8 CCR 1202-15, pt. 1 - [Effective 7/15/2025] Definitions and Abbreviations

1.1. "Abnormality" means a malformity, deformity, irregularity, or behavioral characteristic that is atypical or out of the ordinary.

1.2. "Aggression" means the display of aggressive behavior including but not limited to: threat displays such as growling, hissing, piloerection, lunging, and baring teeth. It also includes biting. These displays can serve to intimidate and/or to harm a trigger, a human, or another animal. These behaviors can be defensive (distance increasing) or offensive (distance decreasing) in nature.

1.3. "Behavioral-control device" means any apparatus used to control a pet animal's behavior.

1.4. "Building" means any structure that has a roof and walls especially a permanent structure. It can be any structure that is designed or intended for support, enclosure, shelter or protection of persons, animals or property having a permanent roof that is supported by columns or walls.

1.5. "Cleaning" means mechanical removal of organic matter and waste through application of soap, detergent, or other cleaning agent followed by rinsing of all surfaces with clean water.

1.6. "Commissioner" means the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture or the Commissioner's designee.

1.7. "Commingle" means combine animals from different owners in a common area or enclosure.

1.8. "Common area" means play yards or areas where dogs are commingled for exercise or social interaction.

1.9. "Crate" means an enclosure that, at a minimum, permits normal postural movement and allows the animal to stand, turn around, and lie down in a manner that is specific to the species held within the enclosure.

1.10. "Department" means the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

1.11. "Direct supervision" means to be physically present with no doors, gates, or other barriers between the person supervising and the pet animals being supervised.

1.12. "Facility" means all buildings, yards, pens, and other areas, or any portion thereof, at a single location in which any animal is kept, handled, or transported for the purpose of adoption, breeding, boarding, grooming, handling, selling, sheltering, trading, or otherwise transferring animals.

1.12.1. "Animal rescue" means any firm, person, or corporation that accepts pet animals for the purpose of finding permanent adoptive homes for these animals and does not maintain a central facility for keeping animals.

1.12.2. "Animal sanctuary facility" means a sub-classification of "animal shelter," is any private facility that harbors pet animals, that is not used for impoundment purposes, and that is used for the purpose of caring for or housing pet animals indefinitely.

1.12.3. "Animal shelter facility" means any firm, person, or corporation, whether public or private, that houses pet animals for impoundment purposes; or a centralized, private facility that accepts or houses pet animals and whose facilities are self-contained and used for the purpose of caring for and housing pet animals according to these Rules.

1.12.4. "Bird breeder facility" means any firm, person, or corporation engaged in the operation of breeding and raising birds that produces or transfers more than 30 birds per 12-month period.

1.12.5. "Boarding/training facility" means any firm, person, or corporation that cares for, or houses more than three pet animals at one time, or trains pet animals in the absence of the owner, or such owner's designee, and receives compensation for said services or correctional facility pet animal training programs regardless of compensation.

1.12.6. "Cat breeder facility" means any firm, person, or corporation that is engaged in the operation of breeding and raising cats and that produces more than three litters of kittens or transfers more than 24 cats per 12-month period.

1.12.7. "Commercial pet animal facility" means any firm, person, or corporation, whether on a permanent or temporary basis that uses pet animals exclusively for commercial exhibition, recreation or sporting purposes.

1.12.8. "Dog breeder facility" means any firm, person, or corporation that is engaged in the operation of breeding and raising dogs and that produces more than two litters of puppies or transfers more than 24 dogs per 12-month period.

1.12.9 "Groomer" means any person engaged in the operation of changing the physical appearance of the skin, coat, hair, or feathers of pet animals at a licensed pet animal groomer facility for compensation.

1.12.10. "Groomer facility" means any permanent or mobile establishment where a person pays a fee to have his pet animal's skin, coat, hair, or feathers cleaned, styled, or maintained or where a person pays to have his animal's physical appearance changed.

1.12.11. "Pet transporter" means any firm, person, or corporation that accepts pet animals for transportation or relocation for the purpose of adoption, rescue, selling, harboring, sheltering, trading, or otherwise transferring from one location to another.

1.12.12. "Pet handler" means a firm, person, or corporation that does not maintain a central permanent facility for the purposes of training or housing dogs but that maintains a mobile or temporary facility for the purposes of transporting or training a pet in the absence of the owner and receives compensation for his services.

1.12.13. "Pet animal dealership-retail" means any place or premises, used in whole or part, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, for the sole or purpose of retail selling, trading, bartering, or otherwise transferring pet animals directly to the public.

1.12.14. "Pet animal dealership-wholesale" means any place or premises, used in whole or part, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, for the sole or exclusive purpose of selling, trading, bartering, or otherwise transferring pet animals to a retail pet animal dealership.

1.12.15. "Reptile/Amphibian (Herptile) breeder facility" means any firm, person, or corporation that is engaged in the operation of breeding and raising reptiles/amphibians (herptiles) and that produces or transfers more reptiles/amphibians (herptiles) than the maximum number established by the Commissioner by Rule for each particular species.

1.12.16. "Retail aquarium only pet animal facility" means any place that trades, sells, barters, or otherwise transfers fish, hermit crabs, or aquatic pet animals to the public.

1.12.17. "Small animal breeder facility" means any firm, person, or corporation that is engaged in the operation of breeding and raising small mammals and produces or transfers more small mammals than the maximum number established by the Commissioner by Rule for each particular species.

1.13. "Enclosure" means any location within a facility where a pet animal is housed primarily for the purpose of eating and sleeping, which is not a common area used for exercise or social interaction.

1.14. "Foster dam" means a lactating female animal placed with unweaned animals of similar species for the purpose of nutritional support.

