During a recent city council meeting, Dustin Hayworth, owner of Pet City in Colorado Springs, urged council members to reconsider Ordinance 123, which seeks to regulate retail pet stores in Fort Collins. Hayworth, who is also a member of the PACPA advisory board, argued that the ordinance would undermine the most transparent and regulated segment of the pet trade by potentially driving customers to unlicensed breeders or online sources.

Hayworth emphasized that retail pet stores are currently the only entities required to disclose the origins of puppies before sale, a practice he believes ensures higher standards of animal welfare. He expressed concern that the ordinance could lead to increased risks of disease transmission, citing a recent rabies outbreak in the Denver area as an example of the dangers associated with unregulated sources.

He called for the council to create an exemption for existing pet stores, suggesting that local businesses could work with the city to enhance standards for both stores and breeders. Hayworth's comments highlight the ongoing debate over pet trade regulations and the balance between consumer protection and animal welfare in Fort Collins.