Resident urges Centennial to study retail puppy sales, citing breeder conditions

During the public-comment portion of the May 6 Centennial City Council meeting, resident Carol Ho urged council to examine the city’s role in allowing retail stores to sell puppies and to consider forming a task force to study breeder conditions.

Carol Ho told the council she lives in District 1 and said her concern is large-scale commercial breeders — often called puppy mills — whose breeding facilities can comply with federal minimum standards yet still keep dogs confined. Ho described the federal Animal Welfare Act (enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture) as setting minimum caging standards and noted the law does not require breeders to provide daily exercise; she urged council to consider whether retail sales enable puppy‑mill supply chains.

Ho noted that neighboring jurisdictions such as Aurora and Littleton have adopted bans on retail sales of puppies, and she suggested Centennial could investigate policy options, including a task force or advisory committee. She added that pet stores can transition to alternative models that source animals from shelters or provide other services.

Her son, Nathan Hill, also addressed council and described concerns about breeding conditions and asked the city to “consider and discuss how our city can make the right choice.” No council action or formal referral was recorded on the item during the meeting; the mayor closed public comment and the council moved on to the consent agenda.