Bill introduced to add CDA Division of Animal Welfare
A bill to create the Division of Animal Welfare within the Colorado Department of Agriculture has been introduced in the legislature. According to CDA, the division serves to provide oversight of animal welfare programs and to create additional capacity for animal health activities.
The Bureau of Animal Protection, led by Dr. Courtney Diehl, will be moved under the direction of the new division, as will the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act or PACFA administratively. A spokesperson for CDA said moving the BAP away from the direction of the state veterinarian will provide that office with additional capacity to focus on animal health and agricultural emergencies. It does not modify authorities, or duties of any existing CDA program, including BAP and PACFA.
Diehl has 23 years of experience as a mixed animal field services veterinarian. She has worked extensively with members of law enforcement on animal cruelty investigations and has provided expert witness testimony on several animal cruelty cases.
During her time in private veterinary practice, Diehl’s clients included ranchers and outfitters, private owners, guest ranches, Western and English boarding and training facilities and breeding operations. She has previously worked with the Dumb Friends League, providing veterinary services for the Harmony Equine Center and worked closely with the Colorado Humane Society and the Bureau of Animal Protection as the Field Services and Investigations Veterinarian.
Diehl serves on the Colorado State Veterinary Board, the Education Committee for the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, and on the task force for the Bureau of Animal Protection.
Dr. Claire Vaiden is the BAP lead veterinarian. Vaiden graduated veterinary school in 2014 from University of Florida. Following her move to Colorado, she transitioned from private practice to shelter medicine in 2019. She spent three years serving her community at a municipal shelter on the Front Range where she treated injured and sick stray animals in addition to providing her expertise for animal cruelty and neglect cases. This experience motivated Vaiden to pursue additional education in the field of veterinary forensics, and she recently completed a graduate certification in the subject.
The job description for the director of the new division, if it passes, will be developed not in statute but by CDA staff. It is yet to be determined if the director position will require the hiring of a licensed veterinarian, but a spokesperson said the division will have access to State Veterinarian Dr. Maggie Baldwin.
One of the priorities of the new division is equine welfare and the bill provides $200,000 for equine welfare grants and support including education and outreach as well as emergency feed, veterinary care and shelter. According to CDA, equine welfare complaints investigated by the BAP often involve mental health or financial challenges by the caretaker and these funds will support emergent needs in these situations.
Sponsored by Reps. Monica Duran and Rachel Zenzinger, it has been introduced and will be heard in the House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee on April 22.
