What Are The Laws In Colorado For Animal Cruelty

Statute past category	Citation	Summary
CO - Assistance Animals - Colorado Assistance Animal/Guide Domestic dog Laws	C. R. S. A. § 12-240-144; § 12-245-229; § 12-255-133; § eighteen-thirteen-107, § eighteen-13-107.iii, § 18-thirteen-107.7; § 18-9-202; § xviii-one.3-602; § 24-34-301; § 24-34-309; § 24-34-801 - 804; § forty-9-109; § 42-4-808	The following statutes comprise the land'south relevant assistance animal and service animal laws.
CO - Cruelty - Consolidated Cruelty/Animate being Fighting Statutes	C. R. S. A. § eighteen-9-201 - 209; § 35-42-101 - 115	This Colorado department contains the anti-cruelty and fauna fighting laws. A person commits cruelty to animals if he or she knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence overdrives, overloads, overworks, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beats, allows to be housed in a manner that results in chronic or repeated serious physical harm, carries or confines in or upon any vehicles in a cruel or reckless manner, or otherwise mistreats or neglects any animal. A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if he or she knowingly tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal. Cruelty to animals is a course ane misdemeanor and aggravated cruelty or a second conviction of animal cruelty is class half-dozen felony. This department as well prohibits beast fighting (not limited to certain species such every bit dogs or chickens). Violation of this constabulary results in a course 5 felony. This department likewise makes it illegal to own a dangerous canis familiaris and "tamper" with livestock.
CO - Cruelty, reporting - § 19-3-304. Persons required to written report child abuse or neglect	C. R. Southward. A. § 19-three-304	This Colorado statute relates to mandatory reporting for kid abuse or neglect. With respect to animal-related issues, the statute requires veterinarians, officers and agents of the state bureau of animal protection, and animal command officers to report suspected abuse or neglect equally described in the law.
CO - Dangerous Dog- Article 9. Offenses Confronting Public Peace, Order, and Decency.	C. R. South. A. § 18-nine-204.5; C. R. S. A. § 35-42-115	This Colorado statute defines a "dangerous domestic dog" as 1 that has inflicted bodily or serious bodily injury upon or has acquired the death of a person or domestic animal; or has demonstrated tendencies that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the dog may inflict injury upon or cause the death of any person or domestic animal; or has engaged in or been trained for animal fighting as described by statute. Owners institute guilty nether the provisions volition be subject to misdemeanor penalties if their dogs cause bodily injury or felonies if their dogs crusade the death of a person. Department 35-42-115 mandates that the bureau create a a statewide dangerous dog registry consisting of a database of information concerning microchip types and placement past veterinarians and licensed shelters in dangerous dogs.
CO - Disaster - Office 6. Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Deed	C. R. Southward. A. § 25-1.5-601 - 613 (formerly C. R. S. A. § 12-29.3-101 to 113)	The Compatible Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act applies to registered volunteer health practitioners and who provide health or veterinary services for a host entity during an emergency.
CO - Canis familiaris Bite - Civil deportment against dog owners.	C. R. S. A. § 13-21-124	This 2005 Colorado law makes a dog owner strictly liable for dog bites only if the victim of the seize with teeth suffers serious bodily injury or decease from being bitten by a domestic dog while lawfully on public or individual belongings regardless of the viciousness or dangerous propensities of the canis familiaris or the dog owner'south knowledge or lack of knowledge of the dog'south viciousness or dangerous propensities. Further, the victim is entitled to recover only economic damages (as opposed to noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, inconvenience, etc.) in a civil suit against the dog owner. Also, the statute provides that an owner is non liable where the victim is unlawfully on public or individual property; where the victim is on the owner'due south property and the the property is conspicuously and conspicuously marked with one or more posted signs stating "no trespassing" or "beware of dog"; where the victim has clearly provoked the canis familiaris; where the victim is a veterinary wellness care worker, canis familiaris groomer, humane bureau staff person, professional canis familiaris handler, trainer, or canis familiaris show judge acting in the performance of his or her respective duties; or where the domestic dog is working every bit a hunting dog, herding domestic dog, farm or ranch domestic dog, or predator control domestic dog on the property of or nether the control of the dog'due south owner.
CO - Dogs - Consolidated Dog Laws	C. R. South. A. § 35-43-126; § 13-21-124; § 24-80-910.v; § 25-four-601 to 615; § xxx-xv-101 to 105; § 33-three-106; § 33-4-101.3; § 33-six-128; § 35-42.5-101; § 35-50-112	These Colorado statutes represent the country'south domestic dog laws. There are provisions regarding ceremonious deportment confronting dog owners for dog bites, rabies command, animal control and licensing, and pertinent wildlife regulations, such equally a general ban on harassing wildlife and destroying dens or nests. However, there is an exception making it permissible to have wildlife when it is causing excessive damage to property.
