Puppies for Sale in Colorado, CO

Colorado, like the land itself, has a lot of highs and lows when it comes to dog-friendliness. 

Two very different studies on pet safety

Pawsafe surprisingly ranks the state as the 8th least pet-friendly in the country. The study evaluates several factors, including animal cruelty laws, pet-friendly accommodations, and the number of dog parks and hiking trails. While this ranking is low, there are few areas where the state excels. Pawsafe ranked Colorado 3rd for animal welfare laws and 4th for available pet services.

Safewise conducted a similar study and came to a much different conclusion. In their analysis, they found Colorado to be the 14th most pet-friendly state. Safewise notes that only 25% of rentals in Colorado are pet-friendly, which may be why Pawsafe ranked Colorado so low.

Are cities in Colorado pet-friendly? 

A WalletHub study ranked the nation’s 100 largest cities for their performance with pet-friendly criteria. In their study, two Colorado cities were among the top 20 pet-friendly cities!

Denver

The highest-ranking city was Denver, which ranked 16th. This ranking is driven by a 7th position for pet health and wellness. 

SmartAsset has a similar study in which they rank the largest cities by pet-friendliness. They ranked Denver 10th for pet-friendliness. Their study found the city to have 250 dog-friendly shopping centers, among the highest in the country.

A Trust for Public Land (TPL) study shows that Denver has the 24th highest number of dog parks per capita, with 1.8 dog parks per 100,000 residents. 

The city of Aurora, right next to Denver, has the 45th most dog parks per capita, with 1.1 per 100,000 residents.

Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs ranked 18th overall in the WalletHub study. The city scored well for pet budget and outdoor pet-friendliness.

Colorado Springs also has a high number of parks per resident. The study found Colorado Springs to be right behind Denver with 1.7 per resident.

A few more pet-friendly statistics for Colorado

Only 27% of Colorado residents own a dog. This is far below the national average of 40%. The 47% overall pet ownership rate is also well below the national average.

According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the most popular dogs in Colorado are German Shepherds, Goldens, and Labrador Retrievers. These are loyal, energetic working dogs, great for farming, outdoor activities, and family life.

Animal welfare & dog shelters in Colorado

Colorado is one of the best states for animal welfare. The state saved 81,044 dogs and cats during 2020. Out of 74 animal shelters, 66 have a no-kill policy. The overall save rate for the state is 89%, one of the highest in the country. Good job, Colorado!