1.15. "Foster home" means a site that, through a written agreement with a licensed shelter or rescue facility, provides care for pet animals that are otherwise the responsibility of the shelter or rescue.

1.16. "Foster provider" means a site, not residential, that provides care, regardless of compensation, for pet animals that are otherwise the responsibility of a licensed shelter or rescue.

1.17. "Custodian home" means a residential site that, through a written agreement with a licensed breeder, provides care for pet animals that are otherwise the responsibility of the breeder.

1.18. "Indoor" means the area or space inside a building or a mobile facility.

1.19. "Infirm" means not physically or mentally strong, especially through age or illness.

1.20. "Isolation" means the separation, for the period of communicability, of infected animals from others in such place and under such conditions to prevent the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent from those infected to those that are susceptible or that may spread the agent to others.

1.21. "Isolation area" means a location where animals infected with disease may be placed to contain, control, and limit the spread of the disease.

1.22. "Isolation room" means an isolation area enclosed with walls that reach ceiling to floor, a ceiling, and door, having separate ventilation to the outside.

1.23. "Nonhuman primate" means all animals in the families lemuridae, indriidae, daubentoniidae, lorisidae, tarsiidae, cebidae, callithricidae, cercopithecidae, and pongidae.

1.24. "Outdoors" means in or into the open air; outside a building or shelter.

1.25. "PACFA" means the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act, §§ 35-80-101 through 117, C.R.S.

1.26. "Pool" means a man-made structure used to hold water that uses a filtration system and is chemically treated, or in which the water is changed as needed, to maintain adequate cleanliness.

1.27. "Proactive enrichment" means an enrichment program that is designed to provide enrichment for every animal in care during the entirety of their stay. Proactive enrichment does not require that any assessments take place prior to its implementation and can be administered safely despite any known or unknown medical or behavioral concerns. The goal of proactive enrichment is to establish a baseline of behavioral care that is proactive against behavioral decline.

1.28. "Quality of life"

1.28.1. "Acceptable quality of life" means an animal is regularly eating and drinking; engaging in play; and engaging in rest. Animals should be provided with access and opportunities to socialize with people and other dogs, if desired. During these interactions they should not be exhibiting consistent fearful or aggressive behaviors.

1.28.2. "Unacceptable quality of life" means an animal is not regularly eating or drinking; is not able to settle and rest (even absent triggers); displays stereotypic behavior; and/or self-mutilating behavior. When given the opportunity to engage with people the animal will always choose not to or will display aggressive or extreme fearful behavior. When given the opportunity to engage with other animals of the same species the animal will display aggression or extreme fearful behavior although choosing to cohabitate or not approach another animal is acceptable. Routine defecation when engaged socially may be cause for concern.

1.29. "Research institute" means a governmental or private institution that uses or intends to use live animals in research, tests, or experiments for scientific investigation or in a systematic search for facts.

1.30. "Self-mutilating behavior" means the occurrence of behavior that could result in physical injury to the animal's own body. Examples include but are not limited to: overgrooming, tail chewing, excessive licking, fracturing teeth, injury to the animal's nose resulting from repeated scraping or scratching.

1.31. "Sink" means a wide bowl that has a faucet for water and a drain at the bottom and is usually positioned in a counter or on a pedestal.

1.32. "Surgery" means the act of incising living tissue; an operative procedure.

1.33. "Stereotypic behavior" means the frequent repetition of the same movement, gesture, posture, or vocal sound or utterance, often with no recognizable purpose, in response to stimuli (which may or may not be identifiable). Stereotypic behavior may be difficult to interrupt and/or, after interruption, the animal may be eager to return to that behavior. Examples include but are not limited to: pacing, bar biting, spinning, circling, wall climbing, chronic vocalization, over grooming, and avoidance behavior.

1.34. "Stray animal" means a pet animal that has been lost, abandoned, or separated from its owner.

1.35. "Tailored/individualized enrichment," means an enrichment program that is designed in response to noted behavioral health issues, such as stereotypic behavior or quality of life concerns. The purpose of this approach is to assess what specific enrichment efforts meet the needs of the individual animal in order to respond to current/ongoing quality of life concerns or behavioral deterioration. Disposition of cats and dogs is at the discretion of the animal shelter or rescue pursuant to § 35-80-106.3(1), C.R.S.

1.36. "Temporary facility" means any pet animal facility operating only as a temporary sales or adoption site.

1.37. "Temporary single retail event" means a show or exhibit held once in a calendar year for a maximum of 48 hours, where animals are sold from a single temporary location.

1.38. "Tether" means to restrain a pet animal by tying the pet animal to any object or structure, by any means, including, but not limited to, a chain, rope, cord, leash, or running line. Tether does not include using a leash to walk a dog.

1.39. "Transfer" means adopt, sell, give away, trade, barter, exchange, return, or any other conveyance of ownership of a pet animal.

1.40. "Water-resistant" means that which repels water.

1.41. "Year" means any twelve-month period.

1.42. "Zoological park" means a facility accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association or licensed as a zoological park pursuant to § 33-4-102(13)(a), C.R.S., as amended.

Notes

8 CCR 1202-15, pt. 1

39 CR 13, July 10, 2016, effective 7/30/2016 40 CR 09, May 10, 2017, effective 5/30/2017 42 CR 18, September 25, 2019, effective 10/30/2019 43 CR 22, November 25, 2020, effective 12/15/2020 44 CR 19, October 10, 2021, effective 10/30/2021 45 CR 10, May 25, 2022, effective 6/15/2022 46 CR 08, April 25, 2023, effective 5/15/2023 48 CR 11, June 10, 2025, effective 7/15/2025