C.R.S.
Section 18-9-202
Cruelty to animals
- aggravated cruelty to animals
- service animals
- short title
(1)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(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)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
A person commits cruelty to animals if he or she recklessly or with criminal negligence tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal.(b)
A person commits aggravated cruelty to animals if he or she knowingly tortures, needlessly mutilates, or needlessly kills an animal.(c)
A person commits cruelty to a service animal or a certified police working dog or police working horse if he or she violates the provisions of subsection (1) of this section with respect to a service animal, certified police working dog, or police working horse, as those terms are defined in section 18-9-201 (2.3), (2.4), and (4.7), whether the service animal, certified police working dog, or police working horse is on duty or not on duty.(1.6)
Repealed.(1.8)
A peace officer having authority to act under 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.(2)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(a)
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2)(b) of this section, cruelty to animals, or cruelty to a service animal or certified police working dog or police working horse pursuant to subsection (1.5)(c) of this section, is a class 1 misdemeanor.(a.5)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(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)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(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 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 cruelty to a service animal, certified police working dog, or police working horse pursuant to subsection (1.5)(c)(I) of this section or aggravated cruelty to a service animal, certified police working dog, or police working horse pursuant to subsection (1.5)(c)(II) 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)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(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 is a class 4 felony.(d)
Intentionally left blank —Ed.(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, certified police working dog, or police working horse pursuant to subsection (1.5)(c) of this section, the court shall order the person to make restitution to the agency or individual owning the service animal, certified police working dog, or police working horse for all expenses, including any immediate and ongoing veterinary expenses related to the incident, and replacement costs for the service animal, certified police working dog, or police working horse 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, certified police working dog, or police working horse pursuant to subsection (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, certified police working dog, or police working horse for all training and certification costs related to the service animal, certified police working dog, or police working horse.(2.5)
It shall be an affirmative defense to a charge brought under this section involving injury or death to a dog that the dog was found running, worrying, or injuring sheep, cattle, or other livestock.(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”.
Source:
Section 18-9-202 — Cruelty to animals - aggravated cruelty to animals - service animals - short title, https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-18.pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).
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