Woman defends right to pink poodle

BOULDER, Colo., March 11 (UPI) -- A Colorado woman says she broke no laws, or even Boulder city ordinances, when she colored her poodle pink.

Joy Douglas, owner of Zing Salon in Boulder, faces a fine of up to $1,000 a day for dying her pet, Cici. A hearing in municipal court Tuesday was postponed when Douglas said she has hired an attorney.

Douglas ran afoul of an ordinance that specifically prohibits dying "fowl or rabbits or any other animals."

"No person shall dye or color live fowl, rabbits or any other animals or have in possession, display, sell or give away such dyed or colored animals," the ordinance reads.

Douglas said Cici gets only natural coloring -- beet juice and occasionally pink Kool-Aid.

"Cici will be pink until they kick us out of the city of Boulder," Douglas told reporters.

She said one reason she dyes her dog is to raise awareness about breast cancer.