Neglect cruelty and abuse

State and City laws include provisions for the care of animals. Animals need adequate food, water, protection from the weather and housing. When investigating accusations of mistreatment, Humane Officers will first try to inform and educate the accused of the violation and how to remedy it. Officers may confiscate mistreated animals for their protection and welfare.

CITY LAW:
It shall be unlawful for any person; to overload, overwork, torture, beat, mutilate, needlessly kill or otherwise treat any animal in a cruel and inhumane manner, to fail to provide any animal owned by kept by him with adequate space, consistent with the normal requirements and habits of the animal’s size, species and breed; to abandon any animal; or to intentionally poison any animal. (6-7-117)

STATE LAW:
A person commits cruelty to animals if he knowingly or with criminal negligence overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beats, needlessly mutilates, needlessly kills, carries in or upon any vehicles in a cruel or reckless manner, or otherwise mistreats or neglects any animal, or causes or procures it to be done, or having the charge and custody of any animal, fails to provide it with proper food, drink, protection from the weather, or abandons it. (CRS 1973, 18-9-202)