Gaining Ground Against Breed-Banning

Score! Last week, opponents of breed-ban legislation achieved a significant victory in Denver, Colorado. Backed by the AKC, three individual pet-owners took their case to the United States High Court of Appeals for the 10th circuit, where they argued against the constitutionality of Denver's pit-bull-ban. The city-limit ordinance, first instituted in 2005, outlaws "ownership or possession of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Pit Bull Terrier." What's most outrageous to breed-ban opponents, though, is the standing bill's inclusion of any dogs who appear to display a "majority of physical traits of one or more of these breeds." (Read a summary of the events here.)
The recent ruling overrides a 2007 dismissal of the same suit, which means the plaintiffs can proceed with their case against the city of Denver, and continue their plight to overturn the breed ban - which is responsible for the deaths of at least 1,000 dogs since 2005.
While this is great news for those of us standing against breed-specific legislation, what we here at Table Scraps find even more inspiring is the AKC's involvement in the case. When one works or volunteers regularly in rescue, the importance of breed-specific regulations and standards falls to the way-way-wayside, and it becomes all-too-easy to disregard the importance of organizations like the AKC. But this is an excellent and extremely note-worthy example of the potential for partnership amongst groups who share a solid ideological foundation despite wildly disparate missions. Just think of the difference we might make by applying that type of mentality to the work of animal protection in general. Here here, to putting aside lesser grievances for the sake of a far more important cause.