Denver, Colorado

Sec. 8-46. – License required.

It shall be unlawful for any person who owns any dog or domestic cat over the age of six (6) months in the city to fail to have such dog or cat licensed. Dogs or cats over the age of six (6) months purchased, obtained, or otherwise acquired shall be licensed within thirty (30) days after such acquisition or, if under, within thirty (30) days after reaching six (6) months of age. Individual licenses shall not be required for dogs or cats being held for redemption or adoption by the Denver Animal Shelter, an approved shelter owned and operated by a tax-exempt humane organization or a licensed pet shop.

Sec. 8-50. – License fees; exemptions.

(b) The following categories of animals shall be exempt from the licensing fee:

(1) One (1) sterilized dog or one (1) sterilized cat owned by any person sixty-five (65) years of age or older;

Sec. 8-55. – Spaying and neutering.

(a) It shall be unlawful to own or keep in the city any dog or cat over the age of six (6) months that has not been spayed or neutered except as provided in section 8-56.

(b) It is the purpose of this section to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the city by reducing the number of stray dogs and cats. The council finds that each year tens of thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized in the city because they are not wanted. It is the purpose of this section to eliminate the excessive number of unwanted animals and thereby stop the needless killing of these animals by restricting the breeding practices of pet owners and breeders through legislation that is both reasonable and enforceable.

Sec. 8-56. – Intact permit requirements.

The prohibition contained in section 8-55 shall not apply:

(a) If a licensed veterinarian states in writing that an animal is unfit to undergo the required surgical procedure because of an extreme health condition of the animal. Such extreme health condition shall include, but not be limited to: severe cardiovascular compromise, bleeding disorder, respiratory disease, and hepatic disease. The old age of an animal shall not, of itself, constitute an extreme health condition for purposes of this section.

(b) If the owner of the animal annually obtains a permit from Denver Animal Protection to possess an animal that is not spayed or neutered. The permit shall be issued or renewed only if the department determines that the following conditions have been met:

(1) The animal is kept current on the rabies vaccination;

(2) The animal is not housed with another intact animal of the same species and opposite sex in the same household;

(3) The owner has not had more than two (2) violations of the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Code in the preceding twenty-four (24) months;

(4) The owner pays a permit fee established by the board. The permit fee is intended to cover a portion of the cost which the city currently incurs for each unwanted animal impounded and euthanized; and

(5) The executive director determines that approval of the permit is in the interests of the animal as well as the health and welfare of the public.

(c) If an animal is temporarily in the city to participate in a show or event sponsored by a sanctioned animal organization; or

(d) If an animal is owned or kept in the city for fewer than thirty (30) days in a one-year period.

Sec. 8-57. – Dismissal upon compliance.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1-13(a), a criminal citation for violation of this division shall be dismissed if there is proof of compliance with the terms of this division within thirty (30) days of the date of the summons or impoundment.

Sec. 8-152. – Release of impounded animals.

(a) If the owner of an impounded animal seeks to redeem the animal, the executive director may require the owner to:

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(2) Comply with the license and sterilization requirements in this chapter;

Sec. 8-153.5. – Conditions of adoption.

(e) All municipal shelter dogs and cats, except those specifically exempted by the executive director, shall be sterilized prior to release by the executive director for adoption; provided, however, that, if the animal is too young, or is otherwise physically incapable of undergoing the requisite sterilization procedure, it shall be released only upon the executive director’s first obtaining from the adoptive owner:

(1) Payment of a sterilization deposit fee that shall be fully refunded upon the owner providing, within a reasonable time to be established by regulation adopted by the board, satisfactory proof of sterilization in the form of certification from the veterinarian or other provider of such sterilization procedure.

(2) A written agreement that the animal will be immediately sterilized at the owner’s expense when the animal both attains the age which veterinary science deems appropriate to sterilize, but not more than six (6) months of age, and is physically capable of undergoing the requisite sterilization procedure. The city shall not incur any cost, obligation or liability incident to the sterilization of any animal, except that the city may provide transportation service to and from locations within the city where such service is provided. If the animal is permanently unable to be sterilized, and the animal is owned in the city, the adoptive owner must obtain an intact permit for the stated fee.

(f) In the event an owner signs an agreement to sterilize an animal pursuant to the provisions of subsection (e) above, it shall be unlawful to violate such written agreement by failing to sterilize and provide proof of sterilization within the time established by the board, or fail to obtain an intact permit if the animal is permanently unable to be sterilized.