Imagine you’ve just adopted the cutest puppy ever. He’s happy, playful and the perfect addition to your family. You are in love, your kids are in love and your heart sings at the thought of your puppy and your kids growing up together. Then, out of nowhere, your puppy gets sick, really sick and dies. It’s horrible, it’s heartbreaking and it happens all too often in Colorado, largely due to sick animals being imported from other states and not being properly vetted prior to adoption. From 2017 to 2020, Colorado’s rescues and shelters imported more than 136,000 dogs and puppies from other states, which in and of itself is a positive thing. Colorado’s spay/neuter programs have been highly successful in reducing the homeless pet population in our state, but many surrounding states have no such programs and the number of unwanted dogs in those states is astounding. As a dog-loving state, the demand for our furry friends is greater than the supply, so it’s a win-win – pet overpopulation in other states is reduced and more dogs are available for adoption by loving Coloradans.

While shelters have a rigid protocol for vetting and evaluating animals’ suitability for adoption, many Colorado rescues do not. In fact, some rescues arrange for adoptions right off the transport van and never even lay eyes on the dog. Colorado has some of the best pet regulations in the country, and still, knowingly or unknowingly, rescue organizations are adopting out very sick dogs and puppies and putting other animals and people at risk.

Watch the story from CBS4 here…