Never leave a dog (or any animal) in a hot car. Leaving a dog in a car for “just a minute” may be too long.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
IF YOU SEE A DOG IN A HOT CAR
If you see a dog in a hot car, immediately call 311 and familiarize yourself with the Good Samaritan law that provides legal immunity for people who break a car window to save an animal. However, to ensure immunity:
Leaving an animal in a hot vehicle constitutes animal cruelty (per Sec. 8-131 of the Denver County Ordinance) & could result in a fine of up to $999 and/or up to 300 days in jail.
If your pet must be removed from your vehicle, your window may be broken, your vehicle could be towed, and you could be responsible for emergency medical costs for your pet – in addition to a cruelty and neglect charge.
Do you want to help spread the word about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars? Download the Denver Dogs in Hot Cars informational flyer in English (PDF) or Spanish (PDF).
If you're looking for a visual graphic to share with your friends and colleagues, print a copy of our Dogs in Hot Cars poster (PDF).
Our Dogs in Hot Cars program is adapted from the national My Dog is Cool campaign created by the group RedRover. For more information about this campaign visit mydogiscool.com.
Ideally, the best way to protect pets from extreme temperatures is to avoid long-term outdoor exposure. However, if pets have to be outside for longer durations, Denver city ordinance requires that pets have adequate outdoor shelter such as a dog house or a similar structure that allows the animal to escape the elements. Further insulating the shelter or adding a “doggie door” to a garage or covered area adds another layer of protection from the cold.
Denver Animal Protection always reminds residents to ensure pets are protected from the elements. Failing to do so could have dire consequence for pets and result in a Cruelty to Animals or Animal Neglect charge, up to a $999 fine and/or a year in jail for the owner.
Denver's leash laws are intended to protect the health and safety of all people and pets that enjoy our city’s parks and open areas. However, even “good” dogs and owners need to obey leash laws.
While pups are free to run and roam in designated dog parks, here are the top five reasons why you should keep your dogs on leash in public spaces:
But what if your good boys and girls need to run and play? Luckily, Denver offers many dog parks throughout the city. Before visiting a designated dog park, please keep the following in mind:
When at the dog park, supervise your dog at all times. Make sure that you are able to call them away from anything, if needed. Always keep a leash handy so that if your unleashed dog is making other people or dogs uncomfortable (or your pet is stressed by others), you can readily remove them from the situation.
Thanks for helping make Denver a place where all people and animals can live better and thrive!
Reports of pet exposures to blue-green algae have increased this summer (across the U.S. and locally in Colorado in Sloan’s Lake and other lakes near Denver). As summer heats up, you may have your dogs out near various bodies of water and should know the blue-green algae is known to cause poisoning in dogs, cats, livestock, wildlife, birds and fish. The algae can cause neurologic signs and/or liver failure, leading to death. Water containing toxic algal blooms will look like pea-green paint or slime on the surface. Dog owners are warned to not let their pups drink or swim in these areas.
In early August, health officials confirmed cases of the plague in prairie dogs in Commerce City and Denver. Plague is a disease that can spread to humans and other mammals in a variety of ways. But most plague cases are the result of bites from infected fleas. It’s less commonly transmitted through direct contact with fluids or tissues from infected animals, including pets.
To keep you and your pets safe:
For additional information regarding the plague, visit these websites:
http://www.denverpublichealth.org/clinics-services/disease-investigations/resources-education/plague
Read an overview of city ordinances related to the care and keeping of pets in Denver. Pet owners are responsible for a comprehensive understanding of any ordinances impacting their pets and for compliance of such ordinances. Your cooperation and compliance means a safe, happy pet-owning experience for you, your pet, and the community.
Under Denver’s Ordinance Sec. 8-55, pit bull breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier) are banned in the City and County of Denver.
Pit bull type dogs are defined as any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing (physical) characteristics, which substantially conform to the standards established by American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club.
If your dog is impounded by Denver Animal Protection as an illegal pit bull, American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire terrier or Staffordshire bull terrier, it will be brought to the Denver Animal Shelter for an official breed evaluation.
If you are unsure of your dog’s primary breed, you can make an appointment with the Denver Animal Shelter for a breed assessment. If Denver Animal Protection has impounded your dog for suspicion of breed ban violation, you will be contacted with breed evaluation results within 3–5 business days. Evaluations are completed by three certified staff members who will determine if the majority of the physical traits are consistent with the banned breeds per the ordinance.
If the dog is determined to be one of the banned breeds, it will not be allowed to stay in Denver. The owner must relocate their dog to an address outside of Denver, and within a city that does not have a breed restriction ordinance.
If it is determined that the dog does not have the majority physical characteristics of the banned breeds, the dog will be allowed in Denver. The owner will be provided with an official breed evaluation letter stating that the dog was evaluated by Denver Animal Protection. All dogs in Denver are required to have a rabies vaccination, city license and be spayed or neutered, or have an intact permit.
If you dispute the classification of your dog as a pit bull, you may file a written petition for a hearing concerning such classification no later than 7 days after impoundment.
For second offenders of the breed ban, the dog then becomes the property of Denver Animal Protection. Per the ordinance, Denver Animal Protection will evaluate the dog’s health and temperament to determine whether the dog can be relocated to a partner outside of Denver.
If your dog is impounded as a result of the pit bull ordinance & determined to be a pit bull breed, you will be responsible for all fines and boarding fees. Fines are determined by a judge; boarding fees are based on the amount of time your dog was at the shelter. If your dog is impounded & determined not to be a breed included in the ban, you will not be responsible for any boarding fees or fines. If your dog enters Denver Animal Shelter as a stray, standard fees apply for redemption.
Any pitbull redemption must occur between Monday - Thursday between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Denver Animal Shelter - Denver Animal Protection responds to calls regarding wildlife if the animal is sick or injured. Please do not call if the conflict is simply "nuisance" in nature.
For other issues pertaining to wildlife, such as keeping wild animals off your property, see the Colorado Parks & Wildlife website or contact Colorado Parks & Wildlife at 303-291-7227.
Denver Animal Shelter - Denver Animal Protection does not provide any pest control services.
The City and County of Denver Department of Public Health and Environment - Environmental Quality Division maintains a mosquito larvae surveillance program intended to minimize the adult mosquito population and thus the occurrence of West Nile virus. The city does not spray or contract for the spraying of adult mosquitoes. For more information regarding the mosquito larvae surveillance program, visit the Environmental Quality Division - Water Quality page or contact the Environmental Quality Division at 720-865-5452.
For other pest control related problems, contact a local pest control company.
Find information about obtaining a business license for an animal shelter, pet grooming shop, kennel, pet shop, or pet hospital. These business licenses are issued by the City & County of Denver - Department of Excise and Licenses.
With the help of supporters like you, Denver Animal Protection changed the lives of more than 11,000 animals in 2018! Sadly, many more animals are still waiting for love and happiness. Your gift makes a huge difference to Denver's most vulnerable animals!