Leaving Animals Unattended in Motor Vehicles;

COL11/30/2022 CH. 70 MISCELLANEOUS CRIMES Penalty; Authority of Officers.

(a)For the purposes of this Section:

(1)Vehicle means a car, truck, camper, trailer, or other form of transportation in which an animal can be transported.

(2)Extreme temperature means an extremely cold or high temperature, inside or outside of a vehicle, that could endanger an animal’s health, safety, or well-being.

(b)A person shall not confine an animal in a vehicle in a manner that could reasonably be expected to threaten the health, safety, and well-being of the animal due to conditions that include, but are not limited to, extreme temperatures, lack of adequate ventilation, lack of food or water, or confinement with a vicious or dangerous animal, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, physical injury, or death to the animal.

(c)After making reasonable efforts to locate the vehicle’s owner, an animal control officer, peace officer, law enforcement officer, or firefighter may enter a vehicle by any reasonable means to protect the health, safety and well-being of an animal who is endangered by confinement in a vehicle. A peace officer, law enforcement officer, animal control officer, or firefighter may enter the vehicle for the sole purpose of assisting the animal and may not search the vehicle or seize items found in the vehicle unless otherwise permitted by law.

(d)An animal control officer, peace officer, law enforcement officer, or firefighter who removes or otherwise retrieves an animal under this Section shall:

(1)leave written notice in a secure and conspicuous location on or in the vehicle bearing the officer’s or firefighter’s name and title, and the address of the location where the animal may be retrieved; and

(2)take the animal to a veterinary clinic or animal shelter for a health screening and treatment.

(e)An animal control officer, peace officer, law enforcement officer, or firefighter who removes or otherwise COL11/30/2022 CH. 70 MISCELLANEOUS CRIMES retrieves an animal from a vehicle under this Section shall be immune from criminal or civil liability that might otherwise result from the removal.

(f)Penalties.

(1)A person in violation of Subsection

(b)of this Section shall be subject to a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500).

(2)The owner may retrieve the animal removed by an officer or firefighter only after payment of all charges that have accrued for the maintenance, care, medical treatment, and impoundment of the animal.