Title 35, Agriculture

(1) There is created the state board of stock inspection commissioners, composed of five commissioners who shall be appointed by the governor, all of whom shall be actively engaged in the production or feeding of cattle, horses, or sheep, with the consent of the senate. Two of th…

(1) All moneys coming into the hands of the board from the sale of estray animals shall constitute and be known as the estray fund, which fund is hereby created and continuously appropriated to the board, and shall be kept in an account separate and distinct from other accounts, …

The state board of stock inspection commissioners may establish a revolving fund from the estray fund or other available funds of the board in the amount of one thousand dollars to refund to the state treasurer or other persons for short checks deposited, duplicate collection of …

(1) Bovine livestock. (a) The board is hereby authorized to levy and collect, through authorized brand inspectors, a per-head inspection fee in an amount determined by the board by rule on all bovine livestock inspected; except that the charges for livestock shipped directly to a…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Animal Protection Act". Source: L. 90: Entire article R&RE, p. 1605, § 1, effective July 1.

The general assembly hereby finds and declares that the protection of companion animals and livestock is a matter of statewide concern; and that it is the policy of this state that persons responsible for the care or custody of such animals be persons fit to adequately provide fo…

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…

(1) Nothing in this article shall affect accepted animal husbandry practices utilized by any person in the care of companion or livestock animals, or in the extermination of undesirable pests as defined in articles 7, 10, and 43 of this title. (2) In case of any conflict between …

There is created in the department of agriculture the state bureau of animal protection. The bureau is a type 2 entity, as defined in section 24-1-105. Source: L. 90: Entire article R&RE, p. 1606, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2022: Entire section amended, (SB 22-162), ch. 469, p. 34…

The commissioner has the power to administer and enforce the provisions of this article, appoint agents and establish the qualifications of such agents, promulgate rules and regulations, enter into contracts, and implement training, procedures, and rules and regulations of recomm…

(1) Subject to the provisions of section 13 of article XII of the state constitution, the commissioner shall appoint such animal protection agents as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. (2) The commissioner may appoint agents who are employees of the state,…

(1) Except as authorized by law, a person shall not confine an animal without an adequate supply of food and water. If an animal is found to be confined without adequate food or water, an officer or agent of the bureau, a peace officer within the peace officer's jurisdiction, or …

(1) No animal shall be mistreated or neglected to such degree or abandoned in any circumstance so that the animal's life or health is endangered. (2) (a) The commissioner may take charge of, provide for, or remove from the area or building where found any companion animal found t…

An agent of the bureau or a peace officer, as described in section 16-2.5-101, may lawfully euthanize or cause to be euthanized, as defined in section 18-9-201 (2.7), an animal in the agent's or the peace officer's charge when, in the judgment of the agent or peace officer, and i…

(1) The commissioner, upon the commissioner's own motion or upon the complaint of any person, shall make any investigations necessary to ensure compliance with this article 42. (2) (a) At any reasonable time during regular business hours, the commissioner shall have free and unim…

(1) The commissioner or the commissioner's designee shall enforce the provisions of this article 42. (2) (a) Whenever the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe a violation of a provision of this article 42 or a rule adopted pursuant to this article 42 has occurred and imme…

(1) There is hereby created an animal protection fund. Any donations collected for animal protection, any net proceeds from the sale of an animal pursuant to section 18-9-202.5 (4), any donations collected pursuant to section 39-22-5602, and any money from restitution ordered for…

The provisions of this article shall not be construed to limit or preempt additional regulation by any city, town, or city and county. Nothing in this article shall interfere with the authority of the department of public health and environment in the enforcement of part 7 of art…

(1) The bureau shall establish a statewide dangerous dog registry consisting of a database of information concerning microchip types and placement by veterinarians and licensed shelters in dangerous dogs pursuant to the provisions of section 18-9-204.5 (3)(e.5), C.R.S. The commis…

It is lawful to mark cattle and horses with the owner's brand. When animals are brought into this state from another state or a territory in transit from beyond the boundaries of this state, the brand, or a copy thereof, duly certified to by the proper officer in each state or te…

Animals which are usually branded may be branded on either side with the owner's brand. No evidence of ownership by brands shall be permitted in any court in this state unless the brands are recorded as provided in section 35-43-105. Each drove of cattle or sheep which may be dri…

Any stock grower of this state may adopt and use an earmark. Such earmark shall be taken in evidence, in connection with the owner's recorded brand, in all suits at law or in equity in which the title to stock is involved. The earmark shall be made by cutting and shaping the ear …

No brand shall be used by more than one person, association, or corporation, nor shall any brand be recorded in this state elsewhere than in the office of the state board of stock inspection commissioners, except as provided in section 35-43-107. Source: L. 13: p. 142, § 2. C.L. …

(1) Any person, association, or corporation desiring to adopt a brand, not then being the recorded brand of another person, association, or corporation, shall forward to the state board of stock inspection commissioners a facsimile of the desired brand, together with a written ap…

Upon the recording of any brand, the owner thereof shall be entitled to one certified copy of the record of such brand from the state board of stock inspection commissioners, the certificate to be signed by the brand commissioner or the secretary of the board. Additional certifie…

