A bill mandating the sterilizations of rescue and shelter dogs being imported into Colorado will soon head to the Governor. Those involved in interstate breed rescue in Colorado are encouraged to review the bill, Senate Bill 24-045, to see how it would impact their rescue network. Anyone wishing to provide comments to Governor Polis may do so using this online contact form.
Under current Colorado law, unowned dogs being imported into the state are subject to sterilization requirements, unless exemptions apply. However, exemptions have been used as loopholes by some importers, resulting in numerous unsterilized dogs being imported into Colorado shelters and rescues and raising concerns of their impact on the state’s shelter populations.
Senate Bill 24-045 seeks to begin addressing these concerns. As passed by the legislature, this bill would remove the exemption that would allow for these dogs to be unsterilized if there is a health concern – unless a veterinarian licensed in Colorado certifies that sterilization would impair the dog’s health, at which time the procedure may be postponed until it is safe for the animal. If the animal was born in Colorado, a state licensed veterinarian may declare it is unsafe to sterilize the animal at that time, and then the prospective owner should have the animal sterilized when it is deemed safe.
In addition, the bill removes the sterilization requirement for shelters and rescues importing dogs into areas of the state with limited access to veterinarians.
The bill would also require shelters and rescues licensed in Colorado to provide a report as to how many imported dogs and cats were exempted from the sterilization requirements – including the breed, age, reason for the exemption, and the license number of the veterinarian providing the exemption.
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) and the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs continues to monitor legislation impacting dogs in the state. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.