New Colorado bill would mandate annual veterinary examinations for breeding dogs

Denver

- A Colorado bill introduced on Jan. 21 would limit the number of dogs owned by commercial breeders and mandate veterinary certification exams for those dogs that are bred commercially.

Introduced by Beth McCann (D-Denver), House Bill 09-1172 allows breeders to own 25 unsterilized dogs over 6 months of age.

The bill calls for annual certification by a licensed veterinarian to ensure the animal is "suitably healthy for breeding before the dog may be bred."

Rules regarding veterinary certification would be created by the state's agriculture commissioner, the legislation says.

The Humane Society of the United States is supporting the measure along with the American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A similar bill was introduced Jan. 13 in Illinois, but would not require annual certifications from veterinarians, only examinations of unsterilized animals once per year or at each pregnancy.

House Bill 198, introduced by Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), does, however require annual unannounced home inspections for breeders. Breeders are defined in the bill as anyone owning more than three females and selling their offspring. Breeders would be limited to owning 20 unsterilized dogs over a year old, and subjected to fingerprinting and criminal background checks, rigid new facility requirements, breeding age limits and they would have to file detailed annual reports with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.