2022 Colorado Code
Title 18 - Criminal Code
Article 9 - Offenses Against Public Peace, Order, and Decency
Part 2 - Cruelty to Animals
§ 18-9-204. Animal Fighting - Penalty

1. 1. No person shall cause, sponsor, arrange, hold, or encourage a fight between animals for the purpose of monetary gain or entertainment.
   2. For the purposes of this section, a person encourages a fight between animals for the purpose of monetary gain or entertainment if he or she:
      1. Is knowingly present at or wagers on such a fight;
      2. Owns, trains, transports, possesses, breeds, sells, transfers, or equips an animal with the intent that such animal will be engaged in such a fight;
      3. Knowingly allows any such fight to occur on any property owned or controlled by him;
      4. Knowingly allows any animal used for such a fight to be kept, boarded, housed, or trained on, or transported in, any property owned or controlled by him;
      5. Knowingly uses any means of communication for the purpose of promoting such a fight; or
      6. Knowingly possesses any animal used for such a fight or any device intended to enhance the animal's fighting ability.

2. 1. Except as described in paragraph (b) of this subsection (2), a person who violates the provisions of this section commits a class 5 felony and, in addition to the punishment provided in section 18-1.3-401, the court shall impose upon the person a mandatory fine of at least one thousand dollars.
   2. A person who commits a second or subsequent violation of this section commits a class 4 felony and, in addition to the punishment provided in section 18-1.3-401, the court shall impose upon the person a mandatory fine of at least five thousand dollars.

3. Nothing in this section shall prohibit normal hunting practices as approved by the division of parks and wildlife.
4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the training of animals or the use of equipment in the training of animals for any purpose not prohibited by law.

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 472, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 40-9-204. L. 79: Entire section repealed, p. 1223, § 29, effective June 21. L. 81: Entire section RC&RE, p. 972, § 16, effective July 1. L. 85: Entire section R&RE, p. 678, § 1, effective July 1. L. 90: (1)(a), IP(1)(b), (1)(b)(I), (1)(b)(II), and (4) amended and (1)(b)(IV) to (1)(b)(VI) added, p. 1612, § 6, effective July 1. L. 2002: (2) amended, p. 1517, § 205, effective October 1. L. 2003: IP(1)(b) and (1)(b)(II) amended, p. 2095, § 4, effective July 1. L. 2015: (2) amended, (HB 15-1062), ch. 31, p. 75, § 1, effective August 5.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2002 act amending subsection (2), see section 1 of chapter 318, Session Laws of Colorado 2002.