Pawlicy Post – Greyhound bill racing through legislature

The Dumb Friends League is working with animal welfare agencies across the state to help pass Senate Bill 22-167, a bill that clarifies which state agency inspects and regulates greyhound breeding facilities.

The Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) licenses and regulates dog breeders to protect the health and well-being of pets across the state of Colorado. There is an exemption in PACFA for “any kennel operated for the breeding or sale or racing of racing greyhounds that are not intended to be companion pets.”

This exemption was included in PACFA because greyhound breeding was regulated by the Colorado Racing Commission when greyhound racing was legal in Colorado. However, when greyhound racing was banned in 2014, the requirements about who must inspect and regulate greyhound breeders became unclear.

SB 22-167 will repeal the exemption in PACFA for greyhound breeders and require that these breeders be monitored like every other dog breeder and accountable to Colorado’s comprehensive animal welfare standards. 

So far, members of the legislature have been supportive of the legislation. The bill passed out of the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 31-3. The bill will next be heard in the House Agriculture, Livestock and Water committee on Monday, April 18.

For more information, please click here to access the fact sheet for SB 22-167.