CO - Domestic Violence - Animals and Domestic Violence; Definition.	C. R. S. A. § 18-half-dozen-800.3; C.R.Due south.A. § 13-14-101, 103	This statute includes within the definition of "domestic violence" any other crime confronting a person, or confronting property, including an brute, or any municipal ordinance violation against a person, or against property, including an animal, when used as a method of compulsion, control, punishment, intimidation, or revenge directed against a person with whom the actor is or has been involved in an intimate relationship. Nether Article 14 on Ceremonious Protection Orders, the phrase "protection order" means any guild that prohibits the restrained person from contacting, harassing, injuring, intimidating, molesting, threatening, touching, stalking, or sexually assaulting or abusing whatsoever protected person or from entering or remaining on premises, or from coming within a specified altitude of a protected person or premises, or from taking, transferring, concealing, harming, disposing of or threatening harm to an beast owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by a protected person, or any other provision to protect the protected person from imminent danger to life or health.
CO - Emergency - § 25-3.5-203. Emergency medical service providers--certification	C. R. Southward. A. § 25-iii.5-203	This law concerns emergency medical service providers. An emergency medical service provider may provide preveterinary emergency care to dogs and cats to the extent the provider has received commensurate preparation and is authorized by the employer to provide the intendance. Requirements governing the circumstances under which emergency medical service providers may provide preveterinary emergency care to dogs and cats may be specified in the employer's policies governing the provision of care. "Preveterinary emergency intendance" means the immediate medical stabilization of a canis familiaris or cat past an emergency medical service provider, in an emergency to which the emergency medical service provider is responding, through means including oxygen, fluids, medications, or bandaging, with the intent of enabling the dog or true cat to exist treated by a veterinarian. "Preveterinary emergency care" does not include care provided in response to an emergency call made solely for the purpose of tending to an injured dog or cat, unless a person's life could exist in danger attempting to relieve the life of a dog or true cat.
CO - Endangered Species - Article ii. Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation	C. R. S. A. § 33-2-101 - 108	These Colorado statutes provide the State's intent to protect endangered, threatened, or rare species and defines the terms associated with the statute. It likewise has a provision specific to the reintroduction of the bonytail and black-footed ferret. Nether the direction plan, Colorado constabulary provides for the acquisition of habitat for species listed as well as other protective measures.
CO - Equine Action Liability Statute - Commodity 21. Damages.	C. R. S. A. § xiii-21-119	This Colorado statute embodies the intent of the full general assembly to encourage equine activities and llama activities by limiting the ceremonious liability of those involved in such activities. This section also contains specific provisions related to llama activities. Liability is not express by this statute where the equine or llama sponsor provided faulty equipment or tack, failed to make reasonable and prudent efforts to make up one's mind the ability of the participant to engage safely in the action, owned or otherwise possessed the land upon which an injury occurred where there was a known latent condition, or if he or she commits an act or omission that constitutes willful or wanton condone for the safety of the participant or intentionally injures the participant.
CO - Exotic - Article 81. Hybrid Animals	C. R. S. A. § 35-81-101 to 102	This Colorado statute authorized the commissioner of the department of agriculture to appoint and convene an informational group to study the behavior of hybrid canids (wolf hybrids) and felines, including a review of any incidents involving holding harm and personal injury caused past such animals. The department was to present its findings and proposals for legislation in Jan of 1998.
CO - Facility dog - § 16-10-404. Use of a court facility dog--definitions	C. R. Southward. A. § 16-10-404	This Colorado law enacted in 2019 states that a courtroom may social club order that a witness's testimony exist offered while a courtroom facility domestic dog is in the courtroom during a criminal proceeding if the judge determines by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) the presence of a court facility dog with the witness during the witness's testimony would reduce the witness'southward anxiety and enhance the ability of the court to receive full and accurate testimony; (two) the arrangements for an available courtroom facility dog during the witness's testimony would non interfere with efficient criminal proceedings; and (3) no prejudice would issue to any party due to the presence of a court facility canis familiaris with the witness. A "court facility canis familiaris" must be a graduate of an accredited internationally recognized assistance dog organization.
CO - Farming - Article l.five. Solitude of Calves Raised for Veal and Meaning Sows	C. R. S. A. § 35-l.v-101 to 103	This 2008 Colorado statute applies to the confinement of calves raised for veal and pigs during pregnancy. This statute provides that calves raised for veal and sows during pregnancy must exist able to lie down, stand up, and turn effectually without touching the sides of their enclosure.
