The Colorado Senate is expected to vote as early as tomorrow (March 28) on a bill that restricts consumer choice and some sales, and makes false claims about breeders and pet stores.
Colorado residents are strongly encouraged to both call and email the following Senators. Ask them to oppose HB 26-1011 as written and amend the bill to provide reasonable regulations to ensure pet stores are operating and sourcing dogs in a humane manner. Ask them also to clarify provisions regarding transfers of owned dogs to ensure no unintended consequences: Scroll down for additional talking points
Senate President James Coleman:
(303) 866-4864
james.coleman.senate@coleg.gov
Contact your State Senator – Visit the AKC Legislative Action Center (www.akcgr.org) and click on the “Elected Officials” box on the homepage to find the name and contact information for your Colorado State Senator. Be sure to mention you are a constituent when contacting your Senator.
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. However, this bill creates other significant concerns that could punish responsible dog owners in Colorado.
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.
Talking Points:
Consider using the following talking points when contacting the Senate:
- Limiting pet choice harms Colorado residents and could increase shelter populations – HB 26-1011 reduces the average person’s access and ability to choose a pet with the predictable type and substantiated health background that meets their family’s needs. Individuals who lack the resources or do not have access to private hobby breeders will be the most directly impacted.
When people cannot obtain a pet that is the right fit for their lifestyle, that pet is more likely to end up in a shelter.
- Pet stores are a viable option for a consumer to purchase a pet –Local residents may be wanting a quality purpose-bred pet and may not have access to a local breeder, do not want to be put on a long waiting list, etc. Instead, they may wish to purchase a dog from a regulated, licensed pet store where they can still get the consumer protections, the health history, and ongoing professional relationships they desire.
- HB 26-1011 will not help animals – This bill makes the assumption that all dogs sold at pet stores have been raised in poor conditions, which is simply not accurate. This bill will exacerbate the problem of substandard breeders and/or irresponsible pet sellers and actors in the retail and retail rescue pet industry. Since a similar ban has been enacted in California, the state has experienced significant increase in cases of fraud and the sale of sick puppies, as some residents have no choice but to go to the Internet in search of the right pet for their family.
- Limiting transfers of three pet animals per year needs clarification – If a person transfers more than 3 dogs per year that they did not personally breed, there is some concern they would be considered a broker who would now be unable to do these transfers without breaking the law, even if no money is exchanged. Ask the Senate to clarify this and ensure the law will not stop situations such as if an individual with more than three dogs have an emergency and their pets need to be transferred to another loving situation.
AKC Government Relations and the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs continue to closely monitor this and all legislation impacting dog owners in Colorado. For more information, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.