Colorado statute
C.R.S. § 18-9-202 — Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals - penalties - short title - definition.
Current through 2025 Regular Session
Part of Part 2: CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, Colorado Revised Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of C.R.S. § 18-9-202
Statutory text current through the 2025 Regular Session. This is an officially sanctioned publication using the official text of the Colorado Revised Statutes; it is not the official statutes of the State of Colorado.
(1) (a) 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, engages in a sexual act with an animal, or otherwise mistreats or neglects any animal, or causes or procures it to be done, or, having the charge or custody of any animal, fails to provide it with proper food, drink, or protection from the weather consistent with the species, breed, and type of animal involved, or abandons an animal. (b) Any person who intentionally abandons a dog or cat commits the offense of cruelty to animals. (1.5) (a) A person commits cruelty to animals if the person recklessly or with criminal negligence tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal. (b) A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if the person: (I) Knowingly tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal; or (II) Knowingly kills or causes serious bodily injury that results in the death of a law enforcement animal, whether the law enforcement animal is on duty or not on duty. For the purposes of this subsection (1.5)(b)(II), "serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, a substantial risk of permanent disfigurement, a substantial risk of protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part or organ of the body, breaks, fractures, a penetrating wound from a knife or a penetrating gunshot wound, or burns of the second or third degree. (c) A person commits cruelty to a service animal or a law enforcement animal if the person violates subsection (1) of this section with respect to a service animal or a law enforcement animal, as those terms are defined in section 18-9-201, whether the service animal or law enforcement animal is on duty or not on duty. (1.6) Repealed. (1.8) (a) A peace officer having authority to act pursuant to this section may take possession of and impound an animal that the peace officer has probable cause to believe is a victim of a violation of subsection (1) or (1.5) of this section or is a victim of a violation of section 18-9-204 and as a result of the violation is endangered if it remains with the owner or custodian. If, in the opinion of a licensed veterinarian, an animal impounded pursuant to this subsection (1.8) is experiencing extreme pain or suffering, or is severely injured past recovery, severely disabled past recovery, or severely diseased past recovery, the animal may be euthanized without a court order. (b) (I) A licensed veterinarian is immune from criminal liability and is not in violation of the provisions of section (1.5)(b)(II) of this section if: (A) The licensed veterinarian provides veterinary treatment for an injured law enforcement animal; or (B) The licensed veterinarian euthanizes the law enforcement animal after determining that the law enforcement animal, due to a critical injury, is experiencing extreme pain or suffering, or is severely injured past recovery, severely disabled past recovery, or severely diseased past recovery. (II) A person who owns or who is charged with the care of a law enforcement animal is immune from criminal liability and is not in violation of the provisions of section (1.5)(b)(II) of this section if such person is able to reasonably determine that the law enforcement animal, due to a critical injury, is experiencing extreme pain or suffering, or is severely injured past recovery. (2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2)(b) of this section, cruelty to animals, or cruelty to a service animal or a law enforcement animal pursuant to subsection (1.5)(c) of this section, is a class 1 misdemeanor. (a.5) (I) Repealed. (II) In addition to any other sentence imposed for a violation of this section, the court may order an offender to complete an anger management treatment program, a mental health treatment program, or any other appropriate treatment program designed to address the underlying causative factors for the violation. (III) The court shall order an evaluation to be conducted prior to sentencing to assist the court in determining an appropriate sentence. If the violation is a felony offense in violation of subsection (1.5) of this section, a felony offense in violation of subsection (2)(b)(II) of this section, or any other violation of this section demonstrating knowing torture or torment of an animal that needlessly injured, mutilated, or killed the animal, the court shall require a comprehensive evaluation to help determine the causative factors. The person ordered to undergo an evaluation shall be required to pay the cost of the evaluation, unless the person qualifies for a public defender, then the cost will be paid by the judicial district. If the evaluation results in a recommendation of treatment and if the court so finds, the person must be ordered to complete, as a condition of any sentence to probation or a deferred judgment or sentence, an anger management treatment program, a mental health treatment program, or any other appropriate treatment program designed to address the underlying causative factors for the violation. (IV) Upon successful completion of an anger management treatment program, a mental health treatment program, or any other appropriate treatment program, the court may suspend any fine imposed; except for a five-hundred-dollar mandatory minimum fine which shall be imposed at the time of sentencing. (V) (A) In addition to any other sentence imposed upon a person for a violation of any criminal law under this title 18, any person convicted of a second or subsequent conviction for any crime, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by the court to include an act of cruelty to animals pursuant to subsection (1) of this section or aggravated cruelty to animals pursuant to subsection (1.5)(b) of this section, is required to pay a mandatory minimum fine of one thousand dollars and is required