Update — April 29, 2026: VICTORY! Colorado has officially shut down its puppy mill pipeline. Nearly one month after lawmakers passed this bill, Governor Polis signed it into law. Celebrate this win by sending a message of thanks to Governor Polis and the legislators who championed this lifesaving bill.
This new law will end the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores and by brokers, effectively terminating the Centennial State’s participation in the horrific puppy mill pipeline.
A dog broker is a middleman, a distributor who obtains puppies in bulk from commercial breeders and re-sells them to retailers. In addition to ending the retail sale of dogs and cats in the state’s pet stores, this bill also prevents dog brokers from facilitating the puppy mill pipeline.
When this law goes into effect January 2028, Colorado will join states like New York and California in passing similar protections, reflecting a growing national push to end sales of cruelly bred pets.
Colorado pet stores and brokers advertise that their puppies are “top quality” and come from “responsible breeders,” exploiting animals and deceiving consumers. The sad reality is that puppies are trucked in from cruel commercial breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills, where animals are confined to filthy, crowded cages. Commercial breeders treat dogs like products; their only goal is to produce the highest number of puppies at the lowest possible cost. As a result, animals are often sick, injured or malnourished and can suffer from genetic issues because of poor breeding practices.
While communities and states around the country have enacted laws and ordinances to prevent pet stores from selling cruelly bred animals, including 26 communities in Colorado, Colorado still allows pet stores to profit from this inherently cruel system.
A 2025 poll conducted by Keating Research found that an overwhelming 82% of registered Colorado voters support a statewide policy that ends the sale of puppy mill puppies at pet stores and through brokers. It’s clear: Coloradans want a brighter future for animals, consumers and their communities.
What You Can Do
You helped push this bill across the finish line. Now, take one last step and send a message of thanks to Governor Polis and the legislators who stood behind this bill.
