Colorado statute
C.R.S. § 18-9-204 — Animal fighting - penalty.
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. § 18-9-204
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) No person shall cause, sponsor, arrange, hold, or encourage a fight between animals for the purpose of monetary gain or entertainment. (b) For the purposes of this section, a person encourages a fight between animals for the purpose of monetary gain or entertainment if he or she: (I) Is knowingly present at or wagers on such a fight; (II) Owns, trains, transports, possesses, breeds, sells, transfers, or equips an animal with the intent that such animal will be engaged in such a fight; (III) Knowingly allows any such fight to occur on any property owned or controlled by him; (IV) Knowingly allows any animal used for such a fight to be kept, boarded, housed, or trained on, or transported in, any property owned or controlled by him; (V) Knowingly uses any means of communication for the purpose of promoting such a fight; or (VI) Knowingly possesses any animal used for such a fight or any device intended to enhance the animal's fighting ability. (2) (a) A person who violates the provisions of this section commits a class 5 felony and, in addition to the punishment provided in section 18-1.3-401, the court shall impose upon the person a mandatory fine of at least one thousand dollars. (b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2023.) (3) Nothing in this section shall prohibit normal hunting practices as approved by the division of parks and wildlife. (4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the training of animals or the use of equipment in the training of animals for any purpose not prohibited by law.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is animal fighting a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
Animal fighting is a class 5 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-9-204.
Which Colorado statute covers animal fighting?
Animal fighting is governed by C.R.S. § 18-9-204 (Animal fighting - penalty).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.