Colorado
Updates about legal issues facing animals in the state
The Animal Legal Defense Fund works at the federal, state and local levels to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals.
Animal Protection Laws Ranking
Each year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund publishes its U.S. State Animal Protection Laws Rankings Report. Each state is ranked based on 20 different categories of animal protection.
Colorado
Overall Rank: #4 (Top Tier)
- +Veterinarians must report suspected animal cruelty, and have immunity for doing so
- +Protection orders may include animals
- +Mandatory mental health evaluation/treatment for convicted offenders, with emphasis on addressing causative factors
- -Possession ban statute only includes “pet animal[s]” and is not mandatory for misdemeanor animal cruelty
- -Sexual assault of an animal is a misdemeanor upon a first offense
Animal Protection Laws of Colorado
The Animal Protection Laws of Colorado compendium contains the general animal protection and related statutes for Colorado with an effective date on or before September 1, 2022.
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Recent Victories
Upgrading Welfare Standards for Hens Used by the Egg Industry (Colorado)
Egg-Laying Hen Confinement Standards (HB20-1343)
The Egg-Laying Hen Confinement Standards (HB20-1343) bill upgrades welfare standards for hens used by the egg industry in Colorado, ending the intensive confinement of millions of birds in the state by January 1, 2023.
Ending Killing Contests in Colorado
Regulation enacted on April 30, 2020
In 2020, Colorado adopted regulations banning killing contests for coyotes and foxes, as well as other small mammals.
Animal Legal Defense Fund 2022 State Animal Protection Laws Ranking Report
See the best and worst states for animal protection laws