Colorado’s Commissioner of Agriculture on Friday suspended the license of an Englewood animal rescue that took in a rabies-positive puppy last year, resulting in the forced euthanasia of a dozen dogs.
Moms and Mutts Colorado Rescue for Pregnant and Nursing Dogs was ordered to surrender all of the dogs in its care to licensed shelters and rescue organizations.
According to the state, after last year’s rabies scare, the rescue in January and February failed to isolate puppies that were suffering from hookworm infections and were exposed to a littermate with rabies symptoms.
The dogs were kept in temporary pens near the front of the Englewood facility and were not separated from one another or the pet dogs of rescue workers. Three of the dogs had to be put down in addition to the puppy that ultimately tested negative for rabies.
Two dogs also escaped from the facility during a January inspection by the agriculture department’s Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act Program, per the state.
“Based on the findings of the recent inspections, CDA believes there is an imminent threat to the health and safety of Colorado dogs and their owners,” the agriculture department wrote in its release.
Rescue founder Aron Jones fired back at the state in a Facebook video posted Friday, saying the rescue was being used as a “political pawn” to promote regulatory changes that would effectively ban the import of dogs that are less than 12 weeks old.
Jones said the state’s claims about the improper treatment of puppies this year are “totally false” and that the rescue has proof in the form of videos, emails and text messages which will be presented in court.
“It’s made up, and they’re just trying to use us as a pawn,” she said. “I have big faith and an even bigger mouth, and I’m not going to stop, because this is not just going to affect MAMCO. This is going to affect Colorado rescues.”
The state said in its release that an administrative court hearing will be scheduled “in the near future” to review alleged violations of state rules by the rescue.
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