04/21/2026
Good!
Denver has banned the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits in pet stores, redirecting consumers toward shelters and rescue organizations rather than retail animal sales.
Pet stores are still permitted to host adoption events in partnership with rescue groups, maintaining a presence in the market while shifting away from direct commercial sales of animals.
The legislation targets the supply chain connecting large-scale commercial breeding operations to retail stores, a pipeline that animal welfare groups have documented for years as a source of poorly bred, unhealthy animals sold to families who are often unaware of their origins.
Denver joins several other Colorado cities and a growing number of municipalities nationwide that have passed similar ordinances, adding to pressure on state legislatures to address the issue more broadly.
