We're here at the Colorado Capitol, where it's an unwritten rule that you're allowed to bring dogs into the building if you're a staff member, legislator, or have a special security badge like I do.

And were going to meet some of the dogs that belong to Colorado state lawmakers.

Alright, Ruthie, lets go!

Let's go check them out.

Oh my goodness.

There's your girlfriend.

Who's your girlfriend?

She's so pretty.

So you're a former vet.

Do you still practice?

I have an active veterinary license.

I'm not practicing.

-Okay.

-But Im still an official licensed veterinarian, yes.

I didn't run for office to do veterinary related things, but I find myself in a very unique position down here advocating for animal health and welfare, from medical professional point of view.

And I look to him as, you know, what would be best for him?

What would be the best outcome for him and all the other cats and dogs that are out there?

Ruthie had to go.

So were going to go ahead and do the rest of the tour without her.

Hey, what's up?

Hey, Governor.

You look very like Dr. Evil-ish.

She's been with me during my ten years in Congress and over six years as governor.

I mean, I remember she joined me at Camp Hale.

Camp Hale.

In fact, the photo that ran in, what is this, The Denver Post, it shows my legs, Michael Bennet's legs, John Hickenlooper's legs, and I think some secretary of something.

And it says “Governor Jared Polis dog, Gia, sits as the future of Camp Hale is discussed.

She's often watching from her high seat.

She has this thing, she likes to be up on a chair like in charge, watching the room.

Okay, so yeah, so its almost like Peaches office too.

If you want to see her little corner, she has all her toys.

She has her little kennel section that has her bed.

Peaches!

Whats up, dude?

I got her for emotional support when I was going through chemo.

It's hard when you're on some of the medications and your body's fluctuating.

So that was really hard to navigate, especially as we got to the later ends of it, and my kidney and liver started to fail.

I was a mess, anybody would be.

Now I can regulate and take care of her like I'm her emotional support now.

You guys give each other support.

We do.

So George, the husky, is four years old.

Seamus is seven and Tyson is eight.

I was on the K9 team at Larimer County Sheriff's Office for about eight years.

I do have a lot of good legislation.

One I have this year that's animal-related is for banning public sale of companion animals in public spaces.

This has contributed to the puppy mill situation where people are constantly breeding and in-breeding dogs and animals.

When we have shelters and everything that are already overwhelmed, I think it's a better option to go to your shelter to find a dog.

I see Queso through the door.

We think he's about ten.

He was found on the street near Colfax in Colorado by one of my friends.

And my daughter, who was about three or four at the time, said, “Why does he smell so bad?” Cause he was still a street dog.

Shes like, “He smells like dirty cheese.” And so that's why his name's Queso.

-Very cool Sometimes we take public transit to get down here.

And so this is his bag that he rides in on the bus or the light rail.

And so he just, and then when we get off the bus and light rail and we scoot when it's warm, he just sits in his bag and we scoot around the city.