Colorado considers honor for shelter dogs, cats

DENVER (AP) — A bill to make shelter animals the official state pet faces a hearing Monday in a House committee.

The bill brought smiles to Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, especially when backers brought four-legged lobbyists to promote the measure.

The pet designation comes because Colorado already has an official animal, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Colorado also has a state bird, the lark bunting, and an official fish, the green cutthroat trout.

Some senators complained that the designation is a distraction from more important matters facing Colorado, but sponsors pointed out that the measure was proposed by schoolchildren and sends a positive message about caring for animals.