The Colorado House Local Government Committee has approved a bill that would stop homeowners’ associations from discriminating against dog owners.
House Bill 1126 as amended by the committee states that HOAs may not prohibit residents from keeping dogs based solely on the dog’s breed, weight, or size classification.
A provision that would have still allowed HOAs to limit the number of dogs per household was removed, and AKC thanks the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs for working with the sponsor on this important amendment to ensure that no discrimination against responsible dog owners can occur.
House Bill 1126 can now be voted on by the full House of Representatives. Colorado residents are strongly encouraged to contact their State Representative and ask them to support House Bill 1126 as amended by the Local Government Committee. Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center and type your address in the “Find Your Elected Official” box to find the name and contact information for your State Representative.
Talking Points:
When communicating, let your Representative know of the efforts you make to be a responsible dog owner and respectful resident, regardless of your dog’s breed or size, or how many you own. Tell them also that you support the committee amendment that will not allow HOAs to impose ownership limits.
AKC believes no owner should be regulated based solely on the breed, size, or number of dogs they own. Instead, the focus should be on specific actions by individual dogs. For more talking points on breed-specific legislation and limit laws, visit the “Key Issues” section of the Legislative Action Center.
AKC and the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs will continue to monitor this proposal and provide more information as it becomes available. For more information, contact CFDC at kharahs@yahoo.com or AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.