Moving Your Pet to Fort Collins

So, you are making the move to Fort Collins (or maybe you’re already here), here are the things you need to know when moving your pet to Fort Collins, as well as a couple of great resources to help you along the way!

Tips for moving with your pet

• Be sure to update all ID tags and microchip information with your updated address and new local cell phone number
• If your pet is prone to car sickness – take one last trip to the vet to get a prescription to keep Fido comfortable and relaxed
• Once you get to your new neighborhood, take your pet on a leashed walk to help them get familiarized with the area (yes, we even recommend this for our feline friends)!
• Unpack a few of your pet’s belongings first while you are moving in to make them comfortable with the change – a bed or blanket and some toys would be best

What to do when you get here

Choosing a new place to call home can involve a lot of vetting (see what we did there). You spend time researching local schools, job markets, local businesses, even restaurants and various entertainment. I’m sure when you made the choice to move to Fort Collins you found the various breweries, hiking trails, and summer festivals appealing. Your pets deserve to have fun too, and little do they know Fort Collins might be the best place for just that.

From a variety of dog-friendly hikes with varying degrees of length and difficulty to a list of breweries that allow dogs inside their tap house and on their awesome patios, Fort Collins might just be the best place to have a pet. You will even see local home improvement gurus scanning the aisles of Lowe’s and Home Depot with their furry friend’s riding shotgun in their cart. In Old Town Fort Collins there are various restaurants like Coopersmith’s Pub and Stuft that not only allow dogs to be tied outside of their patio, but they encourage it by providing water bowls on warm days!

Larimer County Laws and Requirements – what you should know

It is required that your pet is up to date on rabies vaccines, and you might have to provide proof of vaccinations at any point when you are out and about with your furry friend.

Fort Collins is full of veterinary hospitals and clinics, each one offering slightly different services to meet your pet’s needs. Another great resource that is offered by the Fort Collins Cat Rescue is a discounted vaccine clinic that is offered by appointment on some Tuesdays and walk-ins on some Saturdays throughout the month. FCCR doesn’t discriminate, they offer basic vaccinations and heartworm testing and treatment for both dogs and cats. To check available Tuesdays and Saturdays that the clinic is offered, check out this calendar of events!

Licensing your pet (cats or dogs) is required in the cities of Fort Collins, Wellington, and Loveland. Larimer County and Timnath require that you register your dog only.

All dogs and cats, regardless of whether they are kept indoors or outdoors, must be licensed once they reach 4 months of age. Getting a license for your pet is easy, and they will even send you a reminder postcard in the mail when your pet’s license is close to expiring. You can register your pet for their license online or by filling out an application and mailing it in. To complete your pet’s registration, you will need its rabies vaccination records to be on hand and up to date! For the full detailed instructions, check out the Larimer Humane Society’s website.

Are you a non traditional pet owner? The City of Fort Collins recently passed an ordinance requiring all goats to be licensed and vaccinated.

All pets must be kept on a leash in public areas.

Failure to comply with the City of Fort Collins’ leash law can result in a fine up to $100, and a really unhappy dog mom or dad. On a yearly basis, leash law violations add up to about 40% of the tickets issued by rangers in parks and natural areas. The City of FoCo is said to have a zero tolerance policy on this ordinance and doesn’t have any plans to adjust the laws to match our Boulder neighbors, who have adopted a “voice and sight” program. That being said, Fort Collins’ parks and recreation department continues to manage three awesome dog parks, one of which is nearly 3-acres and includes a pond for jumping and swimming! Catch up on dog park locations and rules and regulations here!

Check out some of these awesome local pet stores!

Fort Collins has a pet store on almost every block, all a little different, all full of pet lover’s who want to help welcome you to town.

1. Poudre Pet and Feed

Poudre Pet and Feed is locally owned with locations on every point of the compass in town as well as one in Windsor and one in Loveland. They pride themselves on providing excellent customer service and low prices that even the big box stores can’t beat. Poudre Pet and Feed is also very involved in the community, supporting multiple local animal shelters – and you will rarely see a pet event in town that does not have their logo listed amongst its sponsors. Visit site.

2. Wagz Pet Market

Wagz Pet Market is a locally owned store in Old Town Fort Collins with customer service and industry experience you can trust. With the changing demand of their clients, Wagz started offering online orders and a delivery service so you can support a business you love without having to leave your house! After a recent expansion, they also now offer a full service grooming salon which only uses the highest quality of products. Stop in next time you are taking a stroll through Old Town, pets are allowed inside this fun shop. Visit site.

3. Bentley’s Pet Stuff

Bentley’s Pet Stuff is dedicated to providing natural and nutrient rich pet food to their furry clients, as well as providing education on avoiding foods and treats with impossible to pronounce chemical ingredients. The employees at Bentley’s are trained to help you choose the best option for your pet’s health. Visit site.

We hope that this information will help you and your furry loved ones have an easy and enjoyable transition to Fort Collins life.

Still looking for a place to call home in Fort Collins? We offer a variety of homes and apartments for rent in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. Check the property’s details for information on pet policies. Search here.