A team of wildlife activists has been successful in getting Colorado
House Bill #1135 submitted in regard to "Authorizing Wildlife
Sanctuaries." The sponsor of the bill is Paul Weissmann, a Democrat from District 12, Louisville, Colorado. The bill will allow for the formation of non-profit wildlife sanctuaries to exist in Colorado for the purpose of providing care for abused, neglected, unwanted, impounded, abandoned, orphaned, or displaced wildlife for their lifetime. The sanctuaries will not be allowed to use the animals for entertainment, sell, trade, barter the animal or the animal's body or body parts, or breed.

This legislation is vitally important because, without it, only commercial wildlife parks are authorized to operate in Colorado. Commercial wildlife parks are by definition those that make a financial profit from wildlife. They do this in a variety of ways, such as breeding, trading, selling, providing canned hunts, or using the animals for commercial purposes. However, simply providing a place of refuge for wildlife, without a profit motive, currently is not permitted. While the commercial wildife parks may take in abused, neglected, unwanted, impounded, abandoned, orphaned, or displaced wildlife, depending on the purpose of the park, that wildlife can be bred, hunted, or otherwise used commercially. There has to be an alternative where captive wildlife simply may live without exploitation, and House Bill #1135 provides that alternative.
 
We ask that you support this Bill #1135 by contacting your state
representative and voicing your support.