Colorado § 35-42-103 Definitions

Colorado Statutes

§ 35-42-103 — Definitions

Colorado § 35-42-103

Title 35Agriculture

Art.Animal Protection

This text of Colorado § 35-42-103 (Definitions) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 35-42-103 (2026).

Text

As used in this article 42, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)Abandon means the leaving of an animal without adequate provisions for the animal's proper care by its owner, the person responsible for the animal's care or custody, or any other person having possession of such animal.

(2)Accepted animal husbandry means practices generally recognized as appropriate in the care of animals consistent with the species, breed, and type of animal.

(3)Animal means any living dumb creature. (3.5) Bureau means the state bureau of animal protection created in section 35-42-105.

(4)Commissioner means the Colorado commissioner of agriculture or the commissioner's designee.

(5)Companion animal means domestic dogs, domestic cats, small pet birds, and other nonlivestock species.

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As used in this article 42, unless the context
otherwise requires:

(1) Abandon means the leaving of an animal without adequate provisions
for the animal's proper care by its owner, the person responsible for the animal's
care or custody, or any other person having possession of such animal.

(2) Accepted animal husbandry means practices generally recognized as
appropriate in the care of animals consistent with the species, breed, and type of
animal.

(3) Animal means any living dumb creature.

(3.5) Bureau means the state bureau of animal protection created in
section 35-42-105.

(4) Commissioner means the Colorado commissioner of agriculture or the
commissioner's designee.

(5) Companion animal means domestic dogs, domestic cats, small pet
birds, and other nonlivestock species.

(6) Department means the Colorado department of agriculture.

(7) Division means the division of animal welfare of the department.

(8) Livestock means cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and such horses, mules,
asses, and other animals used in the farm or ranch production of food, fiber, or
other products defined by the commissioner as agricultural products.

(9) Mistreat means every act or omission which causes or unreasonably
permits the continuation of unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering.

(10) Neglect means failure to provide food, water, protection from the
elements, or other care generally considered to be normal, usual, and accepted for
an animal's health and well-being consistent with the species, breed, and type of
animal.

Legislative History

Source: L. 90: Entire article R&RE, p. 1605, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2024: IP and (7) amended, (HB 24-1458), ch. 288, p. 1929, � 4, effective August 7. L. 2025: (3.5) added (SB 25-275), ch. 377, p. 2097, � 286, effective August 6; (4) amended, (HB 25-1084), ch. 24, p. 124, � 103, effective August 6.