State Animal Cruelty Laws
Click on each state for a definition of animals laws
and penalties in each state.
Alabama
ALA.
CODE
§§ (11-14)
-- last amended 2000
Definition of Animal:
Dog or cat shall mean any domesticated member of the dog or cat
family.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overloads,
overdrives, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter,
unnecessarily or cruelly beats, injures, mutilates, or causes
the same to be done; intentionally tortures any dog or cat or
skins a domestic dog or cat or offers for sale or exchange or
offers to buy or exchange the fur, hide, or pelt of a domestic
dog or cat.
-
Cruelty
to a dog or cat.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months
-
Intentionally tortures any dog or cat.
-
Class
C Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000
-
Imprisonment up to 10 years
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Research, protection of life or property, training; shoots dog
or cat with a BB gun for defecating/urinating on property.
Alaska
ALASKA
STAT. §§ 11.61.140 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
A vertebrate living creature not a human being, but does not
include fish.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
inflicts severe physical pain or suffering; or with criminal
negligence fails to care for an animal and causes its death or
severe pain or prolonged suffering.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Neither
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, restitution.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, training, or veterinary care.
Arizona
ARIZ. REV.
STAT. § § 13-2910 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
A mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjects an animal to
neglect or abandonment, fails to provide medical attention to
prevent suffering or inflicts unnecessary physical injury,
mistreatment, or death.
-
Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjects an animal to
cruel treatment.
-
Class
1 Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment for 6 months.
-
Intentionally subjects any animal to cruel neglect, cruel
mistreatment, or kills or harms a working or service animal.
-
Class
6 Felony
-
Fine
up to $150,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1.5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, no animal ownership for 3 years, restitution.
Exemptions:
Hunting, poisoning rodents or dogs killing or wounding
livestock.
Arkansas
ARK. CODE
ANN. §§ 5-62-101 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Every living creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
abandons any animal, subjects it to cruel mistreatment or cruel
neglect, or kills or injures an animal without the owner's
consent.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, counseling.
Exemptions:
Hunting, livestock protection.
California
CAL. PENAL
CODE
§§ 597
et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Every dumb creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, wounds
or kills an animal. Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures,
torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter,
cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor or Felony (may be charged either way)
-
Fine
up to $20,000 (for either)
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year (for either).
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Elephant abuse.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research.
Colorado
COLO. REV.
STAT. §§ 18-9-202 et seq. -- last amended 2002
Definition of Animal:
Any living dumb creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
or with criminal negligence overdrives, overloads, overworks,
tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance,
unnecessarily or cruelly beats, needlessly mutilates or kills,
carries or confines in a cruel or reckless manner, fails to
provide proper food, drink, or shelter, or abandons any animal.
A person commits the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals if
the person: knowingly or intentionally tortures or torments an
animal that needlessly injures, mutilates, or kills an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
1 Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 18 months.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Class
6 Felony
-
Fine
up to $100,000.
-
Imprisonment for up to 18 months.
-
Second or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Class
5 Felony
-
Fine
up to $100,000.
-
Imprisonment for up to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Neither
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Anger management, psychological counseling, community service,
restitution.
Exemptions:
Farming, rodeos, veterinary care.
Connecticut
CONN. GEN.
STAT. §§ 53-247 et seq. -- last amended 1996
Definition of Animal:
All brute creatures and birds.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, deprives of
necessary sustenance, mutilates or cruelly beats or kills or
unjustifiably injures any animal, or fails to provide any
confined animal with proper care such as wholesome air, food and
water, or administers a poisonous or noxious drug, or abandons
or carries in a cruel manner, or fights, baits or harasses an
animal for the purpose of making it perform.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor or felony in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Intentionally and maliciously tortures or injures an animal.
-
Misdemeanor or felony in statute.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Humane poultry transport.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, veterinary care.
Delaware
DEL. CODE
ANN. tit. 11, §§ 1325 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
Does not include fish, crustacea or molluska.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Subjects
any animal to cruel mistreatment or neglect, or kills an animal
without the owner's consent, or cruelly or unnecessarily kills
or injures any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
$1000
fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 years.
-
Intentional cruelty.
-
Class
F Felony
-
$5000
fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, no animal ownership for 5 - 15 years.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, protection of life or property, research,
veterinary care.
District of Columbia
D.C. CODE
ANN. §§ 22-801 et seq. -- last amended 1994
Definition of Animal:
All living and sentient creatures (human beings excepted).
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives
of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly
kills, or fails to provide proper food, drink, or shelter.
Cruelly drives or works when unfit for labor, or cruelly
abandons, or carries in a cruel manner. Fails to provide proper
food or shelter for any sick or disabled animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $250.
-
Imprisonment up to 180 days.
