Pet Advocacy Network Condemns Denver’s “Pet Prohibition”

Decision to ban live animal sales hurts responsible pet stores and pushes sales underground

ALEXANDRIA, Va. –– Today, the Pet Advocacy Network (PAN) slammed Denver’s new ban on the sale of cats and dogs, adopted by the City Council on Monday. 

While there are no retail stores in Denver that currently sell puppies and kittens, supporters of the misguided law pitched the measure as a “proactive step” that they falsely claim will crack down on animal cruelty. 

“This pet sale ban is a PR stunt driven by ideology, not evidence,” said Sandy Moore, CEO of the Pet Advocacy Network. “The facts are clear: Sweeping pet sale bans fuel underground pet trafficking schemes that hurt pets and consumers.” 

“Instead of listening to radical animal rights activists, Denver policymakers should have consulted real experts—including veterinarians, animal scientists, small business owners, and more—who support responsible pet stores and their contributions to our communities,” added Moore.

A Los Angeles Times investigation found that the state’s 2019 ban on the retail sale of dogs and cats led to a surge in underground markets run by unlicensed and even criminal operators, where “a network of resellers—including ex-cons and schemers—replaced pet stores as middlemen.”