The Fort Collins City Council is expected to vote on Tuesday, September 3, on a proposal that will restrict pet sales in the city.
As currently written, the proposal would ban the retail sale of dogs and cats in the city, with the exception of shelters and rescues. “Hobby breeders” are also exempt, so long as they are only selling or transferring dogs or cats that “were bred and reared on the premises of the person, on which premises a consumer may view the conditions where the dogs or cats were bred and reared, and speak with the breeder directly.”
The meeting will be held both virtually and in person on Tuesday, September 3, at 6pm. View the city’s website for more details.
Those who wish to comment may do so in one of the following ways:
Testify at the meeting. Use this link to sign up to testify.
Email the members of the Council: cityleaders@fcgov.com
Talking Points:
While AKC appreciates consideration for hobby breeders, we are concerned about restrictions on the ability of local residents to find the right pet for their family.
Retail bans limit the ability of residents to select pets in a responsible manner, based on the breed, health and temperament traits that they seek and would make a good match for their lifestyle. They also severely limit Colorado’s excellent consumer protection laws, as shelters and rescues cannot always provide the same guarantees, health, background, and other essential information needed to help a consumer make an informed choice when purchasing a dog.
Local residents may be wanting a quality purpose-bred pet and may not have access to a local breeder, do not want to be put on a long waiting list, etc. Instead, they may wish to purchase a dog from a regulated, licensed pet store where they can still get the consumer protections, the health history, and ongoing professional relationships they desire. For more information on AKC’s position on pet store regulations and pet choice, visit the Pet Choice key issue page in the AKC Legislative Action Center.
For questions or more information, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.