-
Cruelty
to animals resulting in serious bodily injury or death.
-
Felony.
-
Fine
up to $25,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Research.
Florida
FLA. STAT.
§§ 828.12 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overloads,
overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or
shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates or kills any animal, or
carries in a cruel manner; intentionally commits an act which
results in a cruel death, or the repeated infliction of
unnecessary pain or suffering; fails to supply a confined animal
with sufficient food, water, or exercise, or abandons any
animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
1st
Degree Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Intentional cruelty.
-
3rd
Degree Felony
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Veterinary care.
Georgia
GA. CODE
ANN. § 16-12-4 et seq. -- last amended 2000
Definition of Animal:
Shall not include any fish nor shall such term include any pest
that might be exterminated.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Commits an
act, omission, or neglect which causes unjustifiable physical
pain, suffering, or death to any living animal; knowingly and
maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by
rendering part of such animal's body useless or by seriously
disfiguring such animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense resulting in death
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment 3 months to 1 year.
-
Aggravated Cruelty
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $15,000.
-
Imprisonment 1 to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Neither
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
No.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, protection of person or property, zoological,
exhibition, trapping, pest control, veterinary care, research.
Hawaii
HAW. REV.
STAT. § § 711-1109 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Undefined.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly overdrives, overloads,
tortures, torments, cruelly beats or starves any animal, or
deprives of necessary sustenance, or mutilates, poisons, or
kills without need, or carries in a cruel or inhumane manner.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
No.
Exemptions:
Research, or veterinary care.
Idaho
IDAHO CODE
§§ 25-3502
et seq. -- last amended 1996
Definition of Animal:
Any vertebrate member of the animal kingdom, except man.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Is cruel
to any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be cruelly
treated, or abandons, or carries any animal in a cruel manner;
cruelty means the intentional and malicious infliction of pain,
physical suffering, injury or death upon an animal, or to
maliciously kill, maim, wound, overdrive, overload, overwork,
torture, torment, deprive of necessary sustenance, drink or
shelter, cruelly beat, mutilate or cruelly kill an animal, or
needlessly inflict unnecessary cruelty on an unfit animal, or to
abandon, or confine an animal in unsanitary conditions, or fail
to provide sustenance, water, or shelter.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
$100
to $5000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Exhibitions, farming, research, veterinary care, protection of
life or property, predatory animals, diseased or disabled
animals.
Illinois
ILL. COMP.
STAT. ch. 510, para. 70/1 et seq. -- last amended 1986
Definition of Animal:
Every living creature, domestic or wild, but does not include
man.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Beats,
cruelly treats, torments, starves, overworks, abandons, or
otherwise commits any act that causes an animal to suffer
serious injury or death.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
C Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1500.
-
Imprisonment up to 30 days.
-
Aggravated cruelty
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Animal
torture.
-
Class
4 Felony.
-
Fine
up to $25,000.
-
Imprisonment 1 year to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, counseling.
Unique
Provisions:
Defines owner's duties.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting.
Indiana
IND. CODE
§§35-46-3-1 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Does not include a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
or intentionally tortures, beats, or mutilates a vertebrate
animal.
-
Abandons
or neglects animals
-
Class
B Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 180 days.
-
Tortures
or mutilates animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Previous,
unrelated conviction under §35-46-3-3.
-
Class
D Felony *
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
An
additional 1-1/2 years imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Discipline, protection of person or property, prolonged
suffering.
Iowa
IOWA CODE
§§717B.1
et seq. -- last amended 2000
Definition of Animal:
A nonhuman vertebrate, but does not include livestock, any game,
fur-bearing animal, fish, reptile, or amphibian.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally injures, maims, disfigures, or destroys an animal
owned by another, in any manner, including intentional
poisoning; inflicts upon the animal severe physical pain with a
depraved or sadistic intent to cause prolonged suffering or
death.
-
Animal
neglect (negligently)
-
Simple Misdemeanor.
-
$50
to $500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 30 days.
-
Animal
neglect (intentionally)
-
Serious Misdemeanor.
-
$250
to $1500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Animal
abuse
-
Aggravated Misdemeanor.
-
$500
to $5000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
Animal
torture
-
Aggravated Misdemeanor.
-
$500
to $5000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of animal torture
-
Class
D Felony*.
-
$500
to $7500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, restitution.
Exemptions:
Consent of owner, veterinary care, order by court,
hunting/trapping, protection of person or property, farming,
research.
Kansas
KAN. STAT.
ANN. §§ 21-4310 et seq. -- last amended 1996
Definition of Animal:
Every living vertebrate except a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally kills, injures, maims, tortures, mutilates,
abandons, or fails to provide food, water, or shelter.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Class
A Nonperson Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, protection of property, research, rodeos, veterinary
practices, hunting/trapping, diseased disabled animals.
