Update — March 2, 2026: Great news! The Colorado House of Representatives just passed this bill, bringing the state one step closer to shutting down its puppy mill pipeline. This bill needs to advance through the state senate next and could go before a senate committee at any moment. Please urge your senator to support this bill.
Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would 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.
This is Colorado’s opportunity to join a growing number of states that are rejecting inhumane pet sale practices. Don’t let this moment pass by! Urge your lawmakers to support this bill.
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
Take action today! Use our brief form below to send a pre-drafted message asking your lawmakers to shut down Colorado’s puppy mill pipeline.
Have you or someone you know experienced issues after purchasing a dog or cat from a pet store? After you’ve submitted the form, share your story with us!
