What Is Colorado Law For Animal Abuse

Statute by category	Commendation	Summary
CO - Assist Animals - Colorado Assistance Fauna/Guide Domestic dog Laws	C. R. South. A. § 12-240-144; § 12-245-229; § 12-255-133; § 18-13-107, § 18-13-107.3, § 18-13-107.7; § 18-9-202; § eighteen-1.iii-602; § 24-34-301; § 24-34-309; § 24-34-801 - 804; § 40-9-109; § 42-4-808	The following statutes comprise the state's relevant assistance fauna and service animate being laws.
CO - Cruelty - Consolidated Cruelty/Animal Fighting Statutes	C. R. S. A. § xviii-9-201 - 209; § 35-42-101 - 115	This Colorado department contains the anti-cruelty and brute 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 impairment, carries or confines in or upon whatsoever vehicles in a savage or reckless fashion, 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 class i misdemeanor and aggravated cruelty or a second confidence of animal cruelty is class 6 felony. This section also prohibits beast fighting (not limited to certain species such as dogs or chickens). Violation of this law results in a class 5 felony. This section also makes it illegal to own a dangerous domestic dog and "tamper" with livestock.
CO - Cruelty, reporting - § 19-iii-304. Persons required to report child abuse or fail	C. R. Due south. A. § nineteen-3-304	This Colorado statute relates to mandatory reporting for child abuse or neglect. With respect to creature-related problems, the statute requires veterinarians, officers and agents of the country bureau of fauna protection, and creature command officers to report suspected corruption or neglect as described in the police force.
CO - Dangerous Domestic dog- Article 9. Offenses Against Public Peace, Social club, and Decency.	C. R. S. A. § 18-9-204.v; C. R. S. A. § 35-42-115	This Colorado statute defines a "dangerous domestic dog" as one that has inflicted bodily or serious bodily injury upon or has caused the death of a person or domestic animal; or has demonstrated tendencies that would crusade a reasonable person to believe that the dog may inflict injury upon or cause the death of whatever person or domestic animal; or has engaged in or been trained for animal fighting as described by statute. Owners establish guilty under the provisions will be subject to misdemeanor penalties if their dogs cause bodily injury or felonies if their dogs cause the death of a person. Department 35-42-115 mandates that the bureau create a a statewide unsafe canis familiaris registry consisting of a database of information concerning microchip types and placement past veterinarians and licensed shelters in dangerous dogs.
CO - Disaster - Part 6. Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act	C. R. Due south. A. § 25-ane.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 veterinarian services for a host entity during an emergency.
CO - Dog Bite - Civil deportment against dog owners.	C. R. S. A. § 13-21-124	This 2005 Colorado constabulary makes a domestic dog owner strictly liable for dog bites only if the victim of the bite suffers serious bodily injury or death from existence bitten by a dog while lawfully on public or private property regardless of the viciousness or unsafe propensities of the domestic dog or the dog owner's knowledge or lack of cognition of the dog's viciousness or dangerous propensities. Further, the victim is entitled to recover only economical amercement (equally opposed to noneconomic amercement like pain and suffering, inconvenience, etc.) in a civil conform against the canis familiaris owner. Also, the statute provides that an possessor is non liable where the victim is unlawfully on public or private property; where the victim is on the owner'south property and the the property is conspicuously and conspicuously marked with ane or more posted signs stating "no trespassing" or "beware of canis familiaris"; where the victim has clearly provoked the dog; where the victim is a veterinary health care worker, dog groomer, humane bureau staff person, professional person dog handler, trainer, or dog show gauge acting in the performance of his or her respective duties; or where the dog is working equally a hunting dog, herding dog, farm or ranch canis familiaris, or predator control dog on the holding of or under the command of the dog's possessor.
CO - Dogs - Consolidated Canis familiaris Laws	C. R. S. A. § 35-43-126; § 13-21-124; § 24-eighty-910.5; § 25-4-601 to 615; § thirty-15-101 to 105; § 33-3-106; § 33-4-101.3; § 33-6-128; § 35-42.v-101; § 35-fifty-112	These Colorado statutes correspond the land's dog laws. There are provisions regarding civil deportment against dog owners for canis familiaris bites, rabies command, animal control and licensing, and pertinent wildlife regulations, such as a general ban on harassing wildlife and destroying dens or nests. Yet, there is an exception making it permissible to take wildlife when it is causing excessive damage to holding.
