Colorado city re-examines pit bull ban

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AURORA, Colo., March 14 (UPI) -- A Colorado city is pondering options on its pit bull ban in the wake of a federal ruling declaring a service dog may be of any breed, city officials say.

Aurora officials say they are looking at ways to eliminate or amend the city's ban on pit bulls in light of an updated federal clarification to the Americans With Disabilities Act on the definition of a service animal, The Denver Post reported Monday.

An Aurora committee will take up the issue Thursday of whether to retain the ban on pit bulls, which took effect in 2006, or allow them as service dogs.

"The pit-bull ban is something my constituents support," City Councilwoman Molly Markert said. "They are happy it's in place."

Disabled combat Marine, Allen Grider, who says he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, is suing the city after it confiscated his pit-bull mix from him for a week in November 2009.

"She didn't bark at nobody. She didn't bite nobody. She didn't deserve to go to jail," Grider said of his dog.

A Denver City Council vote in December to uphold the ban raised emotion on both sides of the issue, the Post said.

Rocky Mountain ADA Center training coordinator Candice Alder said the issue is not clear because the new Americans With Disabilities Act guidelines do not clarify whether a breed ban is in violation of the act's prohibition of discrimination against disabled people. Alder said complaints have been filed but there haven't been any rulings by a federal judge on the legality of Denver's ban.