Kentucky
KY. REV.
STAT. ANN. §§ 525.125, .130, .135 -- last amended 03/31/03
Definition of Animal:
Every warm-blooded living creature except a human being. (§
446.010(2))
Statute
Summary:
§ 525.125:
The following persons are guilty of cruelty to animals in the
first degree whenever a four-legged animal is caused to fight
for pleasure or profit:
-
The owner
of the animal,
-
The owner
of the property on which the fight is conducted if the owner
knows of the fight, and
-
Anyone
who participates in the organization of the fight.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
D felony.
-
Fine
of $1,000 to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment from 1 to 5 years.
§ 525.130:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally or wantonly causes cruel or injurious mistreatment
through abandonment, mutilation, beating, torturing (any animal
other than a dog or cat [see § 525.135]), tormenting, failing to
provide adequate food, drink, space, or health care, or subjects
any animal to cruel neglect, or kills any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
§ 525.135:
A person is guilty of torture of a dog or cat when he/she:
Intentionally inflicts (or subjects) a dog or cat to extreme
physical pain or injury, motivated by an intent to increase or
prolong the pain of the animal.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
No.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, humane purposes, veterinary, agricultural,
spaying, neutering, cosmetic purposes, sporting activities,
animal research, in defense of self or another, in defense of a
domestic animal, and animal or pest control.
Louisiana
LA. REV.
STAT. ANN. §§ 14:102.1 et seq. -- last amended 1997
Definition of Animal:
Fowl shall not be defined as animals except Orders
Psittaciformes and Passeriformes.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally or with criminal negligence tortures, maims,
mutilates, overdrives, overloads, overworks, torments, cruelly
beats, unjustifiably injures, fails to provide property food,
drink, shelter, and veterinary care, abandons, confines without
proper care, carries in a cruel manner, poisons or drugs,
mistreats, or injures without the owner's permission.
-
Simple
Cruelty.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Aggravated Cruelty.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
$5000
to $25,000 fine.
-
1 to
10 years imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, veterinary practices.
Maine
ME. REV.
STAT. ANN. tit. 17 §§ 1031 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Every living, sentient creature not a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly kills or attempts to
kill an animal or causes extreme physical pain to an animal,
maliciously kills an animal, or intentionally or knowingly
tortures an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
D Crime.
-
$500
to $5,000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Subsequent violation of cruelty to animals:
-
Class
C Crime.
-
$1,000 to $10,000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals:
-
Class
C Crime.
-
$1,000 to $10,000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, housing, counseling, cost of veterinary medical
treatment, limited future ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits cruelty to birds. Provides for a civil violation for
cruelty to animals (7 §4011)
Exemptions:
Pest control, research, veterinary care.
Maryland
MD. CODE
ANN. art. 27, §§ 59 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, deprives of necessary sustenance,
tortures, torments, or cruelly beats, inflicts unnecessary
suffering or pain upon the animal, or fails to provide necessary
veterinary care, proper drink, air, space, shelter, or
protection from the weather; intentionally mutilates or cruelly
kills an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 3 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, counseling.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, pest elimination, training, veterinary care.
Massachusetts
MASS. GEN.
LAWS ch. 272 §§ 77 et seq. and MASS. GEN. LAWS ch. 266 §
112 -- last amended 1989
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives
of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates or kills, uses
in a cruel race or game, unnecessarily fails to provide any
animal with proper food, drink, shelter, sanitary environment,
or protection from the weather, or willfully abandons it, or
carries it in a cruel manner, or knowingly and willfully
authorizes or permits it to be subjected to unnecessary torture,
suffering or cruelty of any kind.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Malicious
killing of animals.
-
Defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits animal races.
Exemptions:
Use of bait in fishing.
Michigan
MICH.
COMP. LAWS
§§ 750.50
et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Vertebrates other than a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Fails to
provide with adequate care, cruelly drives, works, or beats, or
carries in a cruel manner, or abandons, or willfully or
negligently allows any animal, including a disabled one, to
suffer unnecessary neglect, torture, or pain; willfully,
maliciously and without just cause or excuse kills, tortures,
mutilates, maims, or disfigures an animal or exposes an animal
to poison.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 93 days.
-
2nd
violation of cruelty to animals
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
3rd or
subsequent violation of cruelty to animals.
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 4 years.
-
Willfully
or maliciously killing or injuring an animal.
-
Felony
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 4 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care, counseling, no future animal
ownership (if a felony).
Unique
Provisions:
Defines tether length.
Exemptions:
Farming, fishing, horse racing, hunting, pest control, research,
zoos.
Minnesota
MINN STAT.