CO - Domestic Violence - Animals and Domestic Violence; Definition.	C. R. S. A. § 18-six-800.3; C.R.S.A. § 13-14-101, 103	This statute includes within the definition of "domestic violence" any other crime confronting a person, or against property, including an animal, or any municipal ordinance violation against a person, or against property, including an fauna, when used as a method of coercion, control, penalization, intimidation, or revenge directed against a person with whom the histrion is or has been involved in an intimate relationship. Under Commodity 14 on Civil Protection Orders, the phrase "protection order" means any order that prohibits the restrained person from contacting, harassing, injuring, intimidating, molesting, threatening, touching, stalking, or sexually assaulting or abusing any protected person or from entering or remaining on bounds, or from coming inside a specified altitude of a protected person or premises, or from taking, transferring, concealing, harming, disposing of or threatening harm to an animal endemic, possessed, leased, kept, or held past a protected person, or any other provision to protect the protected person from imminent danger to life or health.
CO - Emergency - § 25-iii.5-203. Emergency medical service providers--certification	C. R. S. A. § 25-3.5-203	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 care. Requirements governing the circumstances under which emergency medical service providers may provide preveterinary emergency intendance to dogs and cats may be specified in the employer'southward policies governing the provision of care. "Preveterinary emergency care" means the immediate medical stabilization of a dog or cat by an emergency medical service provider, in an emergency to which the emergency medical service provider is responding, through ways including oxygen, fluids, medications, or bandaging, with the intent of enabling the domestic dog or true cat to be treated past a veterinarian. "Preveterinary emergency intendance" does not include care provided in response to an emergency telephone call made solely for the purpose of tending to an injured dog or cat, unless a person's life could be in danger attempting to salvage the life of a dog or true cat.
CO - Endangered Species - Commodity 2. Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation	C. R. S. A. § 33-2-101 - 108	These Colorado statutes provide the State'south intent to protect endangered, threatened, or rare species and defines the terms associated with the statute. Information technology too has a provision specific to the reintroduction of the bonytail and black-footed ferret. Under the management plan, Colorado law provides for the acquisition of habitat for species listed equally well as other protective measures.
CO - Equine Activity Liability Statute - Article 21. Amercement.	C. R. Due south. A. § 13-21-119	This Colorado statute embodies the intent of the general assembly to encourage equine activities and llama activities by limiting the civil liability of those involved in such activities. This section likewise contains specific provisions related to llama activities. Liability is not limited by this statute where the equine or llama sponsor provided faulty equipment or tack, failed to make reasonable and prudent efforts to determine the ability of the participant to appoint safely in the activity, endemic 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 disregard for the safety of the participant or intentionally injures the participant.
CO - Exotic - Article 81. Hybrid Animals	C. R. South. A. § 35-81-101 to 102	This Colorado statute authorized the commissioner of the department of agronomics to appoint and convene an advisory group to written report the beliefs of hybrid canids (wolf hybrids) and felines, including a review of whatsoever incidents involving property impairment and personal injury caused by such animals. The section was to present its findings and proposals for legislation in January of 1998.
CO - Facility dog - § 16-x-404. Use of a courtroom facility dog--definitions	C. R. Due south. A. § 16-10-404	This Colorado police force enacted in 2019 states that a court may social club club that a witness's testimony be offered while a court facility dog is in the courtroom during a criminal proceeding if the judge determines past a preponderance of the prove that: (1) the presence of a court facility dog with the witness during the witness's testimony would reduce the witness's anxiety and enhance the ability of the court to receive full and accurate testimony; (2) the arrangements for an available court facility dog during the witness'southward testimony would not interfere with efficient criminal proceedings; and (3) no prejudice would outcome to whatsoever party due to the presence of a court facility canis familiaris with the witness. A "court facility dog" must be a graduate of an accredited internationally recognized assist dog organization.
CO - Farming - Commodity l.5. Confinement of Calves Raised for Veal and Pregnant Sows	C. R. Due south. A. § 35-50.five-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 be able to prevarication down, stand up, and turn effectually without touching the sides of their enclosure.
