Animal attack or bite.
Denver Revised Municipal Code § 8-61
in effectSec. 8-61. - Animal attack or bite.
(a) Any owner or keeper of an animal shall be liable pursuant to this Code for the behavior of such animal, and it shall be unlawful if such animal attacks or bites:
(1) Any person or domestic animal not on the premises of such owner or keeper;
(2) Any person or domestic animal upon the premises of the residence of such owner or keeper or upon the premises of any business establishment not then open to the public. It is an affirmative defense to this paragraph if such premises are previously posted at each entrance with a prominent and conspicuous sign warning all persons, in lettering not less than two (2) inches in height, of the animal and if the animal is securely confined indoors or confined in a secure enclosure as defined in section 8-2(23); or
(3) Any person or domestic animal upon the premises of any business establishment that is open to the public.
(b) The fact that the animal was not in the possession of the owner or keeper at the time of the attack or bite shall not constitute a defense to this section.
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any law enforcement officer who uses an animal while engaged in law enforcement activities, nor to any owner of any animal which attacks or bites a person engaged in physically attacking or striking such owner.
(d) It shall be an affirmative defense to this section that the actual or intended victim of any attack:
(1) Made an unlawful entry into the dwelling of the animal's owner or keeper;
(2) Made unlawful entry into a vehicle in which the animal was confined;
(3) Provoked, tormented, abused, or inflicted injury upon the animal in such a manner as to result in the attack or bite;
(4) Used unlawful physical force against the owner or keeper of the animal or acted in a way that a reasonable person would believe is the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force against the owner or keeper of the animal; or
(5) Used unlawful physical force against another person or acted in a way that a reasonable person would believe is the use or imminent use of unlawful physical force against another person.
(Ord. No. 672-18, § 1, 7-16-18; Ord. No. 539-23, § 8, 6-5-23)
Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIREMUCO_CH8AN_ARTIIDOCA_DIV4ANATBIDAPODAAN_S8-61ANATBIFetched: 10/27/2026