Changes Coming to Western Colorado Animal Control in 2025

The new year is going to bring numerous changes at the National level, the state level, and even the city of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Read More: 10 Ridiculous + Unbelievable Laws in Colorado Involving Animals |

One of the changes that won't necessarily affect everyone in town but will certainly impact Mesa County pet owners as well as law enforcement is the way in which local animal control will carry out its operations.

Changes Coming to Mesa County Colorado Animal Control in 2025

Following a restructuring of the Mesa County Animal Services department this past summer, January 1, 2025, will see more duties that were previously held by the department instead become the responsibilities of local law enforcement.

This will come in the form of the implementation of a brand-new Animal Control Unit as part of the Grand Junction Police Department and the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.

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The change will see duties such as relocating lost pets to their owners within Grand Junction city limits, a task previously handled by the Department of Mesa County Animal Services, instead be taken over by the GJPD.

Similar duties will become the responsibility of the Mesa County Sheriff's Office in unincorporated parts of the county.

In addition to an emphasis on returning lost pets to their homes, the new Animal Control Unit will focus on things like education and "exceptional customer service" as well.

The new Animal Control Unit will be launched with a new specialized animal control truck valued at roughly $90,000, as well as new uniforms and other types of equipment with a total projected expense of $530,000.

[City of Grand Junction]