COLORADO S PET ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES PROGRAM. Protecting the Health and Welfare of Pet Animals

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "COLORADO S PET ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES PROGRAM. Protecting the Health and Welfare of Pet Animals"

Naomi Clarke
5 years ago
Views:

1 COLORADO S PET ANIMAL CARE FACILITIES PROGRAM Protecting the Health and Welfare of Pet Animals

2 The PACFA Statute PACFA, Title 35 Article thru-117 Gives Authority to the Commissioner of Agriculture License Pet Animal Care Facilities Regulate Pet Animal Care Facilities Administer the PACFA Licensing and Enforcement Program Promulgate Rules to Enforce the Statute Appoint a PACFA Advisory Committee of 17 members Created Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund (CPOF)

3 Pet Animal Definition (10) Pet Animal means dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, ferrets, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates, or any other species of wild or domestic or hybrid animal sold, transferred, or retained for the purpose of being kept as a household pet, except livestock, as defined in subsection (9) of this section. Pet Animal does not include an animal that is used for working purposes on a farm or ranch Livestock, wildlife, veterinary hospitals (no PACFA activities), research facilities, greyhound kennels, private and public zoos, commercial wildlife parks and petting zoos are not regulated by PACFA

4 PACFA License Detail License Category Number of Facilities Pet Grooming = 1052 Boarding/Training = 535 Dog Breeder = 163 Animal Shelter = 151 Retail/Wholesale = 148 Animal Rescue = 119 Retail Aquarium = 62 Pet Handler = 24 Small Animal Breeder = 18 Bird Breeder = 15 Cat Breeder = 11

5 PACFA Program Specs Total Licensed Facilities = 1,875 + Total Business Activities = 2,250 PACFA Program Staff 1 PACFA Program Administrator 1 Lead PACFA Inspector 4 FTE PACFA Inspectors 1 Administrative Assistant

6 PACFA Inspector Territories

7 Current PACFA Rule Effective July 2014 Highlights Based on Common Standards for All Facilities Based on Pet Animal Species Veterinary Agreement Required All Facilities More Stringent Written Disclosures and Recordkeeping Medical Treatments Given Acquisition, Treatment and Disposition Records Educational Documents Rabies and Salmonella

8 PACFA Rule Change Proposed Changes Effective July Proposed Changes Enhanced Definitions Adding New License Categories Pet Transporter Reptile/Amphibian Breeder Redefining Threshold for Failed Inspections Clarifying Cleaning and Sanitation Redefining Enclosure vs. Common Area for Commingling Requiring Written Foster Agreements for Shelters and Rescues Requiring Recording Weight on Kittens under 12 weeks Allow for microchips and photo ID for psittacine birds Allow facilities to use their forms for zoonosis disclosure documents

9 PACFA Enforcement Process Voluntary Compliance = 20 Days to Correct Violations 4 Failed Inspections in 12 months = License Denial and/or Revocation Civil Fines (Fining Authority up to $1,000 per Violation) Repeat Direct or Indirect Violations Direct Violations = Animal Safety and/or Welfare Cease and Desist Order 24 Hours to Comply Criminal Penalties for Unlicensed Operators $1000 Fine and/or 12 Months in Jail Civil Suit Temp Restraining Order or Permanent Injunction

Working Relationships with Animal Law Enforcement Support with PACFA issues and joint complaint investigations Better

10 PACFA Program Goals Routine Inspection of All Facilities Annually Non Emergency Complaints Investigated in 5 Days Closed within 2 weeks Emergency Complaints Animal safety or welfare - Investigated within 24 hours Closed within 2 weeks Better Working Relationships with Animal Law Enforcement Support with PACFA issues and joint complaint investigations Better Working Relationships with City and County Planning and Zoning Departments- Special Use & Conditional Use Permit Requirements

11 2015- PACFA Inspection Statistics Inspection Results Total Number Completed Inspections= 1812 Compliant = 706 Non Compliant = 625 Compliant Corrected = 391 Failed Inspections = 90 Failure Percentage = 5%

12 2015- PACFA Inspection Statistics Incident Results Total Number Opened = 251 Closed = 240 Close Rate = 96%

13 Current Issues For Consumers Retail Rescue Pets imported from South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah PACFA Stats 2013 over 17,000 pets imported 2014 over 24,000 pets imported 2015 over 30,000 pets imported Currently pet transporters are unregulated in Colorado Why is it a problem? Distemper, Parvo, Heartworm, Mange & Other Diseases/Parasites Lack of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVI s) Business Model for Rescue Groups Difficult to Maintain Pet Flippers No Support for Adopters Buyer Beware Adoption Environment

14 Thank You! Nick Fisher PACFA Program Administrator For more information go to:

LEGISLATURE

00 00 LEGISLATURE 00 AN ACT to amend 0. () (j); and to create. and. () (a). of the statutes; relating to: regulation of persons who sell dogs or operate animal shelters or animal control facilities, granting