We hope this message finds you well.
We are reaching out to you with a heartfelt plea for your support in an urgent matter that deeply affects the lives of our beloved pets and the future of animal welfare in our state.
As animal advocates, we are troubled by the recent legislative developments regarding juvenile spay/neuter requirements in Colorado. The proposed legislation, SB24-045, unfairly targets only state-licensed shelters and rescues, while neglecting to hold state-licensed breeders and puppy mill pet stores to the same standards.
This discriminatory legislation not only threatens the health and well-being of countless animals but also undermines the tireless efforts of shelters and rescues across our state. By mandating juvenile spay/neuter without considering individual health assessments by licensed veterinarians, the proposed law puts vulnerable animals at unnecessary risk.
We refuse to stand idly by while our lawmakers ignore the voices of concerned citizens like you. We need your help to ensure that our elected officials understand the widespread opposition to this misguided legislation. By signing our petition and sharing it with your network, you can make a tangible difference in the fight to protect our pets.
SIGN PETITION HERE!
The cliff's notes of the legislation (SB24-045) is that there's already a law that says all shelters and rescues have to spay/neuter any pets before they go to their prospective homes UNLESS a Colorado Licensed Veterinarian deems that doing so would put their health or life in jeopardy. This legislation removes the word "health" from the language, so now all puppies would have to be fixed before adoption and there would be very few opportunities to save younger puppies since, due to cost difference, we would have to have all of them fixed in their origin states (it's like $75-$150 each in surrounding states, here it's $200-$800 each). So no more saving bottle babies without raising adoption fees or raising money for each of their surgeries.
My own dog has incontinence from being spayed too early, which is why I feel so strongly about this. Another reason is because this bill and the existing regulations do not require breeders who sell dogs, pet stores, etc., to do the same. They are completely unregulated in the spay/neuter category. So this bill is completely discriminatory and treats people who adopt and their pets as second-class citizens whose pets can be made to endure risk of lifelong complications but people who buy from breeders don't have the same rule.
We will be attending the legislative hearing on Monday to present our case, armed with your signatures and unwavering support. Together, we can send a powerful message to our lawmakers that the well-being of our pets is non-negotiable.
Thank you for standing with us in this critical moment. Your compassion and advocacy are invaluable to the rescue animals who depend on us for protection and care.
With deepest gratitude,
Colorado Puppy Rescue
