REGULATION OF ANIMALS - IMPOUNDMENT, REDEMPTION AND DISPOSAL OF ANIMALS

Colorado Springs City Code ch. 6, art. 10

in effect

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.101 POWERS AND AUTHORITY

6.10.101: POWERS AND AUTHORITY: A. The Mayor may, with or without approval by the City Council, enter into an agreement with any person or agency for the enforcement of animal control ordinances of the City and related matters. B. Pursuant to an agreement, the Mayor may appoint or the agreement may provide for the appointment of any person or agency, or their employees or agents, as animal control officers. C. The agreement shall specify the authority to enforce animal control ordinances of the City, investigate City animal control ordinance violations, issue summons and complaints for animal control ordinance violations, impoundment of animals, and any other authority and limitations as the City determines are necessary pursuant to the agreement. D. Any person appointed pursuant to the agreement shall constitute an animal control officer with powers set forth in the agreement and the powers conferred by this section. E. In addition to the powers conferred by this section and set forth in the agreement, an animal control officer shall have the powers as are provided in Colorado Revised Statutes sections 30-15-104 and 30-15-105. F. It shall be unlawful for any person to hinder, impede or obstruct an animal control officer in the performance of any duties. (Ord. 88-226; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-31; Ord. 11-19)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.102 IMPOUNDMENT

6.10.102: IMPOUNDMENT: An animal found at any place within the City other than upon the premises of its owner or keeper, and not under direct physical control as provided by this chapter, may be picked up and impounded in an animal shelter as provided in section 6.10.103 of this article. This shall apply regardless of whether the animal has identification, and whether the owner or keeper of the animal is readily ascertainable. (1968 Code §§11-124, 11-144.2; Ord. 74-59; Ord. 74-114; 1980 Code; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.103 DUTY TO IMPOUND

6.10.103: DUTY TO IMPOUND: A. Any animal trespassing or running at large contrary to the provisions of this chapter may be taken up and impounded by an animal control officer. For the purpose of performing a duty, an animal control officer may enter onto private property in pursuit of any animal trespassing or running at large. Any animal picked up pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be delivered to the animal shelter, where the animal shall be received and safely kept for the five (5) day impoundment period or until redeemed or disposed of as provided by law. B. In the event an animal is picked up by any person other than an animal control officer, it shall be the duty of the person to notify the City within a reasonable time after the action, or to deliver the animal to the animal shelter, where the animal shall be received and safely kept until redeemed or disposed of as provided by law. (1968 Code §11-144.4; Ord. 74-59; 1980 Code; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-31)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.104 UNLAWFUL TAKING OR RELEASE

6.10.104: UNLAWFUL TAKING OR RELEASE: A. It shall be unlawful for any person to take and deliver to the shelter any animal from any enclosed lot or premises, or from any stable or other building unless given permission by the owner of the animal or as otherwise authorized by this chapter. B. It shall be unlawful for any person to open or cause to be opened any enclosed lot or premises thereby allowing any animal to run at large upon any public place of the City. (1968 Code §11-144.7; Ord. 74-59; Ord. 74-115; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.105 REDEMPTION; ANIMALS OTHER THAN HOOFED ANIMALS

6.10.105: REDEMPTION; ANIMALS OTHER THAN HOOFED ANIMALS: A. The redemption fee payable by the owner or keeper of any animal, other than a hoofed animal, for any period of impoundment shall be set by resolution of City Council. B. Payment of impounding fees shall not be in lieu of any fine, penalty or license fee. C. No pet or animal required to be inoculated or licensed under sections 6.8.102 and 6.8.103 of this chapter may be redeemed until requirements for licensing and inoculation shall have been met. (1968 Code §11-125; Ord. 79-12; 1980 Code; Ord. 83-318; Ord. 85-21; Ord. 95-203; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-31; Ord. 05-198; Ord. 11-07)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.106 REDEMPTION; HOOFED ANIMALS

6.10.106: REDEMPTION; HOOFED ANIMALS: The redemption fee payable by the owner or keeper of a hoofed animal impounded for any period shall be set by resolution of City Council. (1968 Code §11-144.3; Ord. 74-59; 1980 Code; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 11-07)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.107 UNREDEEMED ANIMALS; DISPOSITION

6.10.107: UNREDEEMED ANIMALS; DISPOSITION: A. Any owner or keeper of an animal who does not claim and redeem the animal within a five (5) day impounding period shall forfeit all right, title and interest in and to the animal. Fiscal responsibility for any animal not redeemed within five (5) days from the time of impounding shall be transferred from the City to the operator of the animal shelter. Any animal not redeemed within five (5) days from the time of impounding may at once be put up for adoption in accord with the normal procedure of the animal shelter operator. Any animal which has been impounded for five (5) days and has not been redeemed or adopted may be humanely destroyed and disposed of at the discretion of the animal shelter operator. B. No animal shall be put up for adoption or destroyed if the identity and whereabouts of the owner can be readily ascertained from a rabies vaccination tag, license tag or other identification tag worn by the animal, until a reasonable effort has been made to notify the owner. C. Disposition of unredeemed hoofed animals shall be in accord with Colorado Revised Statutes section 35-44-101 et seq. D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of this section: 1) an animal without identification, including, but not limited to, a microchip or collar, 2) animals that are relinquished to the animal control contractor by the owner, 3) abandoned animals, and 4) animals experiencing extreme pain or suffering may be humanely disposed of after having been impounded for less than five (5) days in accord with the provisions of Colorado Revised Statutes section 35-80-106.3. (1968 Code §§11-124, 11-144.5; Ord. 74-59; Ord. 74-114; 1980 Code; Ord. 01-42; Ord. 03-31; Ord. 08-209)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.108 DEAD ANIMALS; REMOVAL

6.10.108: DEAD ANIMALS; REMOVAL: The City shall provide, by contract or otherwise, for the removal and disposition of animal carcasses from the streets, avenues, alleys and other public places of the City. (1968 Code §§11-131, 11-144.9; Ord. 74-59; Ord. 74-114; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.109 DEAD ANIMALS; LEAVING IN PUBLIC PLACES PROHIBITED

6.10.109: DEAD ANIMALS; LEAVING IN PUBLIC PLACES PROHIBITED: It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or place any dead or injured animal or fowl or related body part, in or upon any public place within or belonging to the City. (1968 Code §§11-130, 11-144.8; Ord. 74-59; Ord. 74-114; Ord. 01-42)

Colorado Springs City Code § 6.10.110 DEAD ANIMALS; BURIAL WITHIN CITY

6.10.110: DEAD ANIMALS; BURIAL WITHIN CITY: It shall be unlawful for any person to bury or cause to be buried within the City any dead animal, except as provided herein. Any person having in the person's possession or upon their premises any dead animal shall immediately dispose of the animal in any one of the following manners: A. By removal from the City for appropriate disposition; B. By cremation at a licensed facility; C. By disposal at a site or facility certified to accept putrescible wastes; or D. By burial on the person's private property at a depth greater than two feet (2') below ground level. The carcass of any dead animal shall be disposed of at the expense of the person having the animal in the person's possession or upon the person's premises, and any disposal shall be in accord with the applicable regulations of the Health Department. (1968 Code §§11-132, 11-144.10; Ord. 74-59; Ord. 74-114; 1980 Code; Ord. 90-41; Ord. 01-42)

Source: City of Colorado Springs, Colorado, City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/coloradospringsco/latest/coloradosprings_co/0-0-0-7218Fetched: 11/1/2026