Sec. 14-8. Keeping wild, exotic or dangerous animals or livestock.
(a) Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to own, possess, harbor, sell or in any other manner traffic in the following species of animals:
(1) All poisonous or venomous animals, anacondas, reticulated pythons, Burmese pythons and amethystine pythons.
(2) All other nonvenomous snakes with a length greater than six feet measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail.
(3) All other reptiles with a length greater than three feet measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail.
(4) Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons, and any other primates.
(5) Any species of feline not falling within the categories of ordinary domesticated house cats.
(6) Bears of any species.
(7) Marsupials, squirrels, raccoons, porcupines, skunks, badgers, or other like species, except ferrets (mustela furo).
(8) Foxes, wolves, coyotes, or other species of canines other than dogs.
(9) Crocodilians and monitor lizards.
(10) Any animal that is not indigenous to the state and is not classified as a household pet.
(11) Livestock as defined in section 14-1 is not permitted unless allowed by zoning district provisions of the City Code.
(b) Domestication or alleged domestication of any prohibited animal shall not affect its status under this section. In the event of uncertainty whether an animal is a prohibited animal, it shall be presumed prohibited until proven not prohibited by a preponderance of the evidence to the satisfaction of the municipal court.
(c) Exceptions. Subsection (a) of this section shall not be applicable to any circus or carnival licensed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife or any licensed research institute using wild, exotic or dangerous animals for scientific research or any state licensed wildlife rehabilitator, organization or individual who performs wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. All poisonous or venomous animals, anacondas, reticulated pythons, Burmese pythons, and amethystine pythons are not subject to this exception.
(d) At large. The animal protection officer will have the authority to apprehend any livestock, wild, exotic, or dangerous animal that may be at large within the city. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the immediate euthanasia of any aggressive, dangerous wild or exotic animal or an animal that presents a danger to itself or to the public health and safety when less drastic methods are not available or effective and when an animal protection officer, police officer, or owner is unable to promptly and effectively restrain or control the wild, exotic or dangerous animal. (Code 1979, § 7-5; Ord. No. 2022-10, § 3, 2-28-2022; Ord. No. 2020-55, § 9, 11-2-2020; Ord. No. 2011-04, § 1, 2-28-2011; Ord. No. 2006-75, § 1, 1-8-2007; Ord. No. 2005-12, § 29, 4-11-2005; Ord. No. 2002-70, § 4, 11-18-2002)