Colorado: Ask Committee to Oppose Bill Restricting Pet Choice and Consumer Protections

On Monday, February 23, a Colorado House committee will be considering a bill that restricts consumer choice and makes false claims about breeders and pet stores.

Colorado residents are strongly encouraged to contact the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee TODAY to express concerns with House Bill 26-1011. (Scroll down for contact information)

Summary

This bill would ban sales by brokers (defined as those that sell, offers to sell, or transfers ownership a pet animal bred by another person) and pet stores and only allow stores to “showcase” dogs from shelters and rescues. The bill also makes false and offensive claims that all commercial breeders are “puppy mills” and all pet stores “engage in deceptive business practices”. It further claims that the bans in this bill will “end cruelty to dogs in these facilities”, protect consumers, and “support responsible breeders, animal shelters and pet animal rescues.”

AKC appreciates that the broker ban provides a few exemptions, including law enforcement, service animals, and sales by the original breeder, and is working with the Colorado federation to further clarify these sections of the bill.

However, this bill creates other significant concerns, including:

Removing existing consumer protections for animals purchased at pet stores – Current law requires pet stores disclose the dog’s kennel name, breeder, and state of origin as well as federal or state license numbers and the purchase price and interest rates. Ironically, this bill strikes all these requirements and restricts pet shops to showcasing pets from sources with less stringent regulations (i.e., shelters, rescues, and other similar organizations). Instead of reinforcing protection for pet owners and pets, HB 26-1011 guts the state’s excellent consumer protection laws, because shelters and rescues cannot provide the guarantees necessary for consumer protection. It bans the sale of pets from known, regulated and inspected sources, and restricts pet shops to showcasing pets from sources with less stringent regulations (i.e., shelters, rescues, and other similar organizations).
Limiting pet choice and harming Colorado residents – HB 26-1011 reduces the average person’s access and ability to choose a pet with the predictable type, mandated neonatal care, and substantiated health background that come with purebred pets from regulated sources. Individuals who lack the resources or do not have access to private hobby breeders will be the most directly impacted. Additionally, it effectively limits the ability of future pet owners to obtain the type or breed of dog they wish. Residents who do not have access to a local breeder of the breed they’d like to acquire may wish to purchase a dog from a regulated, licensed pet store where they can still get a pet covered by consumer protections, a health history, and ongoing professional relationships for advice during the life of the pet

AKC believes the better solution is strong enforcement of current Colorado laws and regulations for breeders, and considering stronger regulations of shelters, rescues, and transports, to ensure those dogs receive the same level of humane care and oversight.

What You Can Do:

Contact the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee TODAY and express concerns with HB 26-1011:

Rep. Karen McCormick (Chair)
karen.mccormick.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Tisha Mauro (Vice Chair)
tisha.mauro.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Lori Garcia Sander
lori.garciasander.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Lori Goldstein
lori.goldstein.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Dusty Johnson
dustyforcolorado@gmail.com

Rep. Mandy Lindsay
mandy.lindsay.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Meghan Lukens
meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Matthew Martinez
matthew.martinez.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Lesley Smith
lesley.smith.house@coleg.gov

Rep. Katie Stewart
katie.stewart.house@coleg.gov