It is unlawful for the county clerk and recorder of any county in this state to record any brand, unless previously recorded in the office of the state board of stock inspection commissioners. Source: L. 13: p. 143, § 5. C.L. § 3123. CSA: C. 160, § 7. CRS 53: § 8-2-7. C.R.S. 1963…

It is the duty of the state board of stock inspection commissioners, from time to time as it may be necessary, to cause to be published in book form a list of all brands on record at the time of such publication. The board, at its discretion, may cause to be issued a supplement t…

Any brand recorded shall be the property of the person, association, or corporation causing such record to be made and shall be subject to sale, assignment, transfer, devise, and descent as personal property. Instruments of writing evidencing the sale of such brand, assignment, o…

In all suits at law or in equity or in any criminal proceeding when the title to animals is involved or proper to be proved, the certified copy provided for in section 35-43-106 shall be prima facie evidence of the ownership of such animal by the person whose brand it may be. Pro…

Any owner of sheep or hogs may use an earmark, tag, or brand to designate ownership of and title to the same, which shall be subject to the provisions of this article in respect to brands. Source: L. 13: p. 145, § 10. C.L. § 3127. CSA: C. 160, § 11. CRS 53: § 8-2-11. C.R.S. 1963:…

Owners of animals other than sheep or hogs in this state may use earmarks, and these earmarks shall be taken in evidence in connection with the owner's recorded brand in all suits at law or in equity or in any criminal proceedings when the title to such property is involved or pr…

Upon the first of every month or as soon thereafter as possible, the state board of stock inspection commissioners shall cause to be exhibited in the office of the county clerk and recorder in all counties in the state and post, when permissible, in Colorado licensed livestock ma…

All fees and money collected by the state board of stock inspection commissioners shall be deposited in the brand inspection fund unless otherwise provided by law. The board shall prepare and transmit annually, in the form and manner prescribed by the heads of the principal depar…

(1) (a) To revise and disencumber the brand records of unused brands and to provide revenues with which to publish new brand books and otherwise assist in the operational cost of the division of brand inspection, the state board of stock inspection commissioners has the authority…

(1) Any brand that has been canceled for nonpayment of the assessment pursuant to section 35-43-115 (1) and that, as of June 30 of any assessment year, has remained unclaimed for at least five years since the date of cancellation shall be presumed abandoned, and all claims or int…

If a person, an association, or a corporation willfully and knowingly brands, or causes to be branded, an animal that is the property of another with the person's, association's, or corporation's brand or any brand that is not the recorded brand of the owner or willfully and know…

A person who brands or marks, or causes to be branded or marked, an animal that is the property of another with the person's brand or a brand that is not the recorded brand of the owner or effaces, defaces, or obliterates a brand or mark upon an animal is guilty of theft and, upo…

(1) All neat cattle and horses found running at large in this state without a mother and upon which there is neither mark nor brand shall be deemed a maverick and shall be sold to the highest bidder for cash at such time and place and under such rules and orders as the state boar…

When the stock of any resident intermixes with any drove of animals, it is the duty of any drovers or persons in charge to cut out and separate such stock from said drove immediately, except in case of sheep and horses, which shall be driven to the nearest suitable corral to be s…

(1) A person owning or having charge of any drove of cattle, horses, or sheep, when driving the same into or through any county of Colorado of which the owner is not a resident or landowner and where the land is occupied and improved by settlers and ranchers, shall prevent the sa…

It is the duty of any owner or agent of any owner of thoroughbred rams of any description to herd them or keep them enclosed. Any owner or agent who refuses to comply with the provisions of this section commits a civil infraction. Source: L. 1879: p. 190, § 1. G.S. § 3139. R.S. 0…

Any fines arising from a violation of section 35-43-123 shall be paid into the school fund of the county in which such violation occurs. Source: L. 1879: p. 190, § 2. G.S. § 3140. R.S. 08: § 6380. C.L. § 3146. CSA: C. 160, § 30. CRS 53: § 8-2-28. C.R.S. 1963: § 8-2-28.

No hog or swine shall be permitted to run at large, and the owner of any hog or swine trespassing on the property of any person is liable in treble the damages occasioned by such trespass and a fine of not less than five dollars nor more than ten dollars for each offense. Source:…

Any dog found running, worrying, or injuring sheep, cattle, or other livestock may be killed, and the owner or harborer of such dog shall be liable for all damages done by it. Source: G.L. § 2578. G.S. § 3176. R.S. 08: § 6387. C.L. § 3152. CSA: C. 160, § 40. CRS 53: § 8-2-33. C.R…

Any person who skins or removes from the carcass any part of the skin, hide, or pelt of any cattle or sheep without permission from the owner is guilty of theft and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in the manner provided by law for the punishment of theft. Nothing in t…

Any person who commits theft of, or knowingly kills, sells, drives, leads, transports, or rides away, or in any manner deprives the owner of the immediate possession of any cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats, swine, or asses, either live or slaughtered, or any portion of the sla…