§§ 343.20 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Includes any animal owned, possessed by, cared for, or
controlled by a person for the present or future enjoyment of
that person or another as a pet or companion, or any stray pet
or stray companion animal.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, tortures, cruelly beats, neglects,
unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal ,
or cruelly works an animal unfit for labor, or abandons, or
deprives an animal of necessary food, water, or shelter.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $700.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
-
2nd or
subsequent violation of cruelty to animals.
-
Gross
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $3000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Intentional cruelty to animals resulting in bodily harm.
-
Gross
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $3000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent violation of intentional cruelty to animals
resulting in bodily harm
-
Defined by statute.
-
Fine
up to $5,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
Intentional cruelty to animals resulting in death or great
bodily harm.
-
Defined by statute.
-
Fine
up to $5,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, psychological behavioral or other counseling,
limited animal ownership.
Exemptions:
None
Mississippi
MISS. CODE
ANN. §§ 97-41-1 et seq. -- last amended 1997
Definition of Animal:
Any feline, exotic animal, canine, horse, mule, jack or jennet.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overrides,
overdrives, overloads, tortures, torments, unjustifiably
injures, deprives of necessary sustenance, food, or drink,
carries in a cruel manner, poisons, abandons, cruelly beats,
needlessly mutilates, or kills any living creature.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Malicious
injury to dogs.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, limited future ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Livestock protection.
Exemptions:
None
Missouri
MO. REV.
STAT. §§ 578.005 et seq. -- last amended 1998
Definition of Animal:
Every living vertebrate except a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally or purposely kills an animal, causes injury or
suffering, or fails to provide adequate care.
-
Animal
neglect and abandonment.
-
Class
C Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Imprisonment up to 15 days.
-
Animal
abuse.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Animal
torture or mutilation
-
Class
D Felony.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, pest control, protection of person or property
or livestock, research, rodeos, training, veterinary care, zoos.
Montana
MONT. CODE
ANN. §§ 45-8-209 et seq. -- last amended 1993
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
or negligently subjects an animal to mistreatment or neglect by
overworking, beating, tormenting, injuring, killing, carrying in
a cruel manner, failing to provide an animal with proper food,
drink, shelter, or medical care, or abandoning a helpless
animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Forfeiture
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, limited future ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits animal races.
Exemptions:
Farming, research, humane euthanization.
Nebraska
NEB. REV.
STAT. §§ 28-1008 et seq. -- last amended 2002
Definition of Animal:
Any vertebrate member of the animal kingdom.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Abandons,
cruelly mistreats, or cruelly neglects an animal.
-
Abandonment or cruel neglect.
-
Class
II Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of abandonment or cruel neglect.
-
Class
I Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
I Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Class
IV Felony
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, rodeos, training, veterinary care,
humane euthanization, pest control.
Nevada
NEV. REV.
STAT. §§ 574.050 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Does not include the human race, but includes every other living
creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, tortures, cruelly beats, unjustifiably
injures, maims, mutilates, kills, administers a poisonous or
noxious drug, deprives of or neglects to provide necessary
sustenance, food or drink, or abandons an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
$200
to $1000 fine.
-
2
days to 6 months imprisonment.
-
2nd
offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
$500
to $1000 fine.
-
10
days - 6 months imprisonment.
-
3rd or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Category C Felony
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
1
year to 5 years imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care, psychiatric evaluation and
counseling.
Unique
Provisions:
Poisoning horses, mules, or cattle is a Category C felony.
Exemptions:
Rodeos, livestock shows, ranching, hunting, dangerous animals,
farming, research.
New
Hampshire
N.H. REV.
STAT. ANN. §§ 644:8 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
A domestic animal, a household pet or a wild animal in captivity
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Negligently deprives any animal in his possession or custody of
necessary care, sustenance or shelter; negligently beats,
cruelly whips, tortures, mutilates or in any manner mistreats;
negligently overdrives, overworks, overloads or otherwise abuses
any animal intended for labor; negligently permits or causes any
animal to be subjected to cruelty, inhumane treatment or
unnecessary suffering, etc.; purposely beats, cruelly whips,
tortures, or mutilates any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Class
B Felony
-
Fine
up to $4000.
-
Imprisonment up to 7 years.
-
Cruelly
whips, mutilates, tortures or beats an animal.
-
Class
B Felony
-
Fine
up to $4000.
-
Imprisonment up to 7 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care, limited ownership of animals.
Exemptions:
Veterinary care.
New
Jersey
N.J. REV.
STAT. ANN. §§ 4:22.15 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Includes the whole brute creation.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments, deprives
of necessary sustenance, carries in a cruel manner, abandons a
sick or disabled animal, cruelly beats or otherwise abuses,
needlessly mutilates, or kills a living animal. A person commits
the crime of "aggravated cruelty" if the person purposely,
knowingly, or recklessly: torments, tortures, maims, hangs,
unnecessarily or cruelly beats, needlessly mutilates, or cruelly
kills a living animal or creature; or causes or procures any
such act be done.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Disorderly persons offense.