CO - Fur - § 12b. Prohibited methods of taking wildlife (Constitutional Provision)	CO CONST Art. 18, § 12b	This Colorado ramble provision provides that it is unlawful to have wildlife with any leghold trap, any instant impale body-gripping design trap, or past poison or snare in the land of Colorado subject to the listed exceptions.
CO - Humane Slaughter - Commodity 33. Custom Processing of Meat Animals.	C. R. Southward. 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 defined as cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, and any other creature which may be used in and for the preparation 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 as defined past regulation; the use of a manually operated hammer, sledge, or poleax is non permitted. Additionally, poultry shall exist slaughtered in accordance with "skillful commercial practices" and in a manner that will result in thorough haemorrhage. Any person who violates any provision is bailiwick to a civil penalty of non more than $750 per violation for each day of violation and commits a class 2 misdemeanor.
CO - Hunting - Willful Destruction of Wildlife	C. R. South. A. § 33-half dozen-117	Colorado has a unique statute specific to poaching for the purpose of acquiring parts or "trophies" from an animate being with the intent of abandoning the carcass, or even soliciting someone else to do so. Taking or hunting big game, eagles, or endangered species with this intent results in a felony. The intent of the police force is stated "to protect the wildlife from wanton, ruthless, or wasteful destruction or mutilation for their heads, hides, claws, teeth, antlers, horns, internal organs, or feathers."
CO - Impound - Article 4. Affliction Control	C. R. South. A. § 25-4-610	This Colorado statute provides that it is unlawful for any owner of whatsoever dog, true cat, other pet animal, or other mammal which has not been inoculated every bit required by the society of the county board of health or lath of health of a health department to let it to run at large. The health department or health officer may capture and impound any such dog, cat, other pet animal.
CO - Impound - Colorado Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act	C. R. S. A. § 35-80-106.3	This is an example of a state statute that creates minimum belongings periods that shelters must concord found pets for before allowing the pets to be adopted or otherwise disposed of.
CO - Impoundment - Commodity xv. Regulation Under Police Ability.	C. R. S. 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, it states the lath or anyone authorized to enforce a local ordinance shall non be held responsible for any accident or subsequent disease that may occur to the creature in connexion with the administration of the resolution or ordinance.
CO - Initiatives - Subpoena 14, Regulation of Commercial Hog Facilities	Amendment 14, 1998	This 1998 Colorado Ballot Measure created boosted regulations for large-scale hog producers. The goal was to ameliorate adjourn the waste run-off from such facilities. Information technology passed in the 1998 ballot with 64.two% of the vote.
CO - Initiatives - Amendment xiii (livestock operations)	Subpoena 13. Compatible Regulation of Livestock Operations	This 1998 Colorado ballot measure out sought to create uniform livestock regulations based on the potential environmental bear upon that the operation causes (rather than the character of the farm). It specifically sought to target the non-signal pollution caused by large-scale operation run-off. The measure further added a definition for "livestock." Information technology failed at the polls with only 38.7% of the vote.
CO - Lien, veterinary - Function 1. Lien on Personal Property.	C.R.S.A. § 38-xx-102, 103	These Colorado laws concern liens on pet animals for persons who are entrusted with caring for the animals. Under 38-20-102, any feeder, veterinary, or other person entrusted with the pet for feeding, keeping, boarding, or medical shall have a lien for the amount of costs incurred in the care of the fauna. Whatsoever contracts (or copies thereof) fabricated by the owner of the pet animate being with the person caring for the animals may be filed with the county clerk where the owner resides (or where the contract was made for not-residents). The filing of this contract constitutes detect to the contents of the contract and the legal outcome of the filing.
CO - Ordinances - Animal control officers--Article fifteen. Regulation Under Police force Power.	C. R. S. A. § 30-15-105	This Colorado statute provides that personnel engaged in animal command may outcome citations or summonses and complaints enforcing the county dog command resolution or whatsoever other canton resolution concerning the control of pet animals or municipal ordinance. Officers assigned to this capacity may be referred to as "peace officers."
CO - Ordinances - Pet beast command and licensing	C. R. Southward. A. § xxx-fifteen-101	This Colorado statute states that the board of county commissioners of any canton may adopt a resolution for the control and licensing of dogs. These regulations may require licensing of dogs by owners, crave that dogs and other pet animals be under control at all times and define "control," define "savage dog" and "vicious animate being," establish a dog pound, or other beast holding facility, provide for the impoundment of animals which are roughshod, non under control, or otherwise not in conformity with the resolutions, and found such other reasonable regulations and restrictions for the control of dogs and other pet animals.
