Colorado officially bans dog and cat sales in pet stores
Apr 30, 2026, 4:47 PM
Pet stores in Colorado will no longer be allowed to sell dogs or cats under a new law signed Wednesday (April 29) by Gov. Jared Polis, capping an eight-year legislative effort to shut down what supporters call the “puppy mill pipeline.”
House Bill 26-1011, officially nicknamed the “Pistol the Pomeranian Protection Act,” prohibits pet stores from selling, leasing or otherwise transferring ownership of dogs and cats. The law also bans brokers — middlemen who resell animals obtained from commercial breeders.
The prohibition takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, according to the bill text on the Colorado General Assembly’s website. Once in force, pet stores may still host animals from adoption or rescue services for display, so long as the stores do not collect a fee and the animals are sterilized.
The law does not ban all animal transfers. Exceptions include:
- Law enforcement animals sold to government agencies
- Guide, signal or service dogs
- Dogs bred or trained for hunting, sold to holders of valid hunting licenses
- Sales by animal shelters and pet rescues
- Sales by original breeders directly to consumers
According to a legislative analysis, seven pet stores in Colorado are currently licensed to sell dogs and cats, with five additional businesses operating as brokers.
Polis also signed a second animal welfare bill Wednesday, HB26-1198, which changes how veterinarians in Colorado handle medications, allowing them to prescribe certain drugs in-house.