CO - Fur - § 12b. Prohibited methods of taking wildlife (Ramble Provision)	CO CONST Art. 18, § 12b	This Colorado constitutional provision provides that it is unlawful to take wild fauna with any leghold trap, any instant kill body-gripping design trap, or past poison or snare in the state of Colorado subject to the listed exceptions.
CO - Humane Slaughter - Article 33. Custom Processing of Meat Animals.	C. R. South. A. § 35-33-101 to 407	This Colorado section includes both the meat processing laws and the humane slaughter provisions. It covers livestock, which are divers equally cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, and any other animal which may be used in and for the training of meat or meat products. No processor shall shackle, hoist, or otherwise bring livestock into position for slaughter or shall slaughter livestock except by humane methods equally defined by regulation; the apply of a manually operated hammer, sledge, or poleax is not permitted. Additionally, poultry shall exist slaughtered in accordance with "good commercial practices" and in a manner that will result in thorough bleeding. Whatsoever person who violates whatever provision is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $750 per violation for each day of violation and commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
CO - Hunting - Willful Devastation of Wild fauna	C. R. S. A. § 33-half dozen-117	Colorado has a unique statute specific to poaching for the purpose of acquiring parts or "trophies" from an animal with the intent of abandoning the carcass, or even soliciting someone else to practice and then. Taking or hunting big game, eagles, or endangered species with this intent results in a felony. The intent of the police is stated "to protect the wildlife from wanton, ruthless, or wasteful devastation or mutilation for their heads, hides, claws, teeth, antlers, horns, internal organs, or feathers."
CO - Impound - Article 4. Disease Command	C. R. South. A. § 25-4-610	This Colorado statute provides that it is unlawful for whatever owner of any dog, cat, other pet beast, or other mammal which has not been inoculated equally required by the lodge of the county lath of health or board of health of a health department to let it to run at large. The health department or wellness officer may capture and impound whatever such domestic dog, cat, other pet beast.
CO - Impound - Colorado Pet Animate being Care and Facilities Act	C. R. S. A. § 35-lxxx-106.three	This is an case of a state statute that creates minimum holding periods that shelters must hold found pets for earlier allowing the pets to be adopted or otherwise disposed of.
CO - Impoundment - Article fifteen. Regulation Under Police Power.	C. R. Southward. A. § 30-15-104	This Colorado statute immunizes the board of county commissioners or other local governing entity from liability associated with the impoundment of pet animals. Specifically, information technology states the lath or anyone authorized to enforce a local ordinance shall non exist held responsible for any accident or subsequent disease that may occur to the animal in connection with the administration of the resolution or ordinance.
CO - Initiatives - Subpoena fourteen, Regulation of Commercial Hog Facilities	Subpoena fourteen, 1998	This 1998 Colorado Election Measure created additional regulations for large-scale pig producers. The goal was to better curb the waste product run-off from such facilities. It passed in the 1998 election with 64.2% of the vote.
CO - Initiatives - Amendment 13 (livestock operations)	Amendment thirteen. Uniform Regulation of Livestock Operations	This 1998 Colorado ballot measure sought to create compatible livestock regulations based on the potential environmental impact that the functioning causes (rather than the graphic symbol of the subcontract). It specifically sought to target the non-point pollution caused by large-scale functioning run-off. The mensurate further added a definition for "livestock." Information technology failed at the polls with only 38.seven% of the vote.
CO - Lien, veterinary - Part 1. Lien on Personal Property.	C.R.Southward.A. § 38-20-102, 103	These Colorado laws concern liens on pet animals for persons who are entrusted with caring for the animals. Under 38-twenty-102, any feeder, veterinarian, or other person entrusted with the pet for feeding, keeping, boarding, or medical shall have a lien for the corporeality of costs incurred in the care of the animal. Any contracts (or copies thereof) made by the owner of the pet animal with the person caring for the animals may be filed with the county clerk where the owner resides (or where the contract was fabricated for non-residents). The filing of this contract constitutes notice to the contents of the contract and the legal effect of the filing.
CO - Ordinances - Beast command officers--Commodity 15. Regulation Nether Constabulary Power.	C. R. Southward. A. § 30-15-105	This Colorado statute provides that personnel engaged in animal control may upshot citations or summonses and complaints enforcing the county canis familiaris control resolution or whatever other county resolution concerning the control of pet animals or municipal ordinance. Officers assigned to this capacity may be referred to equally "peace officers."
