Littleton bans retail sales of cats and dogs

Littleton has banned the retail sale of dogs and cats, joining a list of other cities across Colorado that have adopted similar measures meant to discourage large-scale breeding facilities that are detrimental to animal welfare.

The new law, passed unanimously by the city council, means that pet stores cannot sell dogs and cats for profit, City Attorney Reid Betzing said. No stores in the city, he added, currently sell dogs or cats for profit.

Individuals can still adopt pets or purchase them directly from breeders who breed pets on their premises, according to the new law.

In Colorado, over a dozen cities and towns have passed similar bans on retail cat and dog sales, including Aurora, Breckenridge, Berthoud, Dillon and Vail, according to tracking by the Best Friends animal welfare group. Seven states have also passed similar bans.

About a dozen people spoke in favor of the ban, telling stories about the mistreatment of animals in puppy mills — which provide dogs to some retail stores — and the health issues that can arise from these facilities. 

“We hear all the sad stories about the cruelty and everything … there (are) ways to stop that,” said Michelle Donelly, a pet supply store manager who lives in Littleton. “If you take away the pet stores, the puppy mills — it’s the underbelly evil — they have no place to go.” 

Puppy mills are facilities where dogs are forced to breed until they are physically incapable, according to the Animal Legal and Historical Center at Michigan State University.

Female dogs may be pregnant or nursing year-round, and dogs generally spend all of their time in cages, according to the center. Such facilities are often unsanitary and proper veterinary care for the dogs may be lacking.

“I do not want pet stores selling puppy mill puppies in my community,” Lauren Rombach said. “This issue resonates with so many people from so many walks of life — we all care about animals. I want the Littleton community to be known as a community that cares.”

Although no one publicly opposed the ban at Littleton’s meeting on the subject, some people advocate against retail sales bans, saying that the laws can harm legitimate businesses and ethical breeders. In 2023, the City of Durango rejected a ban on retail pet sales, citing these reasons, as reported by the Durango Herald.

Betzing said the idea of prohibiting these sales was brought to the city’s attention by citizens.

At first, the city did not make the ordinance a priority, but in late 2022, a retail pet sale business started exploring the idea of opening in Littleton at 2897 W. Belleview Avenue, near the Subway store, he said. It received a business license from the city and was planning to open in 2023, but never did, Betzing said. 

He said he does not know why the business decided not to open.

Despite the business no longer pursuing a location in Littleton, the city decided to take the opportunity to assess its laws on the matter, Betzing said.

RELATED ARTICLES