Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024
2.1. The 12 month-license period commences on
March 1. An application for a renewal of licensure must be received in the
Commissioner's office on or before March 1st the year following the year the
license was issued.
2.2. Any person
seeking a new license or a change or addition of a license category must apply
for the change on a form furnished by the Commissioner. The applicant shall
provide all information requested on the form, including, but not limited to, a
valid mailing address where the applicant may be contacted and a valid premises
address where animals, animal facilities, and records are located. All
premises, facilities, or sites where an applicant operates or keeps animals
must be shown on the application form. The application must be filed with the
Commissioner and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.
2.3. Temporary pet animal facilities must
identify themselves as such on an application for licensure as a pet animal
facility and provide a street address for each place or premises where they
will keep or transfer pet animals.
2.4. Each separate physical facility that
operates a pet care facility must obtain a separate license.
2.5. The Commissioner may issue a license to
any applicant who has met the requirements of PACFA, paid the required annual
license fee, and passed the application inspection or routine inspection,
except as set forth in §
35-80-112 and
112.5, C.R.S., and Part 9. below.
2.5.1 In addition to all other requirements
for licensure, an applicant for a pet animal facility license must successfully
complete the required qualifying education course. Proof of course completion
is required prior to license approval. The required qualifying education course
will be an online, self-paced course designed and provided by the Colorado
Department of Agriculture. The course shall be free, available to applicants
and their staff, and the course may be accessed by contacting the PACFA program
at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The qualifying education course will
cover topics including, but not limited to:
2.5.1.1 The Pet Animal Care and Facilities
Act program overview;
2.5.1.2 Rule
and regulations;
2.5.1.3 Cleaning,
sanitation, veterinary care, animal care; and
2.5.1.4 Importation and
transportation.
2.5.2 The
applicant for a licensed pet animal facility must successfully complete a
continuing education course, at least once during the span of two (2) 12-month
license periods after the first initial license period has expired. Proof of
course completion is required prior to license renewal. The required continuing
education course will be an online, self-paced course designed and provided by
the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The course shall be free, available to
applicants and their staff, and the course may be accessed by contacting the
PACFA program at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The continuing
education course will cover topics including, but not limited to:
2.5.2.1 Changes to PACFA statutes and
rules;
2.5.2.2 Noncompliance trends
by licensees;
2.5.2.3 Good
practices that promote the health and welfare of pet animals; and
2.5.2.4 Other relevant topics related to the
PACFA program.
2.5.3 A
pet animal facility licensed prior to October 30, 2021 is required to take the
qualifying education course to satisfy the continuing education requirement in
Part 2.5.2 by a date prescribed by the Commissioner, but no later than December
31, 2024.
2.6. Any
facility or person who houses or transfers, as set forth below, more animals
than the limits set forth in this Part must have a license to operate a pet
animal care facility. Specific licensing thresholds by species:
2.6.1. The thresholds for small animal and
reptile/amphibian (herptile) breeders are:
2.6.1.1. Rat, mouse, gerbil, and hamster
breeders: produce, house, or transfer more than 200 of any combination of these
small mammals per year.
2.6.1.2.
Rabbit and guinea pig breeders: produce, house, or transfer more than 65 of any
combination of these small mammals per year.
2.6.1.3. Hedgehog, chinchilla, ferret, and
sugar glider breeders: produce, house, or transfer more than 24 of any
combination of these small mammals per year.
2.6.1.4. Snake breeders: produce, house or
transfer more than 400 of any combination of these herptiles per
year.
2.6.1.5. Lizard and gecko
breeders: produce, house or transfer more than 300 of any combination of these
herptiles per year.
2.6.1.6. Turtle
and tortoise breeders: produce, house or transfer more than 200 of any
combination of these herptiles per year.
2.6.1.7. Amphibian breeders: produce, house
or transfer more than 900 of any combination of these herptiles per
year.
2.6.2. The
threshold for shelter of dogs and cats or any combination of these pet animals:
more than 24 transfers per year or more than 15 housed in a central
facility.
2.6.3. The threshold for
shelter or rescue of birds: more than 30 transfers per year or more than 30
housed in a central facility.
2.6.4. The threshold for shelter or rescue of
ferrets, hedgehogs, chinchillas, and sugar gliders or any combination of these
pet animals: more than 24 transfers per year or more than 24 housed in a
central facility.
2.6.5. The
threshold for shelter or rescue of rabbits and guinea pigs or any combination
of these pet animals: more than 65 transfers or more than 65 housed in a
central facility more than of any combination of these pet animals per
year.
2.6.6. The threshold for
shelter or rescue of mice and rats: more than 200 rats, mice or gerbils housed
in a central facility.
2.6.7. The
threshold for shelter of multiple species in aggregate is more than 50% of the
threshold for breeder or shelter definition of 3 or more species housed in a
central facility.
2.7.
Pet animal grooming licensure conditions and exceptions.
2.7.1. Any licensed groomer may groom as an
independent contractor at up to 3 PACFA-licensed grooming facilities with the
same groomer license. On the application for licensure, such groomers shall
identify themselves as such and shall provide a facility name and street
address for each premises at which they groom pet animals. Any groomer who adds
or removes a location or premises from which or at which he or she intends to
groom shall notify the Department of any change within 15 days of such
change.
2.7.2. Persons providing
any of the following services exclusively do not require licensure with PACFA:
dog and cat nail trims, pet animal oral hygiene, pet animal ear cleaning, or
pet animal anal gland expression.
2.8. A retail pet animal dealership may
submit a written request to the commissioner for an exemption to purchase
animals from an unlicensed individual on a wholesale basis. Such exemption
shall be granted at the sole discretion of the commissioner, and must be
obtained before any purchase is made. Each purchase of an animal shall require
a separate exemption. Any such submission must demonstrate adequate provisions
and safeguards to protect the health and safety of the public and the animals
in the facility.
