SPRINGFIELD, Mo.–Pit bull advocates are rejoicing after a ban that prohibits the dogs from living in the city has come to a halt. 

It comes after the city clerk confirmed Monday enough signatures were collected on a petition to repeal it. 

 Over 2,200 signatures were needed for a repeal and according to the city clerk  it passed by more than that.

The future looks bright again for these four legged furry friends.

 “I’m very excited, was really excited to hear the news,” says one petition organizer, Madison Weiler. 

Weiler’s work in helping to collect thousands of signatures payed off in suspending  city council’s ban on new pit bulls in Springfield. 

 “I feel like the majority of people signing were like people over 40-years-old, some people didn’t even have pets at all. They were just upset that city council isn’t listening to citizens,” says Weiler. 

From there, those signatures along with others landed on city clerk Anita Cotter’s desk for certification.

“It took 20 days. Look at each signature, compare it with voter registration roles, make sure that each person is in fact registered and inside of the city limits,” says Cotter. 

Now city council has 30 days to either repeal the ban or let the people vote on it. Petition organizer Kathleen Larkin wants the first option.

 “I’m hopeful that city council will you know they voted 5-4 originally. I’m hoping that perhaps we could persuade at least one member to change his or her opinion and to do what I think is the better thing to do for the city and that is to reverse it,” says Larkin.

“I hope they just repeal it. I think the majority of people what they have seen majority of citizens don’t want the breed ban,” says Weiler. 

City council is expected to take public comment on the issue at its November 27th meeting with final action being taken on December 11th.