8 CCR 1202-15 Part 18 - Special Requirements
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 ยง
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.
Notes
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