Volunteer Pet Vaccination Clinic

EVEN SUPPORT ANIMALS (ESA). If you want to bring a service animal inside check in with staff first.  Animals that exhibit aggressive behavior or are not under the control of their owner, off leash or not in a carrier will be asked to leave, per ADA regulations.  

• THURSDAYS  10AM to Noon @  The Sunshine Community Center @ 1321 Ute Ave On Ute between 13th and 14th street across from KAFM (enter off 14th), animals not allowed in the building NO EXCEPTIONS
• Leave your pet in your car, or in a carrier or with a friend outside, if you need assistance ask a staff member to help you just don't bring them in the building. Come in and fill out the paperwork it just takes a few minutes and we will go out with you to the car and vaccinate your animal.  

Mesa County has seen a drastic spike in the number of dogs appearing with PARVO virus a highly contagious and often times fatal viral infection in dogs.  The best prevention is to vaccinate your animal. We have some information you can download on Parvo Virus Treatment & Control.  Try to keep your animal away from the other animals while at the facility as much as possible to reduce the risk of infection. This is the main reason we don't allow animals in the building.  Keep animals away from areas where other animals have pooped or peed. DO NOT share water bowls and food bowls.   Parvo can stay active in the environment for months including clothing, bedding and anyplace a sick animal has been can remain contagious. 

By bringing a sick or aggressive animal onto the the property you are exposing others to disease and potential dog fights that you would be liable for, so please do not bring sick or aggressive animals to the facility we are simply not equipped to handle those situations during clinic. 

Knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service animal is a crime in Colorado. Penalties for this class 2 petty offense range from $25 to $500, with a warning required before a charge is issued.   Colorado aims to ensure equal access for individuals using service animals while also preventing the misuse of service animal designations.  In Colorado, the rights of individuals with disabilities using service animals are protected under both the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Colorado's own civil rights laws

Service animals are trained for specific tasks related to a disability, while ESAs provide comfort but are not task-trained. ESAs do not have the same public access rights as service animals under the ADA and Colorado law, but they are protected in housing under the Fair Housing Act. 

A service animal is primarily defined as a dog, though miniature horses may also be considered, that is trained to perform tasks directly related to an individual's disability. These tasks can include guiding, alerting, providing physical support, or assisting with medical and psychiatric conditions. Breed restrictions do not apply to service animals. 

Individuals with disabilities can bring their service animals to public places and on public transportation if the animal is under control and housebroken. Businesses cannot refuse entry or charge extra fees for service animals, though they can charge for damages.

Public accommodations are limited to asking two questions: whether the animal is a service animal required due to a disability and what tasks it performs. They cannot ask about the person's disability or require documentation or demonstrations. 

Housing discrimination against individuals using service animals is prohibited. Landlords must allow service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) as a reasonable accommodation, even with a "no pets" policy, and cannot charge related fees. A letter from a licensed professional may be requested to verify the need for an assistance animal if the disability is not apparent. 

To get your dog recognized as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA), you need a letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP) confirming your need for an ESA. This letter, often referred to as an ESA letter, is the primary document for establishing your dog as an ESA. You don't need to register or certify your dog with any organization.  The Basic ESA letter (PDF File) is available below for download in the resource files section on this website.   Don't get scammed, you can download the Basic ESA Letter print it out and get your animal approved yourself, companies or websites offering to register your dog for a fee in a national database or registry are probably a scam since there is no requirement standard and no national database.