Denver City Wire

The Denver Animal Shelter is offering free assessments, permits, and licenses to owners of certain dog breeds for a limited time.

A 31-year-old ban on pit bulls was overturned by voters in 2020, according to 9NEWS. Denver pet owners are now permitted to keep dogs identified as a restricted breed such as pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, and Staffordshire bull terriers. 

The Denver Animal Shelter will offer evaluations to assess a dog's breed every day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This assessment usually costs $25. Owners must then obtain a breed-restricted permit and license for each dog. These permits typically cost $30, and Denver pet licenses cost $15. All services will be available for free for a limited time.

"The fees aren’t everything … but I think one of the bigger barriers is knowing there is a cost associated with the permit," Derek Scott, Denver Animal Protection (DAP) compliance coordinator, said, Denverite.com reported.

Pit bull owners who apply for a permit must provide information such as the owner's name and address or the location of the pit bull, according to 9NEWS. They must also provide the names and addresses of two people who can be contacted if an emergency involving the dog occurs; a current photo and description of the dog; proof that the animal has a city license, current rabies vaccination, and registered microchip; and other relevant information.

Permits must be renewed every three years, 9NEWS reported. Owners can request to be removed from the breed-restricted requirements if there are no violations involving their pet(s) during that time frame.

DAP's goal is to encourage more people to license and register their pit bulls, according to 9NEWS. The organization received a $10,000 grant from Petco Love in order to offer the services.