CO - Ordinances - Pet animal control and licensing	C. R. S. A. § 30-15-101	This Colorado statute states that the board of county commissioners of any county may adopt a resolution for the control and licensing of dogs. These regulations may require licensing of dogs by owners, require that dogs and other pet animals be under command at all times and ascertain "control," define "vicious dog" and "vicious animal," establish a dog pound, or other animate being holding facility, provide for the impoundment of animals which are brutal, not under control, or otherwise not in conformity with the resolutions, and establish such other reasonable regulations and restrictions for the control of dogs and other pet animals.
CO - Pet Shop - Commodity lxxx. Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act	C. R. S. A. § 35-80-101 - 117	This Colorado Act regulates pet beast facilities (i.e., shelters, large kennels, and breeders). The Act covers licensing of the facilities and those activities accounted unlawful, such equally selling a kitten or puppy nether the age of viii weeks and refusing a lawful inspection.
CO - Police Grooming - Dog Protection Act	C.R.S.A. § 29-five-112	This Colorado statute requires local police force enforcement to undergo training in order to prevent the shooting of dogs by local law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Specifically, this statute aims to assist in preparation officers to differentiate between threatening and not-threatening dog behaviors, equally well as to employ non-lethal means whenever possible.
CO - Service fauna - Article 23. Grooming Veterans to Train Their Own Service Dogs Airplane pilot Program	C. R. Due south. A. § 26-23-101 - 105	This set of Colorado laws (effective June of 2016) creates a pilot program for veterans to train their own service dogs. The program identifies a group of upwardly to 10 veterans to pair with dogs. Qualified canine trainers will piece of work with the veterans to employ train the dogs for apply every bit service dogs. The programme will further offer those veterans who graduate from the program with a trained dog the opportunity and necessary follow-along services to expand the plan, if willing, by identifying, fostering, and training a subsequent dog for another eligible veteran who is unable to complete one or more parts of the procedure due to physical limitations. Other sections of the article explain the criteria for selecting the not-profit agencies for implementation and the creation of a fund in the country treasury.
CO - Country animals - § 24-eighty-910.five. Country pets	C. R. S. A. § 24-eighty-910.5	Dogs and cats that are adopted from Colorado animal shelters and rescues are declared to be the state pets of the state of Colorado.
CO - Trusts for Pets - Article 11. Intestate Succession and Wills.	C. R. Due south. A. § xv-xi-901	This Colorado statute provides that trust for the care of designated domestic or pet animals and the animals' offspring in gestation is valid. The determination of the "animals' offspring in gestation" is made at the time the designated domestic or pet animals become present beneficiaries of the trust. Unless the trust instrument provides for an earlier termination, the trust terminates when no living animal is covered past the trust (but no longer than 21 years). The trust belongings then transfers equally provided past statute, simply the trustee may not covert the trust belongings.
CO - Vehicle, animal - § xiii-21-108.iv. Persons rendering emergency assistance from a locked vehicle	C.R.South.A. § 13-21-108.four, C.R.S.A. § 18-1-706.5	This Colorado constabulary allows the rescue of animals and "at-run a risk persons" from locked vehicles under sure weather condition. "Beast" defined as cat or canis familiaris and specifically excludes livestock. A person is immune from civil or criminal liability for property damage resulting from forcible entry into locked vehicle if all of the following occurs: (i) an animal is present and the person has a reasonable belief that the animal is in imminent danger of death or suffering serious bodily injury; (2) the person determines the vehicle is locked and forcible entry is necessary; (three) the person makes reasonable effort to locate the owner as outlined in the police; (iv) the person contacts police force enforcement/911/emergency responders prior to forcibly entering vehicle; and he or she remains with vehicle until law enforcement/responders arrive.
CO - Veterinarian - Veterinary Practice Lawmaking	C.R.South.A. § 12-315-101 - 126	These are the state'south veterinarian practice laws.
CO - Wild fauna - Article six. Law Enforcement and Penalties--Wild fauna.	C. R. Southward. A. § 33-6-101 to 142	These Colorado statutes correspond Part ane of the state'southward wildlife lawmaking. Among the provisions include violations for improperly taking wildlife, hunting provisions, and a law prohibiting computer-assisted remote hunting.
CO - Wild animals trade - Illegal sale of wildlife; penalties	C. R. S. A. § 33-half-dozen-113	Colorado statute addressing illegal sale of wildlife, including bears.
CO - Wild fauna, nongame - Wild fauna; Illegal Possession	C. R. S. A. § 33-half dozen-109	Colorado police force prohibits the taking, hunting, or possession of animals deemed belongings of the state or wild fauna taken in violation of land, federal, or non-U.S. police (including baldheaded and aureate eagles), resulting in a misdemeanor with up to one year in jail and fines. Further, at that place is an additional penalty for the taking of "big game" species. Information technology is besides illegal to have in ane's possession whatever nonnative or exotic species.