Colorado criminal charge
Unlawful ownership of dangerous dog in Colorado
Unlawful ownership of dangerous dog is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5.
What is the penalty for unlawful ownership of dangerous dog in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (Bodily injury to a person — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog inflicts bodily injury upon a person.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to $750 (Bodily injury to a person — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog inflicts bodily injury upon a person.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Serious bodily injury to a person (first offense) — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog inflicts serious bodily injury upon a person.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Serious bodily injury to a person (first offense) — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog inflicts serious bodily injury upon a person.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | 12 months to 18 months (Serious bodily injury to a person (second or subsequent offense) — An owner is involved in a second or subsequent violation of (3)(c), i.e., the dog inflicts serious bodily injury upon a person again.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | $1,000 to $100,000 (Serious bodily injury to a person (second or subsequent offense) — An owner is involved in a second or subsequent violation of (3)(c), i.e., the dog inflicts serious bodily injury upon a person again.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 1 years to 1 years (Serious bodily injury to a person (second or subsequent offense) — An owner is involved in a second or subsequent violation of (3)(c), i.e., the dog inflicts serious bodily injury upon a person again.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 3 years (Death of a person — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog causes the death of a person.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | $1,000 to $100,000 (Death of a person — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog causes the death of a person.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 2 years to 2 years (Death of a person — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog causes the death of a person.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (Injury or death of a domestic animal — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog injures or causes the death of any domestic animal.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to $750 (Injury or death of a domestic animal — An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog injures or causes the death of any domestic animal.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is unlawful ownership of dangerous dog classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury to a person | Class 2 Misdemeanor | An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog inflicts bodily injury upon a person. | 18-9-204.5(3)(b) |
| Serious bodily injury to a person (first offense) | Class 1 Misdemeanor | An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog inflicts serious bodily injury upon a person. | 18-9-204.5(3)(c) |
| Serious bodily injury to a person (second or subsequent offense) | Class 6 Felony | An owner is involved in a second or subsequent violation of (3)(c), i.e., the dog inflicts serious bodily injury upon a person again. | 18-9-204.5(3)(c) |
| Death of a person | Class 5 Felony | An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog causes the death of a person. | 18-9-204.5(3)(d) |
| Injury or death of a domestic animal | Class 2 Misdemeanor | An owner violates (3)(a) and the owner's dangerous dog injures or causes the death of any domestic animal. | 18-9-204.5(3)(e)(I) |
Common questions about unlawful ownership of dangerous dog in Colorado
Is unlawful ownership of dangerous dog a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful ownership of dangerous dog ranges from a Class 2 Misdemeanor to a Class 5 Felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5.
Bodily injury to a person: Class 2 Misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5(3)(b)) · Serious bodily injury to a person (first offense): Class 1 Misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5(3)(c)) · Serious bodily injury to a person (second or subsequent offense): Class 6 Felony (C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5(3)(c)) · Death of a person: Class 5 Felony (C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5(3)(d)) · Injury or death of a domestic animal: Class 2 Misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5(3)(e)(I))
What are the penalties for unlawful ownership of dangerous dog in Colorado?
Penalties for unlawful ownership of dangerous dog in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a Class 2 Misdemeanor up to a Class 5 Felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers unlawful ownership of dangerous dog?
Unlawful ownership of dangerous dog is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5 (Unlawful ownership of dangerous dog - legislative declaration - definitions).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.