We are the only licensed cocker spaniel rescue in Colorado, but what does "licensed" actually mean?
Colorado's Dept of Agriculture enforces the provisions of the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, ("PACFA"). Any person or agency operating a pet animal facility or business in Colorado that engages in selling, transferring, adopting, breeding, boarding, training, grooming, sheltering, rescuing, or transporting pet animals most likely have some rules and regulations. One example are those, including your neighbors, who breed their own "pets". They should be regulated by PACFA if they produce:
- more than two litters of puppies per 12-month period
- more than three litters of kittens per 12-month period
If the owner/operator/agency is not licensed nor following the rules, they risk being fined, losing their license, and/or both. Some of the most important regulations RMCR must follow are:
- performing in-person home inspections be performed on all foster homes at least once every 12 months
- reporting monthly dog intake/outcome stats according to a specific age category, along with where and why we got the dog, and why the dog left our rescue, e.g., adopted, died, etc.
- agreeing not to sell, transfer, or adopt dogs or cats under the age of 8 weeks,
- sterilizing (spay/neuter) every dog prior to adoption,
- ensuring every dog arriving into Colorado from another state be accompanied with a veterinarian signed form attesting to the species/breed, gender, approx age and the required vaccinations.
If you want to learn more about PACFA, click
here. Many dogs are thankful that many of you continue to help us maintain our licensure by allowing us to come into your homes and providing financial assistance to the many items needed before the dog arrives.
Thank you for your ongoing support to help us achieve our mission!
