Keeping Pets Healthy and Safe on Your Colorado Vacation

Taking your beloved dog or cat along as you vacation in the Colorado Mountains can be fun for everyone if they stay healthy and happy on the trip. Because Colorado has such a variety of places to see, and camping areas which host many species of native creatures, here are a few tips to consider as you travel with your pets…

Colorado has very specific laws regarding animals for both residents and visitors. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department: “The purpose of animal control laws is to protect the public health and safety, and to keep owners from allowing their animals to be a nuisance to their neighbors. These same laws protect the animals from cruel treatment, neglect and injury.” Knowing some of the rules regarding domestic animals will be helpful if you plan to take dogs or cats with you on vacation.

Leash Laws: “Dogs allowed to roam the streets are not only a nuisance and dangerous to the public, but are in constant danger from cars, irate people, and even other dogs. For these reasons, all dogs must be on a leash or confined on the owner’s premises at all times. Dogs in violation of the leash law may be turned over to Animal Control and impounded. In addition to impoundment fees, owners can be issued a summons for a violation of county regulation. Each violation of a regulation constitutes a separate offense. The maximum penalty for a class II petty offense is $1,000. Fine schedules provide for increased fines for subsequent violations during any three-year period.”

Colorado curb laws are the guidelines for picking up after your pet and properly disposing of the waste. An excellent resource for dog guidelines in the Boulder, CO area can be found at www.bouldercolorado.gov which gives many interesting facts and helpful advice for open space and mountain parks. This will help you to know what you and your dog may expect while vacationing in Colorado.

In excess of 960 species of animals can be found in Colorado. Some national forest animals you might view or encounter are: Big Horn sheep, black bears, peregrine falcons, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions (cougars), elk, mule deer, pika and prairie dog. The magnificent array of wildlife can be viewed in hundreds of designated areas around the state. Even in a campground you may see many species including red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, whitetail deer and more. For this reason it is important that you keep your domestic animals safe and close by. They may be interested in making friends with our native animals, and one close encounter with a skunk may just ruin your vacation.

For more wildlife viewing information, visit the National Forest Service’s NatureWatch Program

Something you may not realize about high altitude sun exposure is that you can get burned twice as fast as you do at the beach. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “UVA rays from the sun increase exponentially with altitude and can be significantly more damaging in the mountains than at sea level.” This can apply to short haired dogs as well, and a little baby sun block on their exposed nose may save them from painful burn. Another concern is providing safe drinking water for your pet. Many people would think nothing of letting their dogs drink from mountain streams or lakes, and while you may not be able to completely prevent this, it’s safer to encourage them to drink bottled or boiled water. The intestinal parasite which produces Giardia can be found in many areas where wildlife have been. Some dogs carry the parasite and will never manifest symptoms while other (possibly small breeds) will develop signs of distress: gas, bloating, runny stools, lack of appetite. To help avoid this, Dog Owner’s Guide.com has some great tips and ideas to share with you.

There are so many dog friendly places to visit in Colorado, and even though there are rules in place, many businesses and people are extremely friendly to “man’s best friend”.  One great resource to finding fun places in Colorado specifically designed to take Fido can be found in the Dog Park Directory .  Not only will your dog have a great time and meet new friends – but you can relax with them off the leash.  Wherever you go, we hope that this information will prove useful when taking your favorite pets along. Enjoy the trip!