Animal Management

Animal ManagementGoal

The goal of Animal Management is to serve and protect the pets and the people of Adams County through enforcement of state statutes and county ordinances as they pertain to the care and welfare of domestic animals. We seek to educate and engage our residents in the practices of responsible pet ownership.

Report an Animal Control Issue

Adams County Animal Management Officers respond to and handle a variety of animal-control calls, including animal bite or attack, vicious or dangerous dog, stray animals, animal neglect or abuse, and unreasonable animal noise (barking, howling, etc.).

To report a pet-animal complaint, please contact the Adams County Communications Center (ADCOM) at 303.288.1535.

If you need assistance with livestock (including horses and cattle), please contact the Adams County Sheriff’s Department (303.288.1535), State Brand Inspector (303.869.9160), or the Department of Agriculture (303.869.9000).

Adams County Animal Management does not handle problem wildlife. There are pest control agencies that specialize in wildlife that can assist you with many wildlife problems for a fee.

Mediation Services

Adams County Neighborhood Services can also direct our residents to professional mediation services to help neighbors work through disputes. Community Mediation Concepts (CMC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will provide mediation and conflict resolution for Adams County.  CMC will mediate and facilitate situations involving community issues, neighbor-to-neighbor, business-to-neighborhood, court ordered, land-use, workplace, and other types of cases where people will benefit from talking with each other and resolving their disputes.

Cases for mediation will be referred at the discretion of Adams County Neighborhood Services. Pertinent information will be collected by our staff, and this information will be emailed to Community Mediation Concepts.

Community Mediation Concepts (CMC) will provide conflict resolution and mediation in the following way.

  • CMC will contact the parties involved, explain the benefits and value of mediation, and get their agreement to mediate.
  • One of CMC’s professional mediators will schedule and conduct the mediation. CMC will provide a summary or agreement; a copy will go to the participants and to the referring agency, if requested.
  • CMC will survey each participant at the close of mediation to ensure quality mediations and overall process.  A summary of these survey results will be available.
  • CMC maintains a detailed and confidential tracking file in the event that there is needed follow-up.
  • CMC will provide orientation regarding the mediation program to the appropriate persons.
  • CMC will provide brochures and cards to be used in explaining the mediation program. 

If mediation is something you would like to consider as a first step in resolving a neighbor dispute or concerns over a compliance violation, please contact Neighborhood Services at 720.523.6606.

Online Payment - Citations

Click here to use our online payment system for citations 

  • You must have your citation number to use the online payment system.
  • Citations older than twenty (20) days will not be found in the online payment system.
  • If you no longer have your citation, please contact an Animal Management Officer at 303.288.1535. The officer can obtain this information.
  • Citations can be paid in-person at 4430 S Adams County Parkway, Brighton.

Adams County Ordinance No. 6 –  For the Control of Unleashed or Unclaimed Animals

Resolution 2022-043 - Resolution Approving the Animal Control Code

Licensing Requirement in Unincorporated Adams County (Article 4-1 & 4-2)

Owners of dogs that are six (6) months of age or older shall cause such dogs to be licensed by Riverdale Animal Shelter.  Each dog license shall be valid for a period of three hundred sixty-five (365) days from the date of issuance and shall be renewed annually.  To obtain a dog license, the owner must present to Riverdale Animal Shelter a valid rabies vaccination certificate indicating the dog has been vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian.

Rabies Vaccinations Required in Unincorporated Adams County (Article 5-1)

The owner or custodian of any dog or cat shall have such dog or cat vaccinated against rabies by a licensed state veterinarian, unless such owner or custodian presents to the animal management officer a written statement from a state licensed veterinarian that vaccination against rabies would be detrimental to the health of such dog or cat.  Such vaccination shall be performed on or before the appropriate anniversary date of the initial vaccination as determined by the compendium of animal rabies control § 25-4-615(2), C.R.S. Any person who acquires within the county a dog or cat shall have such dog or cat vaccinated within 30 days of such acquisition or within 30 days after the dog or cat reaches six months of age, whichever occurs later.

Door Hanger
  • All animals picked up by an Animal Management officer shall be impounded at the Riverdale Animal Shelter unless the animal can be returned to the identified rightful owner.
  • Each Animal Management officer has the discretion to issue a summons/citation for violations of the Adams County Animal regulations or any violation of Colorado State law related to CRS 35-45-112.

Useful Links

 

Remote video URL