City Council voted to end retail sales of dogs and cats in Fort Collins on Tuesday.
And they took it a step further by adding a ban on sales in any public place, like a parking lot or roadside.
Five of seven council members were present Tuesday, and all of them voted in favor of the ordinance. Mayor Jeni Arndt was absent, along with council member Melanie Potyondy, who requested city staff bring the ordinance before them last month.
Local animal activists have been lobbying council for an ordinance for about a year, saying there’s a puppy-mill-to-pet-store pipeline.
The owners of Fort Collins’ only store that sells cats and dogs, Pet City, said they are selective about which breeders they work with and the pet store exceeds Colorado standards.
Behind this issue: Fort Collins takes aim at puppy mills with potential sales ban. Pet City says it’s misguided
In January, during City Council’s priority-setting sessions for the term, council members considered making animal welfare a priority, with a specific task of considering a pet sales ban. Ultimately they decided not to make it a priority but to consider adding it to future business for the council.