-
$250
to $1000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
"Aggravated cruelty" to animals
-
Felony crime of the fourth degree.
-
Fine
up to $1,000.
-
Up to
18 months imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, psychological counseling, cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Provides for civil remedies.
Exemptions:
Farming, exhibitions, equestrian teams, pet shops.
New
Mexico
N.M. STAT.
ANN. §§ 30-18-1 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
Does not include insects or reptiles.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Negligently mistreats, injures, kills without lawful
justification or torments, fails to provide necessary sustenance
to an animal. Intentionally or maliciously tortures, mutilates,
injures, or poisons an animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
4th or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
4th
Degree Felony.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
18
months imprisonment.
-
Extreme
cruelty to animals.
-
4th
Degree Felony.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
18
months imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Animal cruelty prevention program, cost of care, counseling.
Exemptions:
Farming, cockfighting, hunting, pest control, rodeos, veterinary
care.
New
York
N.Y.
AGRIC. & MKTS LAW
§§ 350
et seq. -- last amended 1985
Definition of Animal:
Every living creature except a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, deprives of necessary sustenance, food,
or drink, abandons, carries in a cruel manner, poisons,
tortures, cruelly beats or unjustifiably injures, maims,
mutilates or kills any animal. With no justifiable purpose,
intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical
injury to a companion animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Felony.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Hunting, research, protection of persons.
North
Carolina
N.C. GEN
STAT. §§ 14-360 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
Every living vertebrate in the classes Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves,
and Mammalia except human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally overdrives, overloads, wounds, injures, torments,
kills, or deprives of necessary sustenance any animal;
maliciously tortures, mutilates, maims, cruelly beats,
disfigures, poisons, or kills any animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals; Instigating cruelty to animals; conveying
animals in a cruel manner
-
Class
1 Misdemeanor.
-
Fines
are at the discretion of the court.
-
Imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
-
Maliciously tortures, mutilates, or cruelly beats an animal.
-
Class
I Felony.
-
Fines
are at the discretion of the court.
-
Imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, veterinary care, protection of
persons and property.
North
Dakota
N.D. CENT.
CODE
§§
36-21.1-01 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
Every living animal except the human race.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, tortures, cruelly beats, neglects,
carries in a cruel manner, administers a poisonous substance or
noxious drug, or unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates, or
kills any animal or cruelly works it when unfit for labor;
deprives any animal of necessary food, water, or shelter; keeps
any animal in an enclosure without exercise or wholesome change
of air; abandons any animal; allows a sick or disabled animal to
lie in a public place more than 3 hours after notice; cages an
animal for public display unless the cage is of solid material
on 3 sides and the horizontal dimension of the cage is 4 times
the length of the caged animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
$2000
fine.
-
1
year imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Fairs, zoos.
Ohio
OHIO REV.
CODE ANN. §§ 959.01 et seq. -- last amended 2002
Definition of Companion Animal:
Any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any
dog or cat regardless of where it is kept. Companion animal does
not include livestock or any wild animal.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Tortures,
deprives of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly
beats, needlessly mutilates or kills, or confines without a
sufficient quantity of good wholesome food and water, and access
to shelter from wind, rain, snow and direct sunlight, or carries
in a cruel manner.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
2nd
Degree Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $750.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
-
Abandons
an animal.
-
Minor
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $100.
No person
shall knowingly torture, torment, needlessly mutilate or maim,
cruelly beat, poison, needlessly kill, or commit an act of
cruelty against a companion animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
1st
Degree Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
2nd or
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
5th
Degree Felony.
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment up to 12 months.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, veterinary care.
Oklahoma
OKLA.
STAT. TIT. 21 §§ 1685 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Willfully
or maliciously overdrives, overloads, carries in a cruel manner,
unjustifiably administers any poisonous or noxious drug,
tortures, destroys or kills, or cruelly beats or injures, maims
or mutilates, any animal in captivity, whether wild or tame,
whether belonging to himself or another, or deprives any animal
of necessary food, drink or shelter, or abandons or allows to
lie in a public place a diseased or disabled animal 1 hour after
notice.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Felony.
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year in county jail or up to 5
years in state penitentiary.
-
Abandons
an animal., Cruel treatment in transit
-
Misdemeanor
-
$100
- $500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits bear wrestling.
Exemptions:
None
Oregon
OR. REV.
