CO · jury_instructions
COLJI-Crim. H:57
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS—DOG FOUND RUNNING, WORRYING, OR INJURING SHEEP, CATTLE, OR OTHER LIVESTOCK
The evidence presented in this case has raised the affirmative defense
of “dog found running, worrying, or injuring sheep, cattle, or other
livestock” as a defense to cruelty to animals.
The defendant’s conduct was legally authorized if:
1. the dog was found running, worrying, or injuring sheep, cattle,
or other livestock.
The prosecution has the burden to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt,
that the defendant’s conduct was not legally authorized by this defense. In
order to meet this burden of proof, the prosecution must disprove, beyond
a reasonable doubt, the above numbered condition.
After considering all the evidence, if you decide the prosecution has
failed to meet this burden of proof, then the prosecution has failed to prove
the defendant’s conduct was not legally authorized by this defense, which
is an essential element of cruelty to animals. In that event, you must return
a verdict of not guilty of cruelty to animals.
After considering all the evidence, if you decide the prosecution has
met this burden of proof, then the prosecution has proved the defendant’s
conduct was not legally authorized by this defense. In that event, your
verdict concerning the charge of cruelty to animals must depend upon
your determination whether the prosecution has met its burden of proof
with respect to the remaining elements of that offense.
History
COLJI-Crim. (2025), Colorado Supreme Court Model Criminal Jury Instructions Committee. The committee's page: "The 2025 edition was published online on February 25, 2026." © 2025 Supreme Court of Colorado for the State of Colorado.
Provenance
- Source
- www.coloradojudicial.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- crim-2026-02-25
- Content hash
5e23fa3756214ac77caf0d7be25fd7bbf1a0f9d9a13388dfc7736a7d40aea3df
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