While these pit bull mixes call the Great Plains SPCA in Independence, Missouri, home for now, once someone adopts them they can no longer live within city limits.
"Breed-specific legislation was passed to keep the public safe," said Beth Pauley, the director of internal and legislative affairs at the Great Plains SPCA. "Breed-specific legislation is ineffective in terms of public safety, wastes a lot of resources and does not address what it was intended to address."
The same is true up north in Liberty, where the city put a pit bull ban on the books back in 1987.
Here's what the law says:
In Liberty, Missouri, it is unlawful to keep, harbor, own or possess any pit bull dog, with exceptions for pit bull dogs already residing in the city. Such dogs may remain as long as the owner complies with certain requirements, such as proper registration, proper confinement, the use of a leash and muzzle, the posting of "Beware of Dog-Pit Bull," keeping $50,000 liability insurance, and taking identification photographs. Any dog found to be the subject of a violation may be subject to seizure and impoundment.
Read the law in its entirety here.
That means that if a Liberty family is interested in taking Blue, this 7-month-old pit mix, home, Pauley can't let them.
Blue, this 7-month-old pit mix, will be available for adoption on Aug. 10. Inquire about him and other pups at the Great Plains SPCA locations in Independence and Merriam.
"What that amounts to is pit bulls coming in faster than they are going out, so it dries up our resources as a nonprofit, takes a lot of resources to house these wonderful and adoptable pets and also costs the community to enforce these laws," explained Pauley.
Those who want to see the ban stay say it's a matter of public safety. They say, yes, all dogs can bite, but of the 14 fatal bites nationwide in this year - more than half were from pit bulls or pit bull mixes.
"We are talking about actual behavior and tangible incidents and specific incidents rather than just their appearance," said Pauley.
That's why she said if cities really want to protect their communities, lift the breed ban and put a dangerous behavior ban in its place. A dangerous behavior ban would add dogs that have actually shown aggression or dangerous behavior to a list not based on appearance alone.
The City Council will hold the study session in Liberty on Monday, Aug. 1 at 7 p.m.
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Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
You can also follow her on Twitter.
