House Bill 26-1011 bans cat and dog sales in pet stores

Colorado state Rep. Karen McCormick speaks Wednesday at the Colorado Capitol during the bill signing for legislation that bans cat and dog sales in pet stores. Gov. Jared Polis, seated at left, holds his dog, Gia. (Photo by Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Pet stores in Colorado will not be able to sell cats and dogs starting next year under a law signed Wednesday by Gov. Jared Polis.

Supporters hope House Bill 26-1011 will reduce demand for high-volume commercial breeders, sometimes referred to as puppy mills, and encourage would-be pet owners to consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. Over two dozen Colorado cities have similar ordinances in effect.

“Pet stores can still thrive. Communities can still connect with animals, but the pipeline that brought suffering into our state ends here and ends today,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, a Wheat Ridge Democrat who sponsored the bill.

The legislation is also known as the “Pistol the Pomeranian Protection Act,” named after Duran’s dog that came from a puppy mill and died in October.

Duran has championed efforts to strengthen rules and oversight around pet stores throughout her time in the House, including in 2021.

“We have seen the reports. We have seen sick puppies. We have seen families walk into stores believing they are supporting responsible practices, only to learn later that they financed cruelty and puppies were shipped from out of state,” Duran said during debate on the bill in February. “If stronger standards alone worked, wouldn’t it already have worked?”

Five adoptable puppies from Human Colorado, named after characters in the Bridgerton book and television series, joined Polis and supporters for the bill signing, as did the governor’s beloved dog Gia.

Pet stores can still thrive. Communities can still connect with animals, but the pipeline that brought suffering into our state ends here and ends today.

Coloradans will still be able to buy pets directly from a breeder, who can provide information about a dog’s parentage and genetics. Pet stores can also partner with rescue organizations to have adoption events, but they could not source puppies from brokers and sell them at a profit.

“Some people want a purebred or specific breed, there are many wonderful, legitimate breeders in our state, or people that you know have a litter of dogs in their home and they sell them, and that’s wonderful,” Polis said Wednesday.

Seven pet stores in Colorado sell dogs and cats, according to licensing data from the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

Rep. Karen McCormick of Longmont said Wednesday that in her work as a veterinarian, she treats dogs from puppy mills that end up having a long list of medical issues the owners did not predict or prepare for.

“To me, this is not only about the animals, but this is a consumer protection issue,” she said.

Critics of the policy saw it as anti-business and warned that it could inadvertently create a black market for puppies in the state. The Rocky Mountain Pet Dealers Association, the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs and Owners, and the Flatirons Kennel Club all opposed to the bill.

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