Two years ago, the city of Lakewood passed a ban on all 'pit bulls' in the community. Last may, as a part of their enforcement of the ban, the city began harrassing a man, Leonard Shelton, because they said the dog he owned was a 'pit bull'.
Shelton, a military veteran who's dog,Roscoe, was helping him deal with post tramatic stress following his service overseas, claimed his dog was not a 'pit bull'.
After constant harrassment by city officials -- including animal control and the police department - Shelton went out and got a DNA test done on Roscoe. The test results showed that Roscoe was indeed, not a 'pit bull'. But police persisted. And after constant harrassment, Shelter decided to pack up Roscoe and move from town.
You can catch all of the back story here.
Now, Shelton is levying a lawsuit against the city of Lakewood -- to the tune of $475,000 for emotional and financial damages (including forced relocation). Shelton's suit claims that the city, and it's police department, are negligent in hiring, training and supervising staff to enforce the new law, negligent misrepresentation and because of the malicious discrimination, violated his civil rights and intentionally inflicted emotional distress. The lawsuit goes on to say that the city is using the pit bull ban to force out individuals it has judged to be "undesireable or unsavory."
It is probably worth mentioning here that Lakewood is a community that is 92% white, and Leonard Shelton is a minority.
You can read the entire complaint here.
Like most cities across the US, Lakewood has been struggling with balancing its budget --facing a $4.5 million deficit just two years ago -- which is a lot of money for a community of just 50,000 people that has seen a 10% decrease in population over the past decade. It would seem that harrassing a military veteran, who's dog showed no signs of aggression, wouldn't be the highest priority for the city -- and certainly not something the taxpayers of the city would prefer to pay half a million dollars in doing.
Cities with breed specific legislation from around the country continue to struggle with the enforcement of the laws and with the difficulties of breed identification. And Lakewood is joining the growing list of cities facing legal ramifications.
Which begs the question, why would any city subject themselves to this and harrass owners of well-behaved dogs instead of instituting a behavior-based ordinance that only focuses on aggressive dogs regardless of breed?
H/T: toLoveLakewood Blog on the story.
I hope he wins!!! It's to bad that this is the only way to maybe get laws to change.
Posted by: Keira | March 30, 2010 at 12:34 PM
The Lakewood Therapy Dogs for Vets Hit Squad had better start looking in the want ads.
Posted by: YesBiscuit! | March 30, 2010 at 01:46 PM
Long ago, I used to live in Lakewood. When it was, you know, Lakewood (former residents will know what I mean). I sincerely hope, Leonard, that you bury these self-important, fussy little twerps and their formerly pleasant, normal community.
And thank you for your service. And thank Roscoe for his.
Posted by: Ted | March 30, 2010 at 03:35 PM
Good for Mr. Shelton, I hope he wins!
Posted by: Social Mange | March 31, 2010 at 08:47 PM
Funny I think I mentioned while speaking publicly to Lakewood city council just this problem they would be facing back at one of the first Council meeting we had in reference to this stupid ban. While everyone else approached them about loving dogs, all the statistics to show them it's the people not the dogs etc. ( which they ignored) I told them, let me go at this angle, which is all you might be interested in. You are already in debt over your heads, you think once you start taking these dogs away this city can afford the lawsuits that will follow. How about a class action that could cost you millions? Um they didn't listen. What a surprise. I hope he wins and I believe, no I KNOW there will be more of us coming. I can totally agree that they are just trying to remove a certain "element" of people there. I know this personally and hopefully in the coming days you will see me here to telling you all about the rest of the residents stories! Thanks for the story Brent, it has bred some new life into this long battle!
Posted by: Hope | April 07, 2010 at 10:33 AM
We left Lakewood a little over a year ago. I have to agree with Ted, Lakewood is not the same Lakewood we purchased our home in 1995. It has changed so much.
Posted by: Beajay Michaud | April 07, 2010 at 01:46 PM
This is what happens when you shoot first and ask questions later. I hope this guy puts the city through the ringer!
Posted by: eric | July 07, 2011 at 06:18 AM