Colorado Reignites Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering Debate

March 23, 2021 by Sara Wilkerson
Colorado Reignites Socially Conscious Animal Sheltering Debate

DENVER – A bill that would establish standards of care for every dog and cat housed in an animal shelter or rescue facility in the state passed a crucial test in the Colorado legislature this week.

HB1160, known as the Colorado Socially Conscious Sheltering Act, passed the House Agriculture, Livestock and Water Committee by a bipartisan vote of 10-1. 

The bill will now move on to the House floor.

Prior to the committee vote, State Rep. Monica Duran, one of the primary sponsors of the legislation, hosted a press conference to talk about it.

“I’m really excited to be carrying this bill,” Duran said. “I think it … sets the floor as to how we can best serve our cats and dogs and animals in rescues. 

“It starts out with making sure we’re taking care of their medical needs, behavioral needs, making sure we’re getting them in the best possible place to be able to find their forever homes.” 

Duran, a Democrat, said Colorado has always been a leader in animal welfare and said if passed by the full legislature, HB1160 would make Colorado the first state in the country to adopt such progressive sheltering principles.

Joining Duran were representatives from multiple animal welfare groups, including Dumb Friends League, one of the largest animal shelters in Colorado.

In a statement to The Well News, the Dumb Friends League said that the nonprofit organization is excited to support HB1160 and that the legislation, “will lead the nation in creating the best, safest and most humane outcomes for animals across Colorado.” 

According to the text of the bill, animal shelters would be required to provide veterinary and behavioral care for all healthy and safe cats and dogs in their custody in order to, “address and prevent unnecessary or unjustifiable pain and suffering.” 

Additionally, the bill requires animal shelters to release animals in their custody only if they meet certain criteria — if an animal is being adopted, or returned to their owner, or if they are being transferred to another animal shelter.

But the bill also has some very vocal opponents.

In a statement on their website, No Kill Colorado, a nonprofit organization, expressed concerns about the “unintended consequences” of HB1160.

“First, we don’t know what the purpose, or result, of passing the first part of the bill would be,” stated the organization. “Currently, the major passage to the bill pertains to adopting out ‘healthy, safe and social cats and dogs.’ This is not an issue in Colorado.” 

The statement went on to say, “If we are passing a bill that is to increase the lives we save in Colorado, we think we should be looking at how to save marginalized homeless pets, not the ones we are already saving (Healthy and Safe).

“We believe the bill codified that marginalized homeless pets’ lives are forfeit if a shelter deems them unhealthy, reactive, or cats living in colonies without a traditional home.” 

A+
a-
  • Animal Rights
  • Colorado
  • Colorado House
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    In The States

    December 4, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Oil and Gas Lease Sale in Oklahoma and New Mexico Nets More Than $22M

    SANTA FE, N.M. — The Bureau of Land Management announced a competitive oil and gas lease sale offering nine parcels... Read More

    SANTA FE, N.M. — The Bureau of Land Management announced a competitive oil and gas lease sale offering nine parcels in Oklahoma and New Mexico brought in $22,530,735. The sale, conducted on Nov. 30, covered a total of 553.59 acres. The environmental assessment, maps, parcel lists,... Read More

    December 4, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Former Ohio Utilities Chairman Indicted in Bribery Scandal

    CINCINNATI — A federal grand jury has charged the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio with taking... Read More

    CINCINNATI — A federal grand jury has charged the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio with taking $4.3 million in bribes from one of the nation's largest investor-owned utility companies. Sam Randazzo surrendered at the federal court in Cincinnati on Monday after being... Read More

    December 1, 2023
    by Tom Ramstack
    Inspector General Investigates Reports of Bias in New FBI Headquarters Choice

    WASHINGTON — A federal inspector general’s investigation is checking out reports that conflicts of interest might have influenced the choice... Read More

    WASHINGTON — A federal inspector general’s investigation is checking out reports that conflicts of interest might have influenced the choice last month of Greenbelt, Maryland, for the new FBI headquarters. Until the General Services Administration announced the 61-acre Greenbelt site on Nov. 8, a second site... Read More

    November 30, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    New York Appellate Court Reinstates Trump Gag Orders

    NEW YORK — A New York appeals court panel on Thursday reinstated a pair of gag orders issued in Donald... Read More

    NEW YORK — A New York appeals court panel on Thursday reinstated a pair of gag orders issued in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial that barred the former president from speaking publicly about the judge’s court staff. The two-page decision by the New York State Supreme... Read More

    November 28, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Maryland Expands Access to Contraceptive Care

    ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The state of Maryland has entered into a four-year partnership with a Boston, Massachusetts-based nonprofit to eliminate... Read More

    ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The state of Maryland has entered into a four-year partnership with a Boston, Massachusetts-based nonprofit to eliminate barriers to contraceptive care. In an announcement on Tuesday, Gov. Wes Moore said the cooperative agreements between the Maryland Department of Health and Upstream USA will... Read More

    Mayo Clinic Announces $5B Expansion of Minnesota Campus

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Mayo Clinic announced a $5 billion expansion plan for its flagship campus Tuesday that includes new... Read More

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Mayo Clinic announced a $5 billion expansion plan for its flagship campus Tuesday that includes new buildings designed so they can evolve and expand as patient needs change over the coming decades. The project is part of a Mayo strategy to transform... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top