LIBERTY, Mo. — An effort is underway to bring pit bulls back to Liberty.
The Liberty Pit Bull Alliance is fighting to lift a ban on the breed, enacted in 1987, at the ballot box on April 2.
"It will help protect our dogs," organizer Jessica McKinney said. "It's more humane for our dogs and it's giving our citizens their rights back."
Days before the election, the ASPCA is in town to help knock on doors and educate city residents.
In February 2018, the LPBA helped pass a comprehensive, breed-neutral dog ordinance they say holds owners accountable. Their next goal is lifting the ban on pit bulls. McKinney believes, "Dogs need to be judged on individual characters and not based on their breed."
KC Pet Project told 41 Action News it sees a little over 200 bite cases a year, involving dozens of breeds. It fully supports the effort to lift the pit bull ban in Liberty.
Kansas City, Kansas, Overland Park and Independence are a few cities in the metro that have pit bull bans.
Both Shawnee and Roeland Park lifted their bans on the breed. Prairie Village considered getting rid of its ban on pit bulls in 2016, but ultimately decided to keep it in place.
When it comes to Liberty, voters will decide on April 2.
The ASPCA is hosting a rally to urge people to vote yes on the question. The event is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 31 at Liberty City Park.
