We want to hear from you!

The Aurora City Council's Housing, Neighborhood Services and Redevelopment Policy Committee has requested public input regarding the Restricted Breed Ordinance, Section 14-75 of the Aurora Municipal Code. Do our residents wish to retain the ordinance or repeal the ordinance? 

Have your voice heard at the upcoming Aug. 17 City Council meeting

Ahead of the vote next week by the Aurora City Council on Monday, Aug. 17, there is another opportunity to provide public  input on the city’s Restricted Breed Ordinance, Section 14-75 of the Aurora Municipal Code. The City Council is considering whether to retain or repeal the ordinance and whether a repeal should occur via City Council ordinance or public vote. We want to make sure you have a say in it.  

Given COVID-19 limitations for public gatherings, the meeting will take place virtually, with two ways for the public to participate: by submitting comments via email and/or by providing live comments via telephone during the Aug. 17 meeting.  

Call-in participation. You can provide live comments during the City Council meeting via telephone.  The number to call for the meeting (855-695-3475, then press *3 to reach operator) will be open beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17 for people to be placed in the queue.  Callers can be placed in the queue from 7 p.m. until the City Clerk formally introduces the agenda item for consideration by the City Council.  All callers will have up to 3 minutes to share their opinion.
**When calling 855-695-3475, individuals should please indicate the restricted breed related agenda item for which they would like to provide comment. 

Email comments. Between now and 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, you can send an email to animalordinance@auroragov.org with your comments. Those comments will be printed, given to Council Members and made part of the public record. Comments sent via email won’t be read during the City Council meeting to allow time for the call-in participants. 

Missed the Virtual Town Hall on June 18? You can still watch HERE. 

Background:
The ordinance, approved by City Council on October 24, 2005, became effective on November 26, 2005 and by February 2006, 498 grandfathered, restricted breeds of dogs were licensed in Aurora.  The ordinance has been reviewed and revised several times since it was enacted. Today’s ordinance includes the following:

• Prohibits dogs defined as pit bulls (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.)
• Provides an exemption for pit bull service dogs to accommodate the Americans with Disabilities Act. 
• Allows for DNA testing as a method for determining a dog’s breed.  Dogs with test results that denote 50 percent or less genetic pit bull composition are allowed in the city without restriction.

In November 2014, the question was put on the ballot as to whether the ordinance should be retained or repealed.   At that time, approximately 64 percent of the votes were to retain the ordinance.  The City Attorney’s Office has indicated the vote was advisory, so if City Council wishes to repeal the ordinance, it could be repealed by returning to the voters with a ballot question, or it could be repealed by ordinance. 

Proposed Dangerous Dog Ordinance

We currently have an Aggressive Animal ordinance in the Aurora Municipal Code.  Although this ordinance has been effective throughout the years in dealing with aggressive dogs, City staff and the City Council Policy Committee is proposing the adoption of a Dangerous Dog ordinance which will allow greater flexibility with enforcement and court cases.  The proposed Dangerous Dog Ordinance will allow for the following:

• Develop a tiered system for the judges to assess the action of the dog in determining the level of offense.
• Allow an Animal Protection Officer to have more discretion in handling each situation.
• Update the existing ordinance to be more current with other jurisdictions.

It is important for our residents to know that the proposed Dangerous Dog Ordinance is independent of the Restricted Breed ordinance and is proposed whether the Restricted Breed of Dogs ordinance is retained or repealed.