeal breed-specific bans. After a 30-year ban, Denver voters overwhelmingly chose to allow pit bulls on election night in November.
Animal rights activists in Overland Park hailed the ruling as a long-awaited win.
The ASPCA said in a statement, “We commend the folks of Overland Park for standing up to this stupid rule.” “We appreciate all of the local advocates who spoke up for pets and their families.”
According to FOX 4, Tam Singer, CEO of the Excellent Plains SPCA, said, “This allows more animals to be adopted into more cities, which is great.”
According to KMBC, KC Pet Project said in a statement, “We commend the city council for this decision and we have many cute pit bulls who are pleased that they can now be adopted to families in Overland Park.”
We’re overjoyed that another community has lifted its pit bull prohibition. We hope that more of these pets will find homes in the Kansas City metro area as a result of this.
Congratulations to all pit bull supporters on their victory. Please spread the word!