Code of Colorado Regulations
1200 - Department of Agriculture
1202 - Inspection and Consumer Services Division
8 CCR 1202-15 - RULES PERTAINING TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE PET ANIMAL CARE AND FACILITIES ACT
Part 18 - Special Requirements

Universal Citation: 1200 CO Code Regs 18

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024

18.1. Pet animals must be groomed to prevent matted hair, overgrown nails, and overgrown beaks and so that they have freedom of movement and so that they may perform normal bodily functions and so that the health and welfare of the animal is protected.

18.2. Reasonable care must be taken to transfer only those pet animals that are free from undisclosed disease, injury, or abnormality.

18.3. Any pet animal, excluding reptiles, fish, and rodents, transferred into a PACFA-licensed facility from outside Colorado must be accompanied by a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued by an accredited veterinarian within the state of origin and within 10 days prior to the animal's arrival in Colorado. Facilities must meet all import requirements as determined by the Colorado state veterinarian.

18.4. It is unlawful to sell, transfer, or adopt dogs or cats under the age of eight weeks.

18.5. The acceptance by a licensed pet animal shelter or rescue or exchange between licensed pet animal shelters or rescues of underage animals that have been abandoned or relinquished shall not constitute a transfer for the purposes of § 35-80-108, C.R.S. In such acceptance or exchange, the underage animals shall be kept with the dam, whenever possible.

18.6. A facility may not sell, transfer, or adopt cats less than two pounds of body weight unless written documentation is provided by the facility's veterinarian stating that the cat has been examined and is of sufficient physical development and general health to be safely transferred or that the cat is greater than 12 weeks of age.

18.7. A facility may not sell, transfer, or adopt guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, or any other pet animal species as may be specified by the Commissioner, under the age of four weeks. This does not include birds.

18.8. No person or entity may sell, barter, exchange, or otherwise transfer, import or cause to be imported into this state any type of turtle with a straight carapace length of less than four inches.

18.9. Tethering of pet animals is prohibited except for dogs and cats for grooming and for dogs when cleaning their enclosures.

18.9.1. Tethering must be done in a manner that prevents the tethered animal from entanglement with other pet animals or other objects.

18.9.2. Dogs or cats tethered on a raised surface must have constant direct human supervision.

18.9.3. Tethers must be attached to the animal by means of a well-fitted and non-tightening collar or loop with a swivel on the collar or non-tightening loop.

18.10. Untethered dogs or cats groomed on a raised surface must have constant and direct human supervision.

18.11. The use of dog houses with chains (tethering) as an enclosure is prohibited.

18.12. Facilities that breed, train, or house Alaskan dog breeds or Alaskan breed crosses, specifically for the purpose of pulling dog sleds, and that have no current disciplinary matters pending before the Commissioner, may submit a written request to the Commissioner for a waiver from the prohibition against dog houses with chains (tethering) as an enclosure.

18.12.1. Any request for waiver of the prohibition must be accompanied by a written plan for training and conditioning of the dogs for a license year, which plan will be in place for each successive year. The plan must be signed by the facility owner and the consulting veterinarian and compliance with the plan must be documented.

18.12.2. If dog houses with chains are used as an enclosure, the facility must keep a record monthly of the training and conditioning of each dog, showing the number of months per year the dogs are used for pulling sleds, number of days per week spent pulling sleds, and average amount of time dogs spend pulling sleds.

18.12.3. The facility must also record the number of months of the year the dogs are not used for pulling sleds, the number of days per week dogs are trained or conditioned off the tether when they are not pulling sleds, and for how much time each day the dogs are trained or conditioned during this time.

18.12.4. The licensee must document in writing, and keep on file while the dog is in the facility, evidence of the exercise of these dogs.

18.12.5. No female dogs in whelp or with puppies may be tethered.

18.12.6. If dog houses with chains are used as enclosures for dogs kept outdoors, the chains used must be so placed or attached that they cannot become entangled with the chains of other dogs or any other objects. Such chains must be a minimum of 6 feet long and of a type commonly used for the size of dog involved and must be attached to the dog by means of a well-fitted, non-tightening collar or harness. All tethering chains must have a swivel.

18.12.7. If tethering is used, a fence perimeter must surround the entire tethering area to protect the tethered dogs from predators, stray animals, and humans.

18.13. Whelping area

18.13.1. A whelping area containing a whelping box with a solid floor is required for cats and dogs in whelp.

18.13.2. The whelping box must allow the dam to lie stretched out on her side, permitting all puppies or kittens to nurse, and must be large enough to accommodate the puppies or kittens until weaned.

18.13.3. The whelping area must be large enough to allow the dam to leave the whelping box.

18.13.4. Nursery enclosures with wire flooring must have a solid resting surface large enough to accommodate all dogs housed in the enclosure simultaneously.

18.14. Dryers that produce heat must be equipped with a timer that will automatically shut the dryer off after 30 minutes unless the dryer is used as a hand-held dryer or is a dryer directly attended by a person.

18.15. Dryers with heating elements may not cover more than 20% of the total open area of the cage surface.

18.16. Pet animals must be bathed in water at a temperature appropriate to the species/breed, age, and condition of the animal.

18.17. Each breeding dog or cat must be individually identified by collars, microchips, or tattoos. The Commissioner may approve alternate methods of identification upon written request.

18.18. In animal shelters each animal must be identifiable through cage/run cards, identifying collars, leg bands, or alternate methods of identification approved by the Commissioner.

18.19. Behavioral control devices may be used for the safety of pet animals and handlers. Behavioral control devices must be humane and used humanely per the manufacturer's intended use. All self-tightening collars, pinch collars, muzzles or choke chains may be used when dogs are directly attended and otherwise must be removed.

18.20. Battery operated or electrical behavioral control devices, such as shock collars, shock prods, or electrical fences, as well as pinch-collars and choke collars, may be used only with the written consent of the owner.

18.21. Pools

18.21.1. Whenever water in a pool is deeper than the height at the shoulder of the shortest dog in the pool area, an ingress-egress area shall be provided.

18.21.2. No dog may have access to the pool or pool area without constant and direct supervision. Facilities may submit written request to the Commissioner for an exemption from this requirement if the facility has no disciplinary matters pending. Any such submission must demonstrate provisions for the safety and well-being of dogs in the care of the facility if such submission were to be granted.

18.21.3. Facilities must be constructed, maintained, and managed to protect animals from illness, injury, and death resulting from access to pools or pool areas.

18.21.4. Pools with a capacity of less than 100 gallons must have the water changed and be cleaned and sanitized daily.

18.22. Animal rescue facilities shall use a system of fostering in private homes or keeping pet animals in licensed pet animal facilities. No more than eight dogs or cats may be housed in any foster home at any time. A female dog with puppies under 8 weeks of age or a queen with kittens under 8 weeks of age will be considered one adult. Facilities may submit a written request to the commissioner for an exemption from this requirement. Such an exemption shall be granted at the commissioner's sole discretion and only upon a finding that the rescue facility has demonstrated adequate provisions and safeguards that ensure the safety and well-being of the animals in the care of the foster provider.

18.23. In the event a public shelter is unable to comply with any of the facility standards due to lack of funding, the public animal shelter must inform the Commissioner in writing, and the facility may request a waiver of the particular requirement with which it is unable to comply.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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