to complete an anger management treatment program or any other appropriate treatment program. (B) In addition to any other sentence imposed upon a person for a violation of any criminal law pursuant to this title 18, a person convicted of a second or subsequent conviction for any crime, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by the court to include cruelty to a service animal or a law enforcement animal pursuant to subsection (1.5)(c) of this section or aggravated cruelty to a service animal or aggravated cruelty to a law enforcement animal pursuant to subsection (1.5)(b) of this section, is required to pay a mandatory minimum fine of two thousand dollars and is required to complete an anger management treatment program or any other appropriate treatment program. (V.5) In addition to any other sentence imposed for a felony conviction pursuant to this section, the court shall enter an order prohibiting the defendant from owning, possessing, or caring for a pet animal as defined in section 35-80-102 (10) as a condition of the sentence for a period of three to five years, unless the defendant's treatment provider makes a specific recommendation not to impose the ban and the court agrees with the recommendation. (VI) Nothing in this paragraph (a.5) shall preclude the court from ordering treatment in any appropriate case. (VII) This subsection (2)(a.5) does not apply to the treatment of pack or draft animals by negligently overdriving, overloading, or overworking them, or the treatment of livestock and other animals used in the farm or ranch production of food, fiber, or other agricultural products when the treatment is in accordance with accepted agricultural animal husbandry practices, the treatment of animals involved in activities regulated pursuant to article 32 of title 44, the treatment of animals involved in research if the research facility is operating under rules set forth by the state or federal government, the treatment of animals involved in rodeos, the treatment of dogs used for legal hunting activities, wildlife nuisances, or to statutes regulating activities concerning wildlife and predator control in the state, including trapping. (b) (I) A second or subsequent conviction under the provisions of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section is a class 6 felony. A plea of nolo contendere accepted by the court shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this section. (II) In any case where the court sentences a person convicted of a class 6 felony under the provisions of this paragraph (b) to probation, the court shall, in addition to any other condition of probation imposed, order that: (A) The offender, pursuant to section 18-1.3-202 (1), be committed to the county jail for ninety days; or (B) The offender, pursuant to section 18-1.3-105 (3), be subject to home detention for no fewer than ninety days. (III) In any case where an offender is committed to the county jail or placed in home detention pursuant to subparagraph (II) of this paragraph (b), the court shall enter judgment against the offender for all costs assessed pursuant to section 18-1.3-701, including, but not limited to, the cost of care. (c) Aggravated cruelty to animals, as described in subsection (1.5)(b) of this section, is a class 4 felony. (d) (I) If a person is convicted of cruelty to a service animal pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection (1.5) of this section, the court shall order him or her to make restitution to the agency or individual owning the service animal for any veterinary bills and replacement costs of the service animal if it is disabled or killed as a result of the cruelty to animals incident. (II) If a person is convicted of cruelty or aggravated cruelty to a service animal or a law enforcement animal pursuant to subsection (1.5)(b) or (1.5)(c) of this section, the court shall order the person to make restitution to the agency or individual owning the service animal or law enforcement animal for all expenses, including any immediate and ongoing veterinary expenses related to the incident, and replacement costs for the service animal or law enforcement animal if it is permanently disabled or killed as a result of the cruelty or aggravated cruelty incident. If the court finds that the person who is convicted of cruelty or aggravated cruelty to a service animal or law enforcement animal pursuant to subsection (1.5)(b) or (1.5)(c) of this section did so with malicious intent, the person shall additionally make restitution to the agency or individual owning the service animal or law enforcement animal for all training and certification costs related to the service animal or law enforcement animal. (2.5) (a) It is an affirmative defense to a charge brought pursuant to this section involving injury or death to a dog that the dog was found running, worrying, or injuring sheep, cattle, or other livestock. (b) A person is justified in using physical force upon a law enforcement animal to defend their own person or a third person when the person reasonably believes that a law enforcement animal is an application of unreasonable or excessive force, in violation of section 18-1-707. This is an affirmative defense to a charge brought pursuant to this section that involves injury or death to a law enforcement animal. (3) Nothing in this part 2 modifies in any manner the authority of the parks and wildlife commission, as established in title 33, C.R.S., or prohibits any conduct authorized or permitted under title 33, C.R.S. (4) The short title of this section is "Punky's Law".
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 4 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-202.
Cruelty to animals — first offense: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-202(2)(a)) · Cruelty to animals — second or subsequent conviction: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-9-202(2)(b)(I)) · Aggravated cruelty to animals: class 4 felony (C.R.S. § 18-9-202(2)(c))
Which Colorado statute covers cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals?
Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-202 (Cruelty and aggravated cruelty to animals, service animals, and law enforcement animals - penalties - short title - definition).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.