The lighter side of the Colorado state Capitol and despite a divisive six days, there were things to smile and even laugh about during the special session.

The dog caucus is growing, but it might be a bit elitist

The Colorado Capitol Dogs Caucus now has its own Facebook page, and its membership is changing.

The co-chairs are Peaches, the Shih-Tzu owned by Rep. Dusty Johnson, and Pippin, the golden retriever owned by Rep. Karen McCormick.

House Majority Leader Monica Duran’s dog, Pistol, is now a member.

Qualifications for membership include actually being at the Capitol, not just sitting at home. Pistol’s debut during this week’s special session made membership possible.

Duran has carried legislation to strengthen laws dealing with abuse or injuries to law enforcement dogs. Her co-sponsor on those bills, now-former Rep. Ryan Armagost, frequently brought his rescue dogs to the Capitol but his resignation means the caucus got a little smaller this week.

And speaking of law enforcement dogs, check out the “baseball” card for State Patrol Dog Gunner:

As it turns out, membership in the “official” dog caucus is limited to lawmakers.

To Gia (Gov. Polis’ dog): don’t take it personally.

The word “fuzzy” doesn’t appear in state law, but it almost did this week

The highlight of Saturday’s debate on Senate Bill 8, to take general fund money from the wolf program and divert it to cover health insurance premium subsidies, was likely the comments by Rep. Ken DeGraaf, who offered an amendment to put the wolves, which he referred to initially as “fuzzy hell-hounds,” in a sanctuary.

“It’s like creating Jurassic Park out there, and everybody knows how every.single.episode of Jurassic Park ends,” he said. For some reason, he continued, the governor went out to get a discount at “Wolves R Us,” and they were running a special on the cattle-killing ones, a reference to the Oregon wolves that had a history of depredation and were brought to Colorado anyway.

The area he identified for the sanctuary was the city of Boulder, whose residents voted overwhelmingly in 2020 in favor of putting wolves on the Western Slope.

“There’s plenty of chihuahuas out there,” DeGraaf said in defending the location. That would allow the governor and his husband (an animal rights activist) to enjoy the “hellhounds,” he said. “Who enjoys wolves more than the people of Boulder?” he asked.

This would allow the urbanites with the greatest love of wolves, and the governor, to enjoy the wolves, he said.

Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, asked for a “no” vote that suspiciously began with a partial “yes.”

That amendment failed, but DeGraaf was undeterred. He tried again on the final report of the evening, which drew from House Speaker Julie McCluskie that it was the first time the word “fuzzy” would appear in state law.

One person who heard DeGraaf’s comments thought he said “furry” instead of “fuzzy.” Now that would have been weird!

Someone’s got Saturday Night Fever

That might be Loren Furman, the CEO of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce.

While lawmakers were battling through bills during the special session’s Saturday night, Furman was dancing the night away.

It was for the “Dancing with the Denver Stars” gala fundraiser hosted by the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company.

Furman and her partner, DJ Jefferson, boogied to The Emotions “Best of My Love.” There’s a video….

The gala also featured moves by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver City Councilman Darrell Watson.