Colorado § 35-80-108.5 - Pet stores - brokers - exceptions - short title.

§ 35-80-108.5. Pet stores - brokers - exceptions - short title.

(1) The short title of this section is the "Pistol the Pomeranian Protection Act".

(2) (a) On and after January 1, 2028, a pet store shall not sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat.

(b) Nothing in this section prohibits a pet store from providing space for the display of dogs or cats available for adoption if:

(I) The dogs or cats are displayed by a licensed animal shelter or pet animal rescue;

(II) The pet store does not receive a fee in connection with the display of the dogs or cats; and

(III) Any dog or cat displayed for adoption is sterilized in accordance with applicable state and local regulations.

(3) Nothing in this section precludes a statutory or home rule town, city, county, or city and county from enacting laws more stringent than the requirements of this section.

(4) (a) A broker shall not sell, lease, offer to sell or lease, barter, auction, or otherwise transfer ownership of a dog or cat.

(b) Subsection (4)(a) of this section does not apply to:

(I) The sale, transfer, or adoption of an animal, including a law enforcement animal, to a governmental agency;

(II) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a guide, signal, or service dog;

(III) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by an animal shelter or pet animal rescue;

(IV) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog bred or trained for lawful hunting to or by an individual who possesses a current hunting license in good standing issued by the division of parks and wildlife pursuant to article 4 of title 33;

(V) The sale or transfer of a dog or cat by the original breeder of the dog or cat;

(VI) The sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat by a health-related research facility pursuant to section 35-82-102; or

(VII) Prior to January 1, 2028, the sale, transfer, or adoption of a dog or cat to or by a pet store.

Source: L. 2021: Entire section added, (HB 21-1102), ch. 82, p. 312, § 2, effective September 7. L. 2026: Entire section amended, (HB 26-1011), ch. 78, p. 314, § 3, effective April 29; (4)(b)(V) and (4)(b)(VI) amended and (4)(b)(VII) added, (HB 26-1183), ch. 203, p. 1157, § 9, effective August 12.

Editor's note: Section 15(2) of chapter 203 (HB 26-1183), Session Laws of Colorado 2026, provides that the act changing this section takes effect only if HB 26-1011 becomes law. HB 26-1011 became law and took effect April 29, 2026.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 26-1011, see section 1 of chapter 78, Session Laws of Colorado 2026.