CO - Pet Shop - Article eighty. Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act	C. R. S. A. § 35-eighty-101 - 117	This Colorado Act regulates pet animal facilities (i.e., shelters, large kennels, and breeders). The Deed covers licensing of the facilities and those activities deemed unlawful, such every bit selling a kitten or puppy under the age of 8 weeks and refusing a lawful inspection.
CO - Police Grooming - Dog Protection Act	C.R.S.A. § 29-5-112	This Colorado statute requires local police force enforcement to undergo training in order to foreclose the shooting of dogs by local law enforcement officers in the line of duty. Specifically, this statute aims to assist in training officers to differentiate between threatening and non-threatening dog behaviors, too as to employ non-lethal means whenever possible.
CO - Service beast - Article 23. Training Veterans to Train Their Ain Service Dogs Pilot Programme	C. R. S. A. § 26-23-101 - 105	This fix of Colorado laws (effective June of 2016) creates a pilot plan for veterans to train their ain service dogs. The programme identifies a grouping of up to x veterans to pair with dogs. Qualified canine trainers will work with the veterans to employ train the dogs for use as service dogs. The program will further offer those veterans who graduate from the programme with a trained dog the opportunity and necessary follow-along services to expand the program, if willing, by identifying, fostering, and training a subsequent dog for some other eligible veteran who is unable to consummate 1 or more than parts of the process due to concrete limitations. Other sections of the article explain the criteria for selecting the non-profit agencies for implementation and the cosmos of a fund in the state treasury.
CO - Country animals - § 24-80-910.v. Country pets	C. R. S. A. § 24-fourscore-910.5	Dogs and cats that are adopted from Colorado animal shelters and rescues are declared to be the country pets of the country of Colorado.
CO - Trusts for Pets - Article xi. Intestate Succession and Wills.	C. R. S. A. § fifteen-11-901	This Colorado statute provides that trust for the intendance of designated domestic or pet animals and the animals' offspring in gestation is valid. The conclusion 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 (only no longer than 21 years). The trust property and so transfers as provided by statute, but the trustee may non covert the trust property.
CO - Vehicle, animal - § thirteen-21-108.4. Persons rendering emergency assistance from a locked vehicle	C.R.Due south.A. § 13-21-108.4, C.R.Southward.A. § 18-1-706.5	This Colorado law allows the rescue of animals and "at-risk persons" from locked vehicles under certain conditions. "Animal" divers equally cat or dog and specifically excludes livestock. A person is immune from ceremonious or criminal liability for belongings damage resulting from forcible entry into locked vehicle if all of the post-obit occurs: (1) an animal is nowadays and the person has a reasonable belief that the animal is in imminent danger of decease or suffering serious actual injury; (ii) the person determines the vehicle is locked and forcible entry is necessary; (iii) the person makes reasonable attempt to locate the owner as outlined in the police force; (4) the person contacts constabulary enforcement/911/emergency responders prior to forcibly inbound vehicle; and he or she remains with vehicle until police enforcement/responders arrive.
CO - Veterinary - Veterinary Practice Code	C.R.S.A. § 12-315-101 - 126	These are the state'southward veterinarian practice laws.
CO - Wildlife - Article half-dozen. Law Enforcement and Penalties--Wildlife.	C. R. S. A. § 33-half dozen-101 to 142	These Colorado statutes represent Function 1 of the country's wildlife code. Amid the provisions include violations for improperly taking wildlife, hunting provisions, and a police force prohibiting computer-assisted remote hunting.
CO - Wildlife trade - Illegal sale of wildlife; penalties	C. R. Due south. A. § 33-six-113	Colorado statute addressing illegal sale of wild fauna, including bears.
CO - Wildlife, nongame - Wildlife; Illegal Possession	C. R. S. A. § 33-6-109	Colorado police prohibits the taking, hunting, or possession of animals accounted belongings of the state or wildlife taken in violation of state, federal, or not-U.Southward. constabulary (including bald and gilded eagles), resulting in a misdemeanor with upwards to 1 twelvemonth in jail and fines. Further, there is an boosted penalty for the taking of "big game" species. It is also illegal to have in ane'due south possession whatsoever nonnative or exotic species.