BROOMFIELD, Colo. — An Englewood animal rescue that was ordered to shut down earlier this month has relinquished its animal care license, ending a saga that saw the rescue embroiled in allegations that it repeatedly failed the pets under their care.
Moms and Mutts Colorado Rescue for Pregnant and Nursing Dogs (MAMCO) made headlines back in August after a dozen puppies had to be put down after a rabies exposure during an adoption event. Since the incident, MAMCO has repeatedly contested those claims.
Earlier this year, however, officials from the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) program claimed the rescue failed to isolate puppies that were suffering from hookworm infections and were once again exposed to a littermate with rabies symptoms.
The state alleges MAMCO failed to isolate a rescue name Jag from his littermates following possible exposure to rabies. Additionally, state officials further claimed that when puppies were taken to an emergency vet, MAMCO failed to notify the vet of a possible distemper or rabies exposure.
On Feb. 28, the rescued was served with an order from the state to shut down.
Englewood
Englewood dog rescue ordered to shut down after license suspension
Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) officials as well as officials from PACFA said Friday in a news release MAMCO had relinquished its PACFA license as part of an agreement between the rescue and PACFA earlier in the week.
“The agreement with MAMCO brings closure to this case. While investigations into these types of complaints are difficult and unfortunate for everyone involved, PACFA and CDA feel this was the best outcome for the animals in MAMCO’s care. PACFA’s mission is to protect the health and well-being of pet animals in Colorado, which includes protecting animals and consumers from the spread of communicable and zoonotic diseases. PACFA is continuing to work closely with rescues and shelters to account for all of the dogs MAMCO was required to surrender,” said PACFA’s Program Section Chief Nick Fisher.
Per the CDA, MAMCO and PACFA entered into a written agreement which prohibits MAMCO, “or any of its principals, officers, directors, or managers” from applying for any type of PACFA license for at least five years. In return, PACFA will not pursue civil penalties, including a $12,000 fine that was put on hold on Dec. 16, 2024.
MAMCO’s owner, Robert Jones, has denied all of the allegations, and claimed a mistake where MAMCO gave the state the wrong litter information was being used against the rescue as the basis for the shutdown.
In an 11-minute-long video posted on their Facebook page on February 28 — the day MAMCO's license was suspended by the state — Jones again accused the CDA of targeting rescues like MAMCO so the state could enact a law that would prevent Colorado rescues from taking in puppies younger than 12 weeks old.
“It's all made up and we can prove it,” Jones said the video. “We have videos, and we have text messages, and we have the law… they're ignoring the law."
In the video, Jones said the shelter had hired an attorney to request an immediate hearing to get the shelter’s license reinstated, but court documents show the motion was dismissed on March 13 following the agreement between MAMCO and PACFA that prevented them from applying for any type of PACFA license in the state of Colorado.
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