STAT. §§ 167.310 et seq. -- last amended 1985
Definition of Animal:
Any nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to
an animal;
Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes serious physical
injury to an animal; or cruelly causes the death of an animal;
maliciously kills an animal; or intentionally or knowingly
tortures an animal; intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with
criminal negligence fails to provide minimum care for an animal
in the person's custody; intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or
with criminal negligence fails to provide minimum care for an
animal in the person's custody, and such failure results in
serious physical injury or death to the animal; intentionally,
knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence leaves an
animal without providing for its continued care.
-
Animal
abuse in the second degree.
-
Class
B Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Animal
abuse in the first degree.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Aggravated animal abuse in the first degree.
-
Class
C Felony.
-
Fine
up to $100,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
-
Animal
neglect in the second degree.
-
Class
B Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Animal
neglect in the first degree.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Animal
abandonment
-
Class
C Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 30 days.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Animal cruelty prevention program, cost of care, counseling.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research, rodeos, veterinary care,
commercially grown poultry,.
Pennsylvania
18 PA.
CONS. STAT. § 5511 -- last amended 1995
Definition of Animal:
Domestic Animal: Any dog, cat, equine animal, bovine animal,
sheep, goat or porcine animal.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Willfully
and maliciously kills, maims or disfigures any domestic animal
or domestic fowl, administers poison, harasses, annoys, injures,
attempts to injure, molests or interferes with a dog guide;
willfully and maliciously kills, maims or disfigures, or
administers any poisonous substance to any zoo animal in
captivity; willfully and maliciously kills, maims, mutilates,
tortures or disfigures any dog or cat, or administers any
poisonous substance to any dog or cat.
-
Cruelty
to animals
-
Summary Offense.
-
$50
to $750 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days
-
Killing,
maiming or poisoning domestic animal or domestic fowl of
another.
-
Second Degree Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
Killing,
maiming or poisoning zoo animals.
-
Third
Degree Felony.
-
Fine
up to $15,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 7 years.
-
Killing,
maiming or poisoning dog or cat.
-
Second Degree Misdemeanor.
-
At
least $1000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
A
subsequent offense of killing, maiming or poisoning dog or
cat.
-
Third
Degree Felony.
-
Fine
up to $15,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 7 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Unique
Provisions:
Cropping dogs' ears by licensed veterinarian only.
Exemptions:
To protect other domestic animals or fowl, game laws, pest
control, farming.
Rhode
Island
R.I. GEN.
LAWS
§§ 4-1-1
et seq. -- last amended 1994
Definition of Animal:
Every living creature except a human being.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overdrives, overloads, overworks, works an animal when it is
unfit for labor, carries cruelly, abandons, tortures, torments,
deprives of necessary sustenance, cruelly beats, mutilates or
cruelly kills any animal; cuts out the tongue or otherwise
dismembers any animal, or maliciously kills, wounds, or
administers poison to any animal.
-
Abandonment of animals, overwork, mistreatment, or failure
to feed animals; unnecessary cruelty.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
$50
to $500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 11 months.
-
Malicious
injury or killing animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care, restitution.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting.
South
Carolina
S.C. CODE
ANN. §§ 47-1-10 et seq. -- last amended 2000
Definition of Animal:
All living vertebrate creatures except homo sapiens.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
or intentionally overloads, overdrives, overworks, ill-treats
any animal, deprives any animal of necessary sustenance or
shelter, inflicts unnecessary pain or suffering upon any animal,
or causes these things to be done; tortures, torments,
needlessly mutilates, cruelly kills, or inflicts excessive or
repeated unnecessary pain or suffering upon any animal or causes
the acts to be done.
-
Cruelty
to and ill treatment of animals (fines and imprisonment
increase for subsequent offenses).
-
Misdemeanor.
-
$100
to $500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 60 days.
-
Tortures,
torments, cruelly kills an animal.
-
Felony.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
180
days to 5 years imprisonment.
-
Abandonment of animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
$200
to $500 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 30 days.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Seizure
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, training of animals, veterinary care, forestry, and
silvacultural practices, hunting.
South
Dakota
S.D.
CODIFIED LAWS
§§ 40-1-1
et seq. -- last amended 1991
Definition of Animal:
Any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian or fish, except humans.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Causes an
animal unnecessary, unjustifiable or unreasonable physical pain
or suffering, including mutilation; fails to provide food,
water, protection from the elements, adequate sanitation and
facilities accepted for the type of animal; keeps any animal
which past recovery or suffering or abandons the animal to die;
administer or expose poison to an animal which belongs to
another; kills or injures any animal of another; impounds any
animal without proper care for more than 12 hours; inhumanely
treats an animal.
-
Poison,
intentionally kill, and inhumanely treat an animal.
-
Class
1 Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, protection of life, limb or property,
research, veterinary care.
