In a preemptive move leading the way toward a more humane Colorado, an ordinance proposed by Harley’s Dream, which bans the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores, was unanimously passed by the Berthoud Board of Trustees last week.
Berthoud, Colorado, joins more than 300 jurisdictions across the country which have passed ordinances or laws that restrict the retail sale of dogs and cats. A majority of puppies sold in pet stores are born in commercial breeding facilities, also known as puppy mills. These breeding factories are commonly overcrowded, unsanitary and inhumane. Puppies and kittens born in these conditions do not receive adequate veterinary care, exercise, socialization or human contact.
This is a huge step forward for animal welfare in Colorado. Harley’s Dream wishes to thank Mayor William Karspeck for championing this measure, and the members of the Berthoud Town Board for their swift action to ensure that Berthoud will lead the way in Colorado to establishing and always remaining a humane community.
“Our hope is that Berthoud can be a model for other jurisdictions, that they will take the same action, eventually leading toward a state-wide law prohibiting puppies and kittens from being sold in pet stores. We want to stop the puppy mill pipeline into Colorado,” said Rudi Taylor, co-founder of Harley’s Dream.
