An Englewood dog rescue that came under fire after failing state inspections for cleanliness and not isolating sick animals has surrendered its license and closed its doors.
Moms and Mutts Colorado Rescue for Pregnant & Nursing Dogs, or MAMCO, agreed to surrender its license and cannot apply for another for five years under an agreement with the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the state’s Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act Program.
Moms and Mutts previously made headlines after a puppy at an August adoption event tested positive for rabies, leading to that dog and 11 others being euthanized.
State officials later found the rescue wasn’t following rules for cleaning, ventilation, removing waste, pest control, properly storing food or using adequate-sized enclosures, according to state reports.
MAMCO was placed on an 18-month probation and failed two inspections in January and February after state officials found that puppies with hookworms were not properly isolated, and several dogs escaped out of the front door.
State inspectors also found the rescue did not isolate animals after one puppy showed “neurological symptoms” common in rabies or distemper. That puppy and three others were later euthanized.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture suspended the rescue’s license in February.
In exchange for surrendering its license and not reapplying for at least five years, MAMCO will not have to pay a $12,000 fine. The rescue denies most of the allegations from state inspectors, according to the settlement.
“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,” state officials said in a news release earlier this month.
In videos posted on the organization’s Facebook page, Moms and Mutts founder Aron Jones said the rescue was “vindicated.”
Jones claimed the state’s case was based on “false charges” and said she agreed to surrender the license because the organization was bankrupt and she was tired of being harassed.
“PACFA did not shut us down, PACFA ruined us because they are a corrupt organization. This is going to come out in the wash, it’s going to,” Jones said in videos posted after the March 12 agreement.
“…I’m tired of them torturing us and making things up and doing whatever they want,” she added.
Jones described the charges as “dismissed with prejudice,” meaning they cannot be filed again — which state officials said is normal in this type of agreement.
“The case was not dismissed because of a lack of merit or because of a defect in the allegations. If MAMCO had not agreed to surrender its license, CDA would have continued to pursue the charges,” Department of Agriculture spokesperson Olga Robak said in an email.
Jones and her husband are now rescuing dogs in Belize and plan to open a humane society there, according to MAMCO’s website.
Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.