Tennessee
TENN. CODE
ANN. §§ 39-14-201 et seq. -- last amended 2002
Definition of Animal:
A domesticated living creature or a wild creature previously
captured.
Statute
Summary:
A person
commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
intentionally or knowingly tortures, maims, grossly overworks,
fails to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an
animal, abandons, transports in a cruel manner, inflicts burns,
cuts, lacerations, or other injuries or pain to any animal by
any method including blistering compounds to the legs or hooves
of horses.
A person commits the crime of aggravated cruelty to animals if
the person:
intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical
injury to a companion animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals/Aggravated cruelty.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
11
months, 29 days to 30 years imprisonment.
-
Subsequent offense of aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Class
E Felony.
-
Fine
up to $3,000.
-
Up to
6 years imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Psychological counseling, cost of care, limited future animal
ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Trier of fact can award up to $4,000 in non-economic damages to
a person whose companion animal is killed or sustained injury.
Exemptions:
Farming, research, veterinary care, protection of life and
property.
Texas
TEX. PENAL
CODE ANN. §§ 42.09 et seq. -- last amended 2001
Definition of Animal:
A domesticated living creature and wild living creature
previously captured.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally or knowingly tortures or seriously overworks, or
fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, care or shelter,
or abandons, or transports in a cruel manner, or kills, injures
or administers poison, or uses as bait in a race, or trips a
horse.
-
Fails to
provide food, care, shelter; abandons animal; transports or
confines animal in cruel manner; injures an animal; or
seriously overworks an animal.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $4000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
3rd
offense of fails to provide food, care, shelter; abandons
animal; transports or confines animal in cruel manner;
injures an animal; or seriously overworks an animal.
-
State
Jail Felony
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
180
days to 2 years imprisonment.
-
Tortures;
kills, seriously injures, or administers poison; causes an
animal to fight; uses animal to lure; or trips an animal.
-
State
Jail Felony.
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
180
days to 2 years imprisonment.
-
3rd
offense of Tortures; kills, seriously injures, or
administers poison; causes an animal to fight; uses animal
to lure; or trips an animal.
-
Felony of the Third Degree.
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
2
years to 10 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Neither
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Counseling.
Exemptions:
Property protection, research, fishing, hunting, trapping,
wildlife control, animal husbandry.
Utah
UTAH CODE
ANN. §§ 76-9-301 et seq. -- last amended 1996
Definition of Animal:
A live, nonhuman vertebrate creature.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal
negligence fails to provide necessary food, care, or shelter for
an animal, or abandons, transports in a cruel manner, or injures
an animal; tortures, administers poison, or kills an animal
without legal privilege to do so.
-
Cruelty
to animals (committed intentional or knowingly).
-
Class
B Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months
-
Cruelty
to animals (committed recklessly or with criminal
negligence).
-
Class
C Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $750.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
-
Aggravated cruelty (committed intentional or knowingly).
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $2500
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
Aggravated cruelty (committed recklessly).
-
Class
B Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Aggravated cruelty (committed with criminal negligence).
-
Class
C Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $750.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
Note:
Prior convictions allow for increased penalties.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, counseling, limited future animal ownership.
Exemptions:
Protection of hoofed and companion animals, hunting, veterinary
care, research, humanely destroys an animal found suffering,
training of animals.
Vermont
VT. STAT.
ANN. tit. 13, §§ 351 et seq. -- last amended 1997
Definition of Animal:
All living sentient creatures not human beings.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally kills, overworks, overloads, tortures, abandons,
administers poison to, cruelly beats or mutilates, tethers in an
inhumane manner, deprives of food, water, rest or medical
attention, or uses a live animal as bait in a game;
intentionally kills by means causing undue pain or suffering.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $2000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd and
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 3 years.
-
2nd and
subsequent offense of aggravated cruelty to animals.
-
Classification of crime defined in statute.
-
Fine
up to $7500.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Animal cruelty prevention program, cost of care, counseling,
limited future animal ownership & inspections by humane officer.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits inhumane tethering.
Exemptions:
Hunting, protection of person and other domestic animals, rabid
domestic animals, farming, research, veterinary care, pest
control.
Virginia
VA. CODE
ANN. §§ 3.1-796.122 et seq. -- last amended 1999
Definition of Animal:
The word animal shall be construed to include birds and fowl.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Overrides,
overdrives, overloads, tortures, ill-treats, abandons, willfully
inflicts inhumane injury or pain, or cruelly or unnecessarily
beats, maims, mutilates, or kills any animal; deprives any
animal of necessary food, drink, shelter or emergency veterinary
treatment; or instigates or furthers an act of cruelty; or
carries in an inhumane manner; tortures, willfully inflicts
inhumane injury or pain, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats,
maims, mutilates or kills any animal, or instigates or furthers
an act of cruelty.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Class
1 Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
-
2nd and
subsequent offense of cruelty to animals.
