Buying a puppy from a pet store should never mean unknowingly supporting cruelty. Yet many puppies sold in retail stores come from large-scale commercial dog breeders where profit comes before animal welfare. That’s why Colorado lawmakers are considering legislation that would end the sale of puppies through pet stores and brokers.
Puppy mills are notorious for overcrowded cages – often with dogs never allowed out – along with inadequate veterinary care and relentless breeding until animals’ bodies give out. Dogs are frequently discarded once they are no longer profitable, often around age 5. Puppies raised in these conditions are more likely to suffer serious health problems, leaving families with heartbreak and unexpected veterinary bills. Ending retail puppy sales cuts off one of the primary profit pipelines that sustains these operations.
This bill is a common-sense solution. It does not prevent families from adopting dogs or working directly with reputable breeders. It simply ensures Colorado pet stores are not fueling an industry built on cruelty.
I urge my lawmakers, Rep. Stewart and Sen. Simpson, to support HB26-1011 and stand up for animals, consumers and responsible breeding practices in Colorado.
Twenty-six cities and towns – including Denver, Fort Collins and our neighbors Mancos, Bayfield, Telluride and Ridgway – have already taken this step.
It’s simply the right thing to do for companion animals that have no voice.
Joyce Cohen
Durango
