Denver officials outline animal‑bite enforcement, urge focus on behavior and discretion

Denver’s Health & Safety Committee on Jan. 7 heard a detailed briefing from Denver Animal Protection and the city attorney’s prosecution team on how the city handles animal bites, enforcement and victim restitution.

Melanie Sobel, director of Denver Animal Protection, opened the presentation by saying the department uses an equity‑focused approach and takes animal‑bite enforcement “very seriously,” while also seeking to preserve the human‑animal bond where possible.

The presentation centered on Denver Municipal Code DRMC 8‑61, which the department said makes owners responsible for an animal that bites a person or domestic animal off the owner’s property or in a public business. Joshua Rolfe, a lieutenant with animal control, explained the department evaluates bites using the Ian Dunbar 1–6 scale, with level 1 described as “mouthy” behavior and level 6 meaning a fatality. Rolfe said lower‑severity incidents typically lead to management and education, while the scale recommends euthanasia in the most…