-
Class
6 Felony.
-
Fine
up to $2500.
-
Abandonment of an animal.
-
Class
3 Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $500.
-
1
year to 5 years imprisonment.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Anger management or counseling, community service, cost of care.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, research.
Washington
WASH. REV.
CODE
§§
16.52.011 et seq. -- last amended 1994
Definition of Animal:
Nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile, or amphibian.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Intentionally inflicts substantial pain on, or causes physical
injury to, or kills an animal by a means causing undue
suffering; knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence
inflicts unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal, poisons,
cuts off more than 1/2 of the ear or ears of any domestic
animal, or transports any animal in an unsafe manner; knowingly,
recklessly, or with criminal negligence fails to provide the
animal with necessary food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation,
ventilation, space, or medical attention and the animal suffers
unnecessary or unjustifiable physical pain; or abandons the
animal.
-
Animal
cruelty in the first degree.
-
Class
C Felony.
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 5 years.
-
Animal
cruelty in the second degree.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $1000.
-
Imprisonment up to 90 days.
-
Poisoning
animals.
-
Gross
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year (judge may defer in grant 2
years probation).
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Animal cruelty prevention program, cost of care, limited future
animal ownership.
Unique
Provisions:
Cutting off more than 1/2 of the ear of any domestic animal is
guilty of a misdemeanor (excluding customary husbandry
practices).
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, rodeos, fairs, animal exhibitions, pest
control.
West
Virginia
W. VA.
CODE
§§ 61-8-19
et seq. -- last amended 2003
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Mistreats,
abandons or withholds proper sustenance, including food, water,
shelter or medical treatment necessary to sustain normal health
or to end suffering, administers a controlled substance to any
animal participating in any contest (other than a licensed vet),
or abandons an animal to die.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
$100
to $1000 fine.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
2nd or
subsequent violation of cruelty to animals.
-
Misdemeanor.
-
$500
to $1000 fine.
-
90
days to 1 year imprisonment.
A person
is guilty of a felony if he/she:
Intentionally tortures or maliciously kills an animal, or
causes, procures or authorizes any other person to torture or
maliciously kill an animal. (For purposes of this subsection
"torture" means an action taken for the primary purpose of
inflicting pain.)
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Felony.
-
1 to
3 years imprisonment.
-
$1,000 to $5,000.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Community service, cost of care, no animal ownership during
probation, complete psychiatric evaluation (including cost for
evaluation), prohibition of animal ownership for 5 years if
misdemeanor and 15 years if felony.
Unique
Provisions:
Prohibits administration of controlled substances to alter
performance.
Exemptions:
Farming, hunting, training.
Wisconsin
WIS. STAT.
§ 951.02 et seq. -- last amended 1993
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
No person may treat any animal, whether belonging to the person
or another, in a cruel manner.
-
Mistreating animals.
-
Class
A Misdemeanor.
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 9 months.
-
Intentional mistreatment of animals resulting in mutilation,
disfigurement, or death of an animal.
-
Class
E Felony.
-
Fine
up to $10,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, limited contact with animals.
Exemptions:
Research, veterinary care.
Wyoming
WYO. STAT.
§ 6-3-203 et seq. -- last amended 2003
Definition of Animal:
No.
Statute
Summary:
A person commits the crime of cruelty to animals if the person:
Knowingly
overworks, overdrives, overloads, overworks, tortures, torments,
deprives of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly
beats, injures, mutilates, kills, carries an animal in a cruel
manner, fails to provide proper food, drink or protection from
the weather, abandons, fails to provide the animal with
appropriate care in the case of serious illness or injury, is
knowingly present at any place when an exhibition of fighting of
fowls or dogs is occurring.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $750.
-
Imprisonment up to 6 months.
-
Aggravated cruelty to animals or 2nd or subsequent offense
of cruelty to animals. Aggravated cruelty to animals occurs
if someone trains or owns animals with the intent to engage
them in fighting or allows the animals to fight on property
he/she controls.
-
High
Misdemeanor
-
Fine
up to $5000.
-
Imprisonment up to 1 year.
A person
commits a felony if he:
Knowingly
and with intent to cause death, injury or undue suffering,
cruelly beats, tortures, torments, injures or mutilates an
animal resulting in the death or required euthanasia of the
animal.
-
Cruelty
to animals.
-
Felony.
-
Fine
up to $5,000.
-
Imprisonment up to 2 years.
Forfeiture of Animal/Seizure:
Both
Other
Sentencing Provisions:
Cost of care, limited future ownership of animals.
Exemptions:
Farming, rodeos, use of dogs or raptors in hunting, use of dogs
in livestock management, person humanely destroying an animals,
training of dogs and raptors.
