FAQs • Park County, Colorado • CivicEngage

I woke up this morning and there are 43 cows standing in my front yard. When can you come move them?: That depends. Because Colorado is a fence-out state, a rancher in your area may have a grazing lease nearby where he pastures his cattle. The rancher is not obligated to keep the cattle fenced in. Individual landowners are obligated to keep the cattle fenced out of their property if they don’t want them on their land. In this case, Park County Animal Control will advise you to construct a fence to keep the cattle out (see the Grazing Ordinance for the definition of a legal fence).
There are some exceptions. Certain subdivisions are fenced all the way around their perimeter. Nine-Mile Heights, Pike-San Isabel Village, and Warm Springs are examples. If there are livestock in your subdivision and you believe it is fenced, Animal Control will attempt to locate the owner and can force that owner to move his livestock.

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Animal Control

1. My neighbor’s dog barks all the time. Is there anything I can do?: Yes. Barking dogs are regulated by Park County Resolutions. In order for Animal Control to take action against the dog’s owner, you need to write a statement detailing the barking dog incident to include specific dates and times, where the dogs live, and who owns them if you know. You must also include your full name, date of birth, residence, mailing address, and a working phone number. This statement can be mailed to the Park County Sheriff’s Office at 1180 County Road 16 or delivered in person. If this is a second or subsequent offense, please call Park County Animal Control at (719) 836-4122 for further information.

2. I see some dogs running at large in our subdivision. Is there anything that can be done?: Permitting a dog to run at large is a violation of Park County Resolution 95-11-8(a). If at all possible, follow the dog(s) to their home. Then notify Park County Animal Control either with a written statement to 1180 County Road 16 or call Park County Dispatch at (719) 836-4121 and an available officer will contact the dog’s owners. If the dog is a stray, Park County Animal Control will attempt to capture the animal and find a home for it.

3. I have found a stray cat. Will Animal Control come and get it?: No. Cats are wandering animals and do not fall under Park County Resolution 95-11 as a stray animal. Please release the cat so it may return home. If the cat is injured, then Animal Control will respond.

4. I am concerned about some horses in my neighborhood that look thin. I don’t think the owner feeds them enough. Can you help?: We investigate cases of animal cruelty regularly. This includes all species of domestic animals, not just horses. Cruelty can include neglect, abandonment, failure to provide necessary sustenance, or mistreatment. Call us at (719) 836-4380 with details (leave a name and phone number) and an officer will investigate the matter thoroughly.

5. I see some horses every day that look healthy enough, but have to stand all day in the cold winter weather with no blankets or shelter. Is that considered cruelty to animals?: No. Livestock (horses, cattle, buffalo, sheep, donkeys, etc.) are not required by law to have either shelter or blankets.

6. If Park County Animal Control picks up an animal, will it be destroyed?: No. Park County Animal Control works closely with surrounding shelters and Humane Societies to find homes for all our unclaimed animals.

7. I left home for a month and when I came back I found 13 cats in my barn. Can you come get them?: No, we do not have the facilities to house cats. Please see our list of animal shelters and humane societies and contact one near you about finding homes for your cats, or look in your phone book for a nearby animal shelter.
Animal Shelters

8. I woke up this morning and there are 43 cows standing in my front yard. When can you come move them?: That depends. Because Colorado is a fence-out state, a rancher in your area may have a grazing lease nearby where he pastures his cattle. The rancher is not obligated to keep the cattle fenced in. Individual landowners are obligated to keep the cattle fenced out of their property if they don’t want them on their land. In this case, Park County Animal Control will advise you to construct a fence to keep the cattle out (see the Grazing Ordinance for the definition of a legal fence).
There are some exceptions. Certain subdivisions are fenced all the way around their perimeter. Nine-Mile Heights, Pike-San Isabel Village, and Warm Springs are examples. If there are livestock in your subdivision and you believe it is fenced, Animal Control will attempt to locate the owner and can force that owner to move his livestock.

9. I see dogs chasing deer where I live all the time. Can I shoot them?: A better solution than killing this animal is to find out where the dogs live and who owns them, and report this information to Park County Animal Control at (719) 836-4380, along with your own contact information. Permitting a dog to chase wildlife or livestock is a violation of the law and carries a penalty of up to $500 with a mandatory 10-day quarantine.