Sec. 8-64. - Potentially dangerous animal permit.
(a) Applications for potentially dangerous animal permits shall include:
(1) The name and address of the applicant and of the owner or keeper of the animal;
(2) The names and addresses of two (2) persons who may be contacted in the case of emergency;
(3) An accurate description of the animal for which the permit is requested;
(4) The address or place where the animal will be located;
(5) A permit fee for the animal. In addition to the license fees provided by sections 8-48 and 8-50 of this article, the owner or keeper of a potentially dangerous animal shall pay an annual permit fee as set by the board to register and maintain registration of such owner or keeper's animal as a potentially dangerous animal;
(6) Proof that the animal has had a microchip implanted;
(7) Proof that the animal has a current rabies vaccination; and
(8) Such other information as Denver Animal Protection may require.
(b) Conditions of a potentially dangerous animal permit:
(1) Any owner or keeper of a potentially dangerous animal shall be jointly and severally responsible with all other owners or keepers of such animal for compliance with the requirements of this section and the permit issued hereunder.
(2) Any owner or keeper of any potentially dangerous animal shall be allowed only one (1) permitted potentially dangerous animal, and no household within the city shall be allowed to harbor more than one (1) permitted potentially dangerous animal at any time.
(3) Any owner or keeper of a potentially dangerous animal shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
(4) The location where the potentially dangerous animal is possessed or maintained must be kept clean and sanitary, and the animal must be provided proper and adequate food, water, ventilation shelter, and care at all times.
(5) Denver Animal Protection must be permitted to inspect the animal and premises for compliance with this section at any reasonable time.
(6) The owner or keeper of the potentially dangerous animal shall microchip such animal and shall provide proof of implantation and registration of the microchip at the time of the permit application.
(7) The owner or keeper of a potentially dangerous animal shall notify Denver Animal Protection in person or by telephone of any of the following occurrences within the scheduled time frames as set forth in this subsection:
a. Within eight (8) hours after the animal has escaped or has otherwise ceased to be in custody of the owner or keeper for any reason, unless the owner or keeper knows such animal to be physically secured, restrained, or confined and to be in the custody of another adult who is competent.
b. Within eight (8) hours after the animal has attacked a person or another domestic animal.
c. If the animal has died, or if the owner or keeper of the potentially dangerous animal or the location of the potentially dangerous animal's primary habitat is changed to a person or location outside of the city, the animal owner or keeper listed on the permit shall notify Denver Animal Protection within twenty-four (24) hours of such change, including the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner. If the owner or keeper of the animal or the location of the animal's primary habitat is changed to a person or location at a different address within the city, the animal owner or keeper listed on the permit shall notify Denver Animal Protection within twenty-four (24) hours of the change, including the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner, and the new owner may be permitted to modify the permit to reflect the new owner's name in the discretion of Denver Animal Protection, but such modification must be obtained within five (5) days of the change. The fee for a permit modification shall be as set by the board.
(8) In the discretion of Denver Animal Protection or as ordered by the county court, potentially dangerous animal permits may also contain one (1) or more of the following conditions:
a. Except under the circumstances otherwise specifically permitted by this section, a potentially dangerous animal shall at all times be maintained inside a secure enclosure.
b. The potentially dangerous animal shall not be present, kept, or maintained at any location other than as specified in the permit.
c. If the potentially dangerous animal is a dog, a sign with at least two-inch letters declaring "dangerous dog on premises" in a visible and conspicuous location near each entrance to the property where the dog is kept which is clearly visible to the general public shall be posted on the premises where such dog is kept, warning that there is a dog on the premises which presents a potential danger to persons. Such sign shall also include a symbol sufficient to convey, without the use of words, the message that there is a dog on the premises which presents a potential danger to persons.
d. The potentially dangerous animal shall not be permitted to be outside a proper enclosure on the premises named in the permit except for the purpose of obtaining supervised and attended exercise, veterinary care, being sold or given away, or to comply with any provision of law or directive of an animal protection officer. When outside the proper enclosure for such permitted purposes, the animal must be properly muzzled and restrained by a substantial chain or leash not to exceed six (6) feet in length under the control of a responsible adult at all times who has the physical ability to restrain the movement of such animal.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) below, the potentially dangerous animal permit shall be renewed annually with Denver Animal Protection.
(d) If a potentially dangerous animal has been permitted thirty-six (36) consecutive months and there have been no complaints or reports of behavior indicating that the animal continues to be a threat to public safety, the owner or keeper may make a written request to Denver Animal Protection to remove the animal's classification as a potentially dangerous animal. The declassification of a potentially dangerous animal is in the sole discretion of Denver Animal Protection. If the animal's classification is removed, the owner is no longer required to maintain a valid potentially dangerous animal permit.
(Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18)
