Planning for Pets During Vacation – Denver, CO

Planning for Pets During Vacation is a pet-care sheet from City and County of Denver Animal Services that lists what owners should arrange before a trip: current pet records, sitter introductions, emergency contacts, neighbor notice, veterinary permission and shelter permission.

The sheet is organized in six short sections:

• Current Records: a current vaccination record, license, microchip and ID tag for your pet. License and microchip information is available at www.denveranimalshelter.org.
• Introductions: an introduction between your pet and the sitter or boarding facility, set up in advance of the vacation.
• In Case of Emergency: an emergency contact list for your pet sitter or boarding facility.
• Neighbors: a notice to neighbors that a pet sitter will be at your house.
• Veterinary Care: permission for your sitter, a family member or a friend to make emergency medical care decisions for your pet if you are unreachable.
• Local Animal Shelter: permission for a sitter, boarding facility, family member or friend to pick up your pet if it gets lost and arrives at the shelter.

Denver lists the sheet among its Pet Health & Safety resources, next to documents such as Lost Pet Help and the Pet Disaster Kit Checklist. It is guidance for owners. The sheet prints no form number, signature block or filing address, and it does not issue a license or permit.

Pet owners in Denver who will be away and leaving a dog, cat or other pet with a pet sitter, a boarding facility, a family member or a friend are the people this sheet is written for.

The sheet speaks to several situations:

• Owners using a pet sitter: the sitter should meet your pet in advance, either by coming to your house or by visiting the boarding facility with your pet.
• Owners who will be unreachable: tell your veterinary office you are on vacation and give permission for your sitter, a family member or a friend to make emergency medical care decisions on your behalf.
• Owners who want a lost pet to come home safely: contact your local shelter and give permission for your sitter, boarding facility, family member or friend to pick up your pet if it is lost and ends up at the shelter.

The sheet does not name any group that is excluded, and it sets no eligibility rules. Nothing on it is a requirement of Denver law; it is advice from Denver Animal Services.

Use the sheet before you leave on vacation. It sets no due date of its own, but its introductions step says to set up the meeting between your pet and the sitter or boarding facility in advance of your vacation, so the preparation has to start ahead of the trip. Check that your pet's vaccinations, license, microchip and ID tag are current, make the emergency contact list, and tell your neighbors, your veterinary office and your local shelter before you go. Nothing is filed with the city on a schedule.

Planning for Pets During Vacation is not submitted to Denver Animal Services: the sheet prints no filing address, portal or appointment process. Its actions go to the people involved in your pet's care while you are away.

• Veterinary office: contact it before you leave if you will be unreachable, say you will be on vacation and name who may make emergency medical care decisions for you.
• Local animal shelter: contact it to give permission for a sitter, boarding facility, family member or friend to pick up your pet if it is lost. The sheet's footer lists the Denver Animal Shelter at 1241 W. Bayaud Ave. Denver, CO 80223, General Inquiries 720-913-1311, Officer Dispatch 720-913-2080, and the website DenverAnimalShelter.org.
• Pet sitter or boarding facility: give them your emergency contact list.
• Neighbors: tell them a pet sitter will be at your house.

The sheet notes that lengthy stays at the shelter can stress your pet and result in additional fees; ask the shelter about any fee. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; any contact with your vet or shelter follows the channels above.