Public safety is a top priority for us, and we work diligently to ensure dangerous domestic animals are kept from harming other animals and people. Our Animal Law Enforcement officers responded to more than 2,300 calls about aggressive domestic pets in El Paso and Pueblo Counties last year -- that's about six calls every day. Many other bites go unreported. Below is just a sampling of moderate to fatal dog bite reports this year. Every report of a potential dangerous animal is investigated and appropriate action is taken to best resolve each situation.
To report a dangerous/aggressive animal situation involving a domestic pet, call Animal Law Enforcement at 719.302.8798, or call 911. If you are active military, contact law enforcement on your base/post. All bites, including encounters with wildlife, must be reported to the health department, even if Animal Law Enforcement isn't involved:
El Paso County Health Department
Pueblo County Health Department
We use the following information to categorize the severity of animal bites:
| Moderate | One deep puncture, multiple moderately deep punctures and/or lacerations |
| Severe | Multiple punctures and/or lacerations, deep gashes, damage resulting in serious bodily injury or permanent disfigurement |
| Fatal | Resulting in the death of a domestic animal or human |
Click here for some basic things you can do to help keep you and your pet safe and prevent a bite from happening.
| Animal Sex | Animal Type Sort descending | Date | Severity | Victim | Victim Age | Wound Location | Prior Bite History | Spayed / Neutered | ZIP Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| More | Female | DOG | 09/17/22 | Moderate | Person | 80 | HAND | Yes | 80915 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 11/11/22 | Moderate | Person | 41 | HAND | Yes | Yes | 80903 |
| More | Male | DOG | 12/31/22 | Moderate | Person | 51 | LEFT PINKY | Yes | 81004 | |
| More | Female | DOG | 01/18/22 | Severe | Dog | 3 | STOMACH | Yes | 81003 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 03/04/22 | Fatal | Cat | BODY | Yes | 81001 | ||
| More | Male | DOG | 06/29/22 | Moderate | Person | 77 | RIGHT ARM | No | 81004 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 08/07/22 | Moderate | Dog | 10 | LEFT HIND LEG | No | No | 80911 |
| More | Male | DOG | 04/14/22 | Moderate | Person | 65 | LEFT ARM | Yes | 80903 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 05/24/22 | Moderate | Person | 12 | LEFT BUTTOCK | No | 80132 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 10/22/22 | Moderate | Dog | 12 | BACK | No | 80909 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 12/08/22 | Moderate | Person | 52 | RIGHT HAND | Yes | 80911 | |
| More | Female | DOG | 02/12/22 | Moderate | Dog | 12 | ABDOMEN | No | 80910 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 03/22/22 | Severe | Person | 24 | HANDS | No | 80910 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 07/17/22 | Moderate | Person | 24 | LEFT HAND | No | No | 81005 |
| More | Male | DOG | 08/26/22 | Moderate | Dog | 2 | THIGH/SIDE | No | 80910 | |
| More | Female | DOG | 05/02/22 | Moderate | Dog | NECK | No | No | 80918 | |
| More | DOG | 06/16/22 | Moderate | Person | 29 | FACE | 80913 | |||
| More | Male | DOG | 09/18/22 | Moderate | Dog | 1 | CHEST | No | 80906 | |
| More | Male | DOG | 11/11/22 | Moderate | Person | 35 | FACE | Yes | 80909 |