COLORADO

New law bans sales of cats, dogs in pet stores

Following in the paw-steps of several other states and local governments, Gov. Jared Polis signed a new law Wednesday that will soon ban pet stores in Colorado from selling dogs or cats.

Once it goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2028, House Bill 1011 will only allow pet stores to host animals from adoption or rescue services, so long as the stores don’t charge fees and the animals are sterilized. It otherwise prohibits those stores from selling dogs and cats in an effort to curb commercial breeding and sales from “puppy mills.” According to a legislative analysis, there are seven pet stores in the state licensed to sell the animals and five more that serve as brokers.

The new law will not apply to the sale of specially trained animals — like those used by law enforcement, hunters or people with disabilities.

Polis said 26 jurisdictions in Colorado have banned puppy mill sales in retail stores. Denver joined them when its City Council passed an ordinance last year, though the city had no stores selling dogs and cats at the time. Several other states, including Maryland and California, have adopted